Outlook

Can’t Copy PST File? Try these 7 Quick Fixes

If you can’t copy PST file, first close Outlook, check file permissions, verify the destination drive, repair the corrupted PST file, or disable password protection from the file itself. This informative guide covers all the effective methods to resolve not able to copy PST file error hassle-freely.

Why PST File Cannot be Copied? Common Reasons

We will now discuss some of the common reasons why users can’t copy PST file. Also, knowing these causes will help you to identify the exact issue and choose the most effective solution accordingly.

• Outlook may keeps the PST file locked while it is open or running behind in the background.
• You can’t copy the Outlook PST file because your Windows account may not have the required permission to access or copy the PST file.
• This error can also occur when your destination drive may not support files larger than 4 MB, particularly if it uses the FAT32 file system.
• Also, when the PST file is corrupted, it may produce read errors or prevent certain mailbox items from being accessed.
• When the destination drive may not have enough free space to store the complete file.
• OneDrive or another synchronization service may be processing or locking the PST file causing this error.
• The PST file may be stored or a disconnected drive, network location or location with the restricted access.

Now, let’s move to the solutions in detail for better understanding and clarity.

How to Fix Can’t Copy PST File Error? 7 Quick Solutions

In this section, we have shared 7 solutions to resolve can’t copy Outlook PST file error securely. You can try these methods according to the error you experience. These seven solutions are:

• Method 1: Close Outlook Completely
• Method 2: Check PST File Permissions
• Method 3: Check the Destination Drive and File Size
• Method 4: Move PST file to a Local Folder
• Method 5: Repair the corrupted PST file
• Method 6: Copy Emails and Attachments
• Method 7: Fix error caused by password protection

Method 1: Can’t Copy Outlook PST File? Close Outlook Application

This method is useful when you can’t copy PST file because the Outlook application is currently in use. So closing the application can help you release the file lock and allow you to copy it successfully. The following steps to close Outlook application are as follows:

1. First, save your work and close the Microsoft Outlook application.
2. Then, press Ctrl+ Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
3. After that, under the Processes tab, look for Microsoft Outlook.
4. If Outlook is still running, select it and click End Task.
5. Now, navigate to the folder containing your PST file.
6. After that, right-click on the PST file and select Copy.
7. At last, open the destination folder, right-click, and select the Paste option.

Now, once the process is completed, verify that the copied PST file is accessible and its size matches the original file.

Remember: You should always close Outlook before copying its PST file to avoid file locking issues or an inconsistent backup.

Method 2: Verify PST File Permissions

If you can’t copy PST file due to restricted access or an Access denied error, then the issue may be related to file permissions. So, in this method, we will verify and update the PST file permissions to ensure you have the necessary access. The steps are:

1. At first, navigate to the folder containing the PST file.
2. Then, right-click on the PST file and select Properties.
3. After that, open the Security tab.
4. Now, select your Windows user account and check the available permissions.
5. Next, ensure that your account has the necessary Read permissions.
6. If the permissions are missing, click on the Edit option and update them if you have authorization.
7. Now, click on the Apply option and click on OK to save the changes.
8. At last, try copying the PST file to the destination folder again.

Method 3: Check the Destination Drive and File Size

Copying a large Outlook PST file to a USB drive or external hard disk may fail when the drive does not have enough free space or cannot support the file size. Therefore, it is important to verify the destination drive and file size when you can’t copy PST file. The steps to check it are as follows:

1. First, open File Explorer and locate the Outlook PST file you want to copy.
2. Then, right-click the PST file and select Properties to check its size.
3. Now, connect the USB drive or external hard disk where you want to copy the file.
4. After that, right-click on the destination drive and select Properties.
5. Next, check the available free space and file system type, such as FAT32, NTFS, and exFAT.
6. Now, if the drive uses FAT32 and the PST file exceeds 4 GB, choose a suitable NTFS- or exFAT-formatted destination.
7. Ensure the destination drive has enough free space to store the complete PST file.
8. Lastly, copy and paste the PST file into the destination folder and verify that the copied file is accessible.

Method 4: Move the PST File to a Local Folder

OneDrive synchronization, network restrictions, or file access conflicts can prevent a PST file from being copied. So, moving the file to an accessible local folder can help resolve can’t copy PST file issue and make the copying process more reliable. The following steps are given below:

1. Close Microsoft Outlook completely before accessing the PST file.
2. Then, open the File Explorer and navigate to the folder where the PST file is stored.
3. After that, check whether the file is located in OneDrive, a network folder, or another synchronized location.
4. Now, create a new folder on your local drive, such as C:\PSTBackup.
5. If the original file is accessible, right-click it and select Copy.
6. Navigate to the newly created local folder and select Paste.
7. Now, wait for the copying process to finish and verify that the file size matches the original.
8. If the file remains locked, resolve the synchronization or file access conflict before trying again.

Method 5: Repair the Corrupted PST File Using ScanPST.exe

A corrupted Outlook data can cause read errors, can’t copy PST file errors, or inaccessible mailbox items. So in this situation, you can use the Inbox Repair Tool (ScanPST.exe) can help identify and repair certain PST file errors, allowing you to try copying the file again. The steps are:

1. At first, close the Microsoft Outlook application.
2. Then, locate the ScanPST.exe utility in your Microsoft Office or Outlook installation folder.
3. Now, double-click on the ScanPST.exe to launch the Inbox Repair Tool.
4. Next, click on the Browse and select the corrupted PST file.
5. After that, click Start to scan the file for errors.
6. Now, if errors are detected, follow the on-screen instructions to repair the PST file. Create a backup when prompted.
7. Once the repair process is complete, reopen Outlook and check whether the PST file and its contents are accessible.
8. After this, close Outlook again and attempt to copy the repaired PST file to the desired destination.
9. Now, verify that the copied file is accessible and that the required mailbox data is available.

Bonus Tip: If ScanPST.exe fails to repair the corrupted PST file or the file remains inaccessible, using a professional PST Repair tool can be an effective choice. It will help you to recover mailbox data from damaged PST files and restore access to emails and other Outlook items easily.

Method 6: Copy Emails and Attachments from PST file

Sometimes, users can open a PST file in Outlook but can’t copy PST file data, such as specific emails, attachments, or folders. In this situation, copying the required mailbox items individually can help you transfer the data without copying the entire PST file. The steps to do so are:

1. At first, open the Microsoft Outlook app on your device.
2. Then, navigate to the File option and choose the Open & Export option.
3. From this option, select the Open Outlook Data File option.
4. Now, browse to the location of your PST file and select it.
5. After that, click on the OK to open the PST file in Outlook.
6. Now, expand the PST file in the folder pane and select the folder containing the required emails.
7. At last, select the emails you want to copy using Ctrl + Click or Shift + Click.
8. Now, press Ctrl + C to copy the selected emails.
9. After that, navigate to the destination folder or mailbox and press Ctrl + V to paste them.
10. Now, to save an attachment separately, open the email, right-click the attachment, and select Save As.
11. At last, verify that the copied emails and attachments are accessible at the destination.

Method 7: Can’t Copy PST File Due to Password Restriction – Automated Way

This method is useful when you want to copy Outlook PST file data but cannot access it due to password protection on the file itself. Therefore, in this situation, opting for a reliable utility like the FreeViewer PST Password Remover Tool is suggested. The tool will help you to remove the password protection from the PST file, allowing you to access the mailbox data without entering the forgotten password. Once the password restriction is removed, you can open the PST file in Outlook and copy the required emails, attachments, and other mailbox items to the desired location.

Working Steps of the Software

1. Download and run the aforementioned software to your device.
2. Then, click on the Add File or Add Folder option to upload the locked PST file.
3. After that, tap on the Search Files option to browse the password-protected PST files in your system.
4. Now, if the browsed PST file is locked by a password, then the tool will show the the locked icon.
5. To resolve can’t copy PST file error due to password protection, tap on the Remove Password button.

Conclusion

With this, we have come to the end of this article; here we have shared seven ways to resolve can’t copy PST file error. Along with this we have shared common reasons behind this error. Furthermore, we have shared both manual and professional solutions to fix not able to copy PST file errors securely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Why you can’t copy PST file in Outlook?

Ans: You may be unable to copy a PST file because Outlook is using it, Windows permissions are restricted, the destination drive lacks storage space, or the PST file is corrupted or password-protected.

Q2. How can I fix the can’t copy Outlook PST file error without losing data?

Ans: Close Outlook, check file permissions, verify the destination drive’s capacity, and repair the PST file using ScanPST.exe if necessary. Always create a backup before repairing or modifying the original file.

Q3. Can the professional tool help when I can’t copy a password-protected PST file?

Ans: Yes, FreeViewer utility is designed to remove password protection from PST files, helping users regain access to mailbox data when they have forgotten the password. It does not resolve other copying issues, such as file locks, insufficient disk space, or file corruption.