{"id":989,"date":"2018-07-19T10:29:54","date_gmt":"2018-07-19T10:29:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/?p=989"},"modified":"2026-07-07T09:59:47","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T09:59:47","slug":"troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\/","title":{"rendered":"Fix: Outlook PST File In Use and Cannot Be Accessed&#8221; Error [2026]"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"block_sum\"><em><strong>Summary: <\/strong>Microsoft Outlook is an indispensable tool for managing emails, calendars, contacts, and more. However, users may encounter the \u2018Outlook PST file is in use and cannot be accessed\u2019 error, which disrupts workflow. This error generally prevents Outlook from accessing the PST file. Therefore, it hinders normal Outlook operations. In this guide, we&#8217;ll explore the causes of this error and provide effective solutions to resolve it. If the problem is due to PST file corruption, using <a href=\"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/outlook-pst-repair.html\"><strong>Outlook PST Recovery Software<\/strong><\/a> is the best way.<\/em><span class=\"block_btn\"><a class=\"custom-download-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/demo-version\/aryson-outlook-recovery.exe\"><i class=\"icon-windows\"><\/i> Download Now<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<a class=\"custom-buy-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/outlook-recovery\/order-now.html\"><i class=\"icon-windows\"><\/i> Purchase Now<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_83 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\/#What_is_the_Outlook_PST_Cannot_be_Accessed_Error\" >What is the Outlook PST Cannot be Accessed Error?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\/#Causes_of_the_%E2%80%9CPST_File_Is_in_Use_and_Cannot_Be_Accessed%E2%80%9D_Error\" >Causes of the \u201cPST File Is in Use and Cannot Be Accessed\u201d Error<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\/#Solutions_to_Resolve_Outlook_PST_File_is_in_Use_and_Cannot_be_Accessed\" >Solutions to Resolve Outlook PST File is in Use and Cannot be Accessed<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\/#1_Terminate_Outlook-Related_Processes\" >1. Terminate Outlook-Related Processes<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\/#2_Disable_Cached_Exchange_Mode\" >2. Disable Cached Exchange Mode<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\/#3_Run_Outlook_in_Safe_Mode\" >3. Run Outlook in Safe Mode<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\/#4_Use_the_Inbox_Repair_Tool_Scanpstexe\" >4. Use the Inbox Repair Tool (Scanpst.exe)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\/#5_Best_Way_to_Resolve_Outlook_PST_File_is_in_Use_and_Cannot_be_Accessed\" >5. Best Way to Resolve Outlook PST File is in Use and Cannot be Accessed<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\/#Follow_the_Steps_to_Fix_%E2%80%9CPST_File_Is_in_Use_and_Cannot_Be_Accessed%E2%80%9D_Error\" >Follow the Steps to Fix &#8220;PST File Is in Use and Cannot Be Accessed&#8221; Error:<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\/#Conclusion\" >Conclusion<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\/#Frequently_Asked_Questions\" >Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"main_heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_Outlook_PST_Cannot_be_Accessed_Error\"><\/span>What is the Outlook PST Cannot be Accessed Error?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div class=\"also-read\">\n<p>You might have seen such an error message occasionally:<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cThe file C:\\Users\\username\\AppData\\Local\\Microsoft\\Outlook\\username.pst is in use and cannot be accessed. Close any application that is using this file, and then try again. You might need to restart your computer.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>A PST file is a backup data file of Outlook and is essential. It encompasses all data such as emails, attachments, metadata, contacts, calendar, etc. But this Outlook error has drastic after effects like data loss, system slowdown, application crash, failure to launch, etc. Even sometimes, Outlook is inaccessible.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"user-query mb-3\">\n<h3 class=\"main_heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Causes_of_the_%E2%80%9CPST_File_Is_in_Use_and_Cannot_Be_Accessed%E2%80%9D_Error\"><\/span>Causes of the \u201cPST File Is in Use and Cannot Be Accessed\u201d Error<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Here are probable reasons that can lead to this error in Outlook:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Improper Shutdown:<\/strong> An unexpected system shutdown can leave Outlook processes running in the background.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Background Processes:<\/strong> Backup software or synchronization tools running in the background might be accessing the PST file.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Interference of Faulty Add-ins:<\/strong> Third-party add-ins can also sometimes interfere with Outlook&#8217;s normal functioning.<\/li>\n<li><strong>PST File Corruption:<\/strong> Additionally, a damaged PST file can also prevent Outlook from accessing it.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Antivirus or Firewall Interference:<\/strong> Security software might block or quarantine the PST file.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>So, figure out the real cause of the error in your Outlook application and move ahead to get the perfect troubleshooting solution.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"main_heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Solutions_to_Resolve_Outlook_PST_File_is_in_Use_and_Cannot_be_Accessed\"><\/span>Solutions to Resolve Outlook PST File is in Use and Cannot be Accessed<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>This section describes the stepwise procedure to troubleshoot the error. Firstly, try the manual steps; if it did not work, run the professional software.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"main_heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Terminate_Outlook-Related_Processes\"><\/span>1. Terminate Outlook-Related Processes<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>First of all, you need to ensure that no Outlook processes are running in the background. Do as follows:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Press <strong>Ctrl + Shift + Esc<\/strong> to open <strong>Task Manager<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Under the <strong>Processes<\/strong> tab, look for processes like <em>Outlook.exe, Lync.exe, Communicator.exe,<\/em> or <em>UCMAPI.exe<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li>Select each and click <strong>End Task.<br\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4796\" src=\"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/1-1.png\" alt=\"Select each and click End Task\" width=\"600\" height=\"535\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/1-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/1-1-300x268.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/strong><\/li>\n<li>After that, restart MS Outlook.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3 class=\"main_heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Disable_Cached_Exchange_Mode\"><\/span>2. Disable Cached Exchange Mode<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If the local cache is causing the issue, try disabling <strong>Cached Exchange Mode<\/strong>. Here is how to do it:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Ensure MS Outlook is closed.<\/li>\n<li>Go to <strong>Control Panel<\/strong> &gt;<strong> Mail<\/strong> &gt; <strong>Email Accounts<\/strong>.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4797\" src=\"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/2-1.png\" alt=\"Go to Control Panel\" width=\"650\" height=\"346\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/2-1.png 650w, https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/2-1-300x160.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/li>\n<li>Next, select your account and click <strong>Change<\/strong>.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4798\" src=\"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/3-1.png\" alt=\"select your account and click Change\" width=\"600\" height=\"551\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/3-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/3-1-300x276.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/li>\n<li>Uncheck \u2018<strong>Use Cached Exchange Mode\u2019<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Click <strong>Next<\/strong> &gt; <strong>Finish<\/strong> &gt; <strong>Restart<\/strong> Outlook.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3 class=\"main_heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Run_Outlook_in_Safe_Mode\"><\/span>3. Run Outlook in Safe Mode<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If any faulty add-in is causing the error \u2018Outlook PST file is in use and cannot be accessed\u2019, run Outlook in <strong>Safe Mode<\/strong>. This will help to disable add-ins that might be causing conflicts. Follow the steps:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Press <strong>Windows + R<\/strong>, type <strong>outlook.exe \/safe<\/strong>, and press <strong>Enter<\/strong>.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4799\" src=\"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/4-1.png\" alt=\"run Outlook in Safe Mode\" width=\"399\" height=\"206\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/4-1.png 399w, https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/4-1-300x155.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 399px) 100vw, 399px\" \/><\/li>\n<li>If Outlook opens without errors, an add-in is likely the culprit.<\/li>\n<li>Disable add-ins by going to <strong>File<\/strong> &gt; <strong>Options<\/strong> &gt; <strong>Add-ins<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>At the bottom, select <strong>COM Add-ins<\/strong> and click <strong>Go<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Uncheck all add-ins and restart<strong> Outlook<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Enable add-ins one by one to identify the problematic one.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3 class=\"main_heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Use_the_Inbox_Repair_Tool_Scanpstexe\"><\/span>4. Use the Inbox Repair Tool (Scanpst.exe)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Microsoft provides a built-in tool to repair corrupt PST files. <strong><em>ScanPST.exe<\/em><\/strong> (or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/updates\/download-scanpst-exe-tool\/\"><em>Outlook Inbox Repair Tool<\/em><\/a>) helps in cases where you encounter such an Outlook error and the PST cannot be accessed. Here are the steps to run it:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/find-scanpst-exe-location-in-outlook\/\"><strong>Locate Scanpst.exe<\/strong><\/a> on your system (Search in the Outlook installation directory).<\/li>\n<li>Run the tool and browse to the location of your PST file.<\/li>\n<li>Click on <strong>Start<\/strong> to begin the PST scan.<br\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/5-1.png\" alt=\"PST scan\" width=\"300\" height=\"255\" \/><\/li>\n<li>If any error is found, click on <strong>Repair<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Once completed, open <strong>Outlook<\/strong> to check if the issue is resolved.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>This is a free tool by Outlook to repair PST files, but for severe PST corruption, it may fail. Therefore, you can purchase premium software to fix the Outlook PST is in use and cannot be accessed error.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"main_heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Best_Way_to_Resolve_Outlook_PST_File_is_in_Use_and_Cannot_be_Accessed\"><\/span>5. Best Way to Resolve Outlook PST File is in Use and Cannot be Accessed<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Using a professional PST repair tool works better if you have a PST file corruption. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/outlook-pst-repair.html\"><strong>Aryson Outlook PST Recovery Software<\/strong><\/a> is the most demanded utility among Outlook users to fix all PST errors. This tool has a simple interface, thus facilitating quick data recovery. Moreover, it can handle all levels of PST corruption with three recovery modes.<\/p>\n<p>With this excellent software, you can also save PST data as a backup in MBOX, DBX, EML, MSG, New PST, or Save for Archive. Even users can restore only selective data after recovery, to prevent the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/fix-outlook-data-file-has-reached-maximum-size\/\"><strong>oversized PST issue<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"main_heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Follow_the_Steps_to_Fix_%E2%80%9CPST_File_Is_in_Use_and_Cannot_Be_Accessed%E2%80%9D_Error\"><\/span>Follow the Steps to Fix &#8220;PST File Is in Use and Cannot Be Accessed&#8221; Error:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<ol>\n<li>Install and launch the <strong>Aryson PST Repair software<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Click on the \u201c<strong>Open<\/strong>\u201d and choose your PST file to repair.<\/li>\n<li>Select a <strong>scanning mode<\/strong>, Standard, Advanced, or Deep, based on your needs.<\/li>\n<li>Choose the correct version (<strong>32-bit or 64-bit<\/strong>), then click \u201c<strong>OK<\/strong>\u201d to begin scanning.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4801\" src=\"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/6-1.png\" alt=\"Choose the correct version of Outlook and Click OK\" width=\"650\" height=\"346\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/6-1.png 650w, https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/6-1-300x160.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/li>\n<li><strong>Preview<\/strong> the recovered Outlook mailbox items with their details.<\/li>\n<li>Select folders from the recovered data preview to restore.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4802\" src=\"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/7-1.png\" alt=\"recovered data preview\" width=\"650\" height=\"346\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/7-1.png 650w, https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/7-1-300x160.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/li>\n<li>Click on the <strong>Save<\/strong> button &gt; choose \u201c<strong>Save as PST<\/strong>\u201d.<\/li>\n<li>Opt for other options needed and select your desired location to save the file.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4803\" src=\"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/8-1.png\" alt=\"Click on the Save button\" width=\"650\" height=\"346\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/8-1.png 650w, https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/8-1-300x160.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>To know more about the software, try the free demo tool that only restricts restoring data for free.<\/p>\n<p class=\"also-read\">Also Read: How to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/inbox-repair-tool-not-responding-in-outlook\/\">Fix Microsoft Outlook Inbox Repair Tool Not Responding<\/a>?<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"main_heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>The Outlook error- \u201cOutlook PST File is in Use and Cannot Be Accessed\u201d can entirely disrupt your workflow. However, it is curable with the right methodology. With the various manual and professional solutions outlined above, you can resolve the issue and prevent future occurrences. Moreover, if you ensure regular maintenance and are cautious of faulty add-ins, you can keep Outlook running smoothly. However, we have suggested a professional software for cases where you face PST file corruption.<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"faq-main_heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_Asked_Questions\"><\/span>Frequently Asked Questions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1747905837373\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Q1. <strong>Why does Outlook say PST file is in use and cannot be accessed?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\"><strong>Ans- <\/strong>This error typically occurs when another process, backup tool, antivirus program, or another instance of Outlook is accessing the PST file. It can also result from improper shutdowns or corrupted PST files. You need to take proper preventive measures to handle this.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1747905865847\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Q2. <strong>Can a corrupted PST file prevent Outlook from accessing emails?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\"><strong>Ans-<\/strong> Yes, a corrupted PST file can hinder Outlook&#8217;s ability to access emails, contacts, and other data. This leads to errors like \u201cPST file is in use and cannot be accessed.\u201d Repairing the PST file with the <strong>Aryson PST Recovery Tool<\/strong> can restore normal functionality.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1747905895056\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Q3. <strong>How do I fix \u201cOutlook PST file is in use and cannot be accessed\u201d error?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\"><strong>Ans-<\/strong> There are multiple ways to resolve this issue, depending on the cause:<br\/>\u2705 End any Outlook-related processes in the background<br\/>\u2705 Run Outlook in Safe Mode to disable add-ins.<br\/>\u2705 Use the <strong>Inbox Repair Tool<\/strong> (Scanpst.exe) to repair the PST file.<br\/>\u2705 Or, recover Outlook data using ARyson PST Repair Tool.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1747905956142\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Q4. <strong>Is it safe to end Outlook.exe process from Task Manager?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\"><strong>Ans-<\/strong> Yes, ending the Outlook.exe process from Task Manager is safe. It can help resolve the Outlook PST cannot be accessed issues. Sometimes Outlook appears closed but is still running in the background. This action can free up the PST file for access.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"kk-star-ratings kksr-auto kksr-align-left kksr-valign-bottom\"\n    data-payload='{&quot;align&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:&quot;989&quot;,&quot;slug&quot;:&quot;default&quot;,&quot;valign&quot;:&quot;bottom&quot;,&quot;ignore&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;reference&quot;:&quot;auto&quot;,&quot;class&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;count&quot;:&quot;3&quot;,&quot;legendonly&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;readonly&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;score&quot;:&quot;5&quot;,&quot;starsonly&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;best&quot;:&quot;5&quot;,&quot;gap&quot;:&quot;5&quot;,&quot;greet&quot;:&quot;Rate this post&quot;,&quot;legend&quot;:&quot;5\\\/5 - (3 votes)&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;24&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Fix: Outlook PST File In Use and Cannot Be Accessed\\u0026quot; Error [2026]&quot;,&quot;width&quot;:&quot;142.5&quot;,&quot;_legend&quot;:&quot;{score}\\\/{best} - ({count} {votes})&quot;,&quot;font_factor&quot;:&quot;1.25&quot;}'>\n            \n<div class=\"kksr-stars\">\n    \n<div class=\"kksr-stars-inactive\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"1\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"2\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"3\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"4\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"5\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n<div class=\"kksr-stars-active\" style=\"width: 142.5px;\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n                \n\n<div class=\"kksr-legend\" style=\"font-size: 19.2px;\">\n            5\/5 - (3 votes)    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Summary: Microsoft Outlook is an indispensable tool for managing emails, calendars, contacts, and more. However, users may encounter the \u2018Outlook<a class=\"read-more ml-1 main-read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\/\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4809,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[139],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-989","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-outlook"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Fix &quot;Outlook PST File is in Use and Cannot Be Accessed&quot; Error<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Fix &quot;Outlook PST File is in Use and Cannot Be Accessed&quot; error with easy steps. Troubleshoot common causes &amp; regain access to your emails.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Fix &quot;Outlook PST File is in Use and Cannot Be Accessed&quot; Error\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Fix &quot;Outlook PST File is in Use and Cannot Be Accessed&quot; error with easy steps. Troubleshoot common causes &amp; regain access to your emails.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Aryson Technologies Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2018-07-19T10:29:54+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-07-07T09:59:47+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/fixed-outlook-pst-file-in-use-and-cannot-be-accessed-error.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"698\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"400\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Rohan Wiese\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Rohan Wiese\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.arysontechnologies.com\\\/blog\\\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.arysontechnologies.com\\\/blog\\\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Rohan Wiese\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.arysontechnologies.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/38690c15f14d77f91207a5427b11e5a2\"},\"headline\":\"Fix: Outlook PST File In Use and Cannot Be Accessed&#8221; Error [2026]\",\"datePublished\":\"2018-07-19T10:29:54+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-07T09:59:47+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.arysontechnologies.com\\\/blog\\\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1267,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.arysontechnologies.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.arysontechnologies.com\\\/blog\\\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.arysontechnologies.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2018\\\/07\\\/fixed-outlook-pst-file-in-use-and-cannot-be-accessed-error.png\",\"articleSection\":[\"Outlook\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.arysontechnologies.com\\\/blog\\\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":[\"WebPage\",\"FAQPage\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.arysontechnologies.com\\\/blog\\\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.arysontechnologies.com\\\/blog\\\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\\\/\",\"name\":\"Fix \\\"Outlook PST File is in Use and Cannot Be Accessed\\\" Error\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.arysontechnologies.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.arysontechnologies.com\\\/blog\\\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.arysontechnologies.com\\\/blog\\\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.arysontechnologies.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2018\\\/07\\\/fixed-outlook-pst-file-in-use-and-cannot-be-accessed-error.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2018-07-19T10:29:54+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-07T09:59:47+00:00\",\"description\":\"Fix \\\"Outlook PST File is in Use and Cannot Be Accessed\\\" error with easy steps. Troubleshoot common causes & regain access to your emails.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.arysontechnologies.com\\\/blog\\\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"mainEntity\":[{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.arysontechnologies.com\\\/blog\\\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\\\/#faq-question-1747905837373\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.arysontechnologies.com\\\/blog\\\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\\\/#faq-question-1747905865847\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.arysontechnologies.com\\\/blog\\\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\\\/#faq-question-1747905895056\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.arysontechnologies.com\\\/blog\\\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\\\/#faq-question-1747905956142\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.arysontechnologies.com\\\/blog\\\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.arysontechnologies.com\\\/blog\\\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.arysontechnologies.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2018\\\/07\\\/fixed-outlook-pst-file-in-use-and-cannot-be-accessed-error.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.arysontechnologies.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2018\\\/07\\\/fixed-outlook-pst-file-in-use-and-cannot-be-accessed-error.png\",\"width\":698,\"height\":400,\"caption\":\"Resolve Outlook PST File is in Use and Cannot be Accessed\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.arysontechnologies.com\\\/blog\\\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.arysontechnologies.com\\\/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Fix: Outlook PST File In Use and Cannot Be Accessed&#8221; Error [2026]\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.arysontechnologies.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.arysontechnologies.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"Aryson Technologies Blog\",\"description\":\"Latest Technical Tips &amp; Tricks\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.arysontechnologies.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.arysontechnologies.com\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.arysontechnologies.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Aryson Technologies Blog\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.arysontechnologies.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.arysontechnologies.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.arysontechnologies.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/07\\\/cropped-logo.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.arysontechnologies.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/07\\\/cropped-logo.webp\",\"width\":247,\"height\":60,\"caption\":\"Aryson Technologies Blog\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.arysontechnologies.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.arysontechnologies.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/38690c15f14d77f91207a5427b11e5a2\",\"name\":\"Rohan Wiese\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/04068e84d014f4cd8f4d3caeec2e3949c4ab1020004486d628e8ca23c5907035?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/04068e84d014f4cd8f4d3caeec2e3949c4ab1020004486d628e8ca23c5907035?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/04068e84d014f4cd8f4d3caeec2e3949c4ab1020004486d628e8ca23c5907035?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Rohan Wiese\"},\"description\":\"Rohan Wiese is a Technical Writer at Aryson Technologies. He is an expert Email Forensic, Cloud Computing, and a passionate nerd with over 10 years of experience in technical content writing. He writes about Cloud Migration, Database Recovery, Email Backup, Windows, Mac, and Tech.\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.arysontechnologies.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/rohan\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.arysontechnologies.com\\\/blog\\\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\\\/#faq-question-1747905837373\",\"position\":1,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.arysontechnologies.com\\\/blog\\\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\\\/#faq-question-1747905837373\",\"name\":\"Q1. Why does Outlook say PST file is in use and cannot be accessed?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"<strong>Ans- <\\\/strong>This error typically occurs when another process, backup tool, antivirus program, or another instance of Outlook is accessing the PST file. It can also result from improper shutdowns or corrupted PST files. You need to take proper preventive measures to handle this.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.arysontechnologies.com\\\/blog\\\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\\\/#faq-question-1747905865847\",\"position\":2,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.arysontechnologies.com\\\/blog\\\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\\\/#faq-question-1747905865847\",\"name\":\"Q2. Can a corrupted PST file prevent Outlook from accessing emails?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"<strong>Ans-<\\\/strong> Yes, a corrupted PST file can hinder Outlook's ability to access emails, contacts, and other data. This leads to errors like \u201cPST file is in use and cannot be accessed.\u201d Repairing the PST file with the <strong>Aryson PST Recovery Tool<\\\/strong> can restore normal functionality.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.arysontechnologies.com\\\/blog\\\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\\\/#faq-question-1747905895056\",\"position\":3,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.arysontechnologies.com\\\/blog\\\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\\\/#faq-question-1747905895056\",\"name\":\"Q3. How do I fix \u201cOutlook PST file is in use and cannot be accessed\u201d error?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"<strong>Ans-<\\\/strong> There are multiple ways to resolve this issue, depending on the cause:<br\\\/>\u2705 End any Outlook-related processes in the background<br\\\/>\u2705 Run Outlook in Safe Mode to disable add-ins.<br\\\/>\u2705 Use the <strong>Inbox Repair Tool<\\\/strong> (Scanpst.exe) to repair the PST file.<br\\\/>\u2705 Or, recover Outlook data using ARyson PST Repair Tool.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.arysontechnologies.com\\\/blog\\\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\\\/#faq-question-1747905956142\",\"position\":4,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.arysontechnologies.com\\\/blog\\\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\\\/#faq-question-1747905956142\",\"name\":\"Q4. Is it safe to end Outlook.exe process from Task Manager?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"<strong>Ans-<\\\/strong> Yes, ending the Outlook.exe process from Task Manager is safe. It can help resolve the Outlook PST cannot be accessed issues. Sometimes Outlook appears closed but is still running in the background. This action can free up the PST file for access.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Fix \"Outlook PST File is in Use and Cannot Be Accessed\" Error","description":"Fix \"Outlook PST File is in Use and Cannot Be Accessed\" error with easy steps. Troubleshoot common causes & regain access to your emails.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Fix \"Outlook PST File is in Use and Cannot Be Accessed\" Error","og_description":"Fix \"Outlook PST File is in Use and Cannot Be Accessed\" error with easy steps. Troubleshoot common causes & regain access to your emails.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\/","og_site_name":"Aryson Technologies Blog","article_published_time":"2018-07-19T10:29:54+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-07-07T09:59:47+00:00","og_image":[{"width":698,"height":400,"url":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/fixed-outlook-pst-file-in-use-and-cannot-be-accessed-error.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Rohan Wiese","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Rohan Wiese","Est. reading time":"8 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\/"},"author":{"name":"Rohan Wiese","@id":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/38690c15f14d77f91207a5427b11e5a2"},"headline":"Fix: Outlook PST File In Use and Cannot Be Accessed&#8221; Error [2026]","datePublished":"2018-07-19T10:29:54+00:00","dateModified":"2026-07-07T09:59:47+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\/"},"wordCount":1267,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/fixed-outlook-pst-file-in-use-and-cannot-be-accessed-error.png","articleSection":["Outlook"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":["WebPage","FAQPage"],"@id":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\/","url":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\/","name":"Fix \"Outlook PST File is in Use and Cannot Be Accessed\" Error","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/fixed-outlook-pst-file-in-use-and-cannot-be-accessed-error.png","datePublished":"2018-07-19T10:29:54+00:00","dateModified":"2026-07-07T09:59:47+00:00","description":"Fix \"Outlook PST File is in Use and Cannot Be Accessed\" error with easy steps. Troubleshoot common causes & regain access to your emails.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\/#breadcrumb"},"mainEntity":[{"@id":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\/#faq-question-1747905837373"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\/#faq-question-1747905865847"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\/#faq-question-1747905895056"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\/#faq-question-1747905956142"}],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/fixed-outlook-pst-file-in-use-and-cannot-be-accessed-error.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/fixed-outlook-pst-file-in-use-and-cannot-be-accessed-error.png","width":698,"height":400,"caption":"Resolve Outlook PST File is in Use and Cannot be Accessed"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Fix: Outlook PST File In Use and Cannot Be Accessed&#8221; Error [2026]"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/","name":"Aryson Technologies Blog","description":"Latest Technical Tips &amp; Tricks","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"Aryson Technologies Blog","url":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/cropped-logo.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/cropped-logo.webp","width":247,"height":60,"caption":"Aryson Technologies Blog"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/38690c15f14d77f91207a5427b11e5a2","name":"Rohan Wiese","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/04068e84d014f4cd8f4d3caeec2e3949c4ab1020004486d628e8ca23c5907035?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/04068e84d014f4cd8f4d3caeec2e3949c4ab1020004486d628e8ca23c5907035?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/04068e84d014f4cd8f4d3caeec2e3949c4ab1020004486d628e8ca23c5907035?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Rohan Wiese"},"description":"Rohan Wiese is a Technical Writer at Aryson Technologies. He is an expert Email Forensic, Cloud Computing, and a passionate nerd with over 10 years of experience in technical content writing. He writes about Cloud Migration, Database Recovery, Email Backup, Windows, Mac, and Tech.","url":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/author\/rohan\/"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\/#faq-question-1747905837373","position":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\/#faq-question-1747905837373","name":"Q1. Why does Outlook say PST file is in use and cannot be accessed?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"<strong>Ans- <\/strong>This error typically occurs when another process, backup tool, antivirus program, or another instance of Outlook is accessing the PST file. It can also result from improper shutdowns or corrupted PST files. You need to take proper preventive measures to handle this.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\/#faq-question-1747905865847","position":2,"url":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\/#faq-question-1747905865847","name":"Q2. Can a corrupted PST file prevent Outlook from accessing emails?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"<strong>Ans-<\/strong> Yes, a corrupted PST file can hinder Outlook's ability to access emails, contacts, and other data. This leads to errors like \u201cPST file is in use and cannot be accessed.\u201d Repairing the PST file with the <strong>Aryson PST Recovery Tool<\/strong> can restore normal functionality.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\/#faq-question-1747905895056","position":3,"url":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\/#faq-question-1747905895056","name":"Q3. How do I fix \u201cOutlook PST file is in use and cannot be accessed\u201d error?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"<strong>Ans-<\/strong> There are multiple ways to resolve this issue, depending on the cause:<br\/>\u2705 End any Outlook-related processes in the background<br\/>\u2705 Run Outlook in Safe Mode to disable add-ins.<br\/>\u2705 Use the <strong>Inbox Repair Tool<\/strong> (Scanpst.exe) to repair the PST file.<br\/>\u2705 Or, recover Outlook data using ARyson PST Repair Tool.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\/#faq-question-1747905956142","position":4,"url":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/troubleshoot-outlook-pst-in-use-cannot-be-accessed\/#faq-question-1747905956142","name":"Q4. Is it safe to end Outlook.exe process from Task Manager?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"<strong>Ans-<\/strong> Yes, ending the Outlook.exe process from Task Manager is safe. It can help resolve the Outlook PST cannot be accessed issues. Sometimes Outlook appears closed but is still running in the background. This action can free up the PST file for access.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/989","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=989"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/989\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6946,"href":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/989\/revisions\/6946"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4809"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=989"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=989"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arysontechnologies.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=989"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}