Need to open a password-protected Outlook PST file? The right method depends on whether you know the current password. If you know the password, you can remove the password protection in Microsoft Outlook. If you have forgotten the password, you can still open a locked PST file without a password using PST Viewer and access your emails and other Outlook data.

If you need to preserve the original PST file, choose an access method that does not modify the source file. This is particularly important for forensic, compliance, or e-discovery purposes.

What to do if you forgot your PST password

Microsoft Outlook does not provide a native password recovery feature. Specialized PST password-removal or recovery utilities may offer options for removing the password or recovering access to a protected PST file.

If the original PST file must be preserved, avoid modifying it unnecessarily. Opening a PST in Outlook or using password-removal utilities may modify the file or its metadata. For forensic, compliance, or other sensitive situations, create a copy of the original PST before attempting password recovery or removal.

If you only need to view the contents of a password-protected PST file, PST Viewer can open and display PST data without modifying the source file. This makes a PST Viewer a suitable option when you need to inspect emails and other Outlook data while keeping the original PST unchanged. Note: Use the software only to access PST files that you are authorized to access.

How to remove a PST password in Outlook

The simplest way to remove a password from a PST file is to use Microsoft Outlook if you know the current password. Follow these steps:

1. Open Outlook: Launch Microsoft Outlook on your computer.
2. Open Account Settings: Go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings....
3. Open the Data Files tab: In the Account Settings window, select the Data Files tab.
4. Select the PST file: Select the PST file from which you want to remove the password and click Settings....
5. Change the password: On the General tab, click Change Password... and enter the current password when prompted.
6. Leave the new password blank: Leave the New password and Verify password fields blank, then click OK.
7. Confirm the change: Confirm the change if prompted. Outlook will remove password protection from the PST file.

How to open a password-protected PST without Outlook

If you forgot the password for an Outlook Data File (.pst), you can use PST Walker Viewer to open and view password-protected PST files without Outlook. The tool lets you access messages, contacts, calendar items, tasks, notes, and other Outlook data even when you do not know the password.

1. Close Outlook: Close Microsoft Outlook and all other mail-enabled applications that may use your Outlook mailbox.
2. Run PST Viewer: Download and run PST Walker Viewer on your computer.
   Download Toggle Dropdown

   • PST Walker Installer (.exe)
   • PST Walker Portable (.zip)
3. Open the PST file: Browse to the .pst file you want to open and click Open.
   
4. Browse the PST contents: Select a folder in the All Folders pane to preview its items, including messages, contacts, appointments, tasks, notes, and journal entries.
   

Once you open the PST file in PST Walker Viewer, you can browse and search its contents without Outlook. You can search for specific messages and other Outlook items, preview their contents, print messages, and export data to other formats.

PST Walker Viewer can also be useful for forensic investigations, compliance reviews, e-discovery, and other situations where you need to inspect or analyze Outlook data. You can export selected messages or other items for further analysis, reporting, or archiving while keeping the original PST file unchanged.

How secure is a PST Password?

You can set a password for an Outlook Data File (.pst) to restrict access to its contents through Outlook. However, a PST password should not be considered a strong security measure because it does not encrypt the data stored in the PST file.

Security Note: To provide stronger protection for Outlook data, restrict access to the computer and the PST file using Windows user accounts and appropriate file-system permissions. For sensitive data, consider using encryption at the operating-system or storage level.

Conclusion

PST password protection can restrict access to a PST file through Outlook, but it does not encrypt the data stored in the file. If you know the password, you can remove it in Outlook. If you forgot the password, Outlook does not provide a password recovery function, but a PST viewer can let you access and inspect the contents without opening the file in Outlook.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a PST password the same as my Outlook password?

No. A PST password is different from your email account password, such as your Outlook.com password. If you forgot your email account password, you need to use your email provider's password recovery options.

Does a PST password encrypt the PST file?

No. A PST password does not encrypt the data stored in the file. Microsoft describes PST password protection as a way to restrict access through Outlook rather than as a security measure against intentional unauthorized access.

Can Outlook recover a forgotten PST password?

No. Microsoft Outlook does not provide a password recovery option for a password-protected PST file. If you forget the PST password, Microsoft cannot retrieve it.

Can I open a PST file without the password?

Yes. If you forgot the PST password, you can use a PST viewer to access and inspect the contents of the file without opening it in Outlook. This can be useful when you need to view messages and other Outlook data without changing the original PST.

See Also