Opening a PST File

The PST file type is primarily associated with Outlook.

PST	File extension: PST
	File type:	personal storage file

What is a PST file?

PST files mostly belong to Outlook by Microsoft. The PST file extension was developed by Microsoft for its emailing programs. It's a compressed file formatted as a B-tree data structure with 512 bytes nodes and leaves. A four-byte CRC number is set as the magic string IBDN, and is placed at the beginning of the file. It's followed by a two-byte magic string SM. Older PST files use ANSI encoding, limiting the maximum size to 2GB, but a newer standard using Unicode supports PSTs of up to 50GB. PST supports encryption, and the password is stored without the starting and ending XOR.

Encryption: Includes None (stored as plain text), Compressible (encrypted with a byte-substitution cipher using a fixed substitution table), or High (encrypted with a three-rotor cipher).
Main Use: Outlook creates PST files for each email account configured for a profile, to stores its email messages, contacts and attachments.
Adoption: Exchange allows PST files to be uploaded to move email data from an offline copy. PST can be converted to OST to make email data available offline.
Other Uses:Mastercam, a suite of CAD/CAM programs developed by CNC for product design, uses a post-processor made up of four files, one of which is a PST file.

Other associated extensions include OST, OLM, and OLK.

How to open a PST file

You need a suitable software like Outlook to open a PST file. Without proper software you will receive a Windows message "How do you want to open this file?" or "Windows cannot open this file" or a similar Mac/iPhone/Android alert. If you cannot open your PST file correctly, try to right-click or long-press the file. Then click "Open with" and choose an application. You can also display a PST file directly in the browser:. Just drag the file onto this browser window and drop it.

Online PST Text Viewer

Choose your .pst file to analyze

or drag and drop it here

Online File Viewer

✈

Read our privacy guarantee in Filext’s terms and privacy policy

Please allow ads on our site

This helps us keep our servers running. Then re-upload your file to view it.

Click here to see how to disable the ad blocker for filext.com

Programs that open and convert PST files:

Outlook by Microsoft
See the previous paragraphs to learn more about the main application. PST files are often referred to as Outlook data files because this type of file is primarily created or used by this software.
Lahey Fortran (paste buffer file) by Lahey
Lahey Fortran is a discontinued compiler and development environment, produced by Lahey, that was designed to provide the creation of applications in the IBM Fortran programming language. PST file contains paste buffer. This file format is classified as Developer. Related links: Documentation, Lahey Products
LightWave 3D (preset file) by NewTek
NewTek LightWave 3D modeling tool provides modeling, animation, dynamics, volumetric rendering, particle effects, and a motion picture quality rendering engine with unlimited render nodes. PST file is a 3D preset file where objects are stored as mesh. It also stores a detailed list of attributes, such as color, shade, glossiness, reflection mode, refractive index, transparency, texture. This file format is classified as Raster Image. Related links: Manual, Support, LightWave 3D on Wikipedia
Mastercam (post processor file) by CNC
CNC Mastercam is a computer-aided designing/manufacturing software suite developed to help machinists and engineers in designing and analyzing. This software provides creating and cutting parts using machine and control definitions and also provides tools for creating customized definitions. PST file is a post processor file and it also may store the post text and miscellaneous values. This file format is classified as Data. Related links: Basics, Documentation, Support, Mastercam on Wikipedia
Medbasin (parameter file) by National Technical University of Athens
Medbasin is a software package for the Windows platform, designed for hydrology data analysis and calculation to create a simulation model for the Mediterranean basin. It has a variety of features like calculation of the average precipitation of the basin, automatic transformation of evaporation to potential evapotranspiration data, calculation of ten-day average evaporation, etc. PST file contains parameters. This file format is classified as Data. Related links: Article, Medbasin article
MIDI Studio (mixer preset file) by MAGIX
MAGIX MIDI Studio was a music composing application designed for the Windows platform. This application is an obsolete product and is no longer supported because MAGIX replaced it with Music Maker. PST file stores mixer preset. This file format is classified as Audio. Related links: Magix on Wikipedia
PhotoImpact X3 (pattern image file) by Corel
PhotoImpact X3 was a raster and vector graphics editing application, originally produced by Ulead for the Windows platform. After Ulead was acquired by Corel, this application was discontinued. PST file stores pattern image. This PST file type entry is obsolete and no longer supported. This file format is classified as Raster Image. Related links: Manual, Ulead PhotoImpact on Wikipedia
Yamaha (pianist style file) by Yamaha
This file type is used by the Tyros2 and other and other Yamaha electronic keyboards and synthesizers. PST file stores pianist (solo piano) styles. This PST file type entry is obsolete and no longer supported. This file format is classified as Audio. Related links: Yamaha Tyros2 on Wikipedia

PST file format:

Every file has a defined file format, i.e. how the data is arranged in the file. A file format is determined by the file extension and signature, so JPEG images have the extension .jpg and the first bytes in the file are ÿØÿ. If the file extension does not match the file format, double-clicking on the file will cause an error upon opening. Exact knowledge of the format is therefore important in order to solve problems occurring in files. Below is our analysis of the PST files:

The PST file extension is quite common and is primarily used by a single program. The file formats most commonly found in PST files are:

75% of all PST files are Microsoft OutLook Personal Folder files. These are binary files, so they do not contain words or text. A typical file size is 16 MB. The file type was developed 10 years ago and is still in use today. The files contain the following words: !BDN. The file name Outlook.pst or backup.pst is typical for these files. Files like these are sometimes connected to archive, cloud, personal, folders, email, mail, hotmail, chitta, emails, ddeeb and gbdaz.
2% of all PST files start with the bytes 1B 05 00 00 crucial for this file format. These files are binary files, so they do not contain text, but only cryptic characters. The file size is in the range of 100 KB to 3 MB. Files like these are about cincombycitizen.

All other PST files (23%) have different formats, the following 3 formats exist: Yamaha Pianist Style. Sometimes used for series, found, mitsubishi or data. You can get all the details of your PST file by dragging it onto this page or by clicking the button "Choose your .pst file to analyze" above.

Technical Data for PST File Extension

File classification:

Data

Related files:

pts, ost, check, cnf, nk2, log, jdf, pft, wav, backup, pix, utc, mail, ach, psi, zip, txt, ans, pdf, data, prf, oab

Mime type:

application/vnd.ms-outlook-pst, application/vnd.ms-outlook

The following listing is compiled from the database produced by the 'Associate This!' program, selected data from the main FILExt database and file extension information submitted by users.

ProgramID: XnView.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\XnView\xnview.exe %1

ProgramID: PokerStove.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\POKERS~1\POKERS~1.EXE /dde

a pst personal storage file is a special file format by Microsoft and should only be edited and saved with the appropriate software.

How to solve problems with PST files

Associate the PST file extension with the correct application.
Update your software that should actually open personal storage files. Because only the current version supports the latest PST file format. Search, therefore, e.g. on the Microsoft manufacturer website after an available Outlook update.
To make sure that your PST file is not corrupted or virus-infected, get the file again and scan it with Google's virustotal.com.
Click here to open your .PST file online - secure, fast, and no downloads needed.