FIX: Windows Search exited without properly closing your Outlook *.OST or *.PST file (Solved)

This tutorial provides comprehensive instructions to resolve the Outlook error "Windows Search exited without properly closing Outlook OST or PST file." This issue often arises after an unexpected shutdown of Microsoft Outlook, such as during a power failure. While a simple restart of Outlook can sometimes resolve the issue, there are instances where the error persists, hindering productivity.

How to FIX: Windows Search Exited Without Properly Closing Outlook .PST or .OST File

Method 1. Repair/Recreate Outlook Data File

The first method to address this error involves repairing or recreating the Outlook data file, depending on whether your email account is configured as IMAP or POP3. This process ensures that any corruption within the data file is corrected, or a new file is created if necessary.

1. Close Outlook.
2. Type "control panel" in Search and open the Control Panel app from the results.
3. In Control Panel, set 'View by' to Small icons to display all items, then open the Mail applet.

4. Click the Data Files button.

5. Depending on your account type (IMAP or POP3), note the name of the Outlook data file (e.g., "youraccountname@domain.com.ost" for IMAP or "youraccountname@domain.com.pst" for POP3).
6. Click Open File Location to navigate to the disk location where the Outlook data file (.OST or .PST) is stored.

7. Close "Account settings" and "Mail setup" and proceed according to your email account type (IMAP or POP3).

A. For Exchange (IMAP) Accounts (.OST)

If you are using an IMAP, Microsoft Exchange, or Office 365 account, you can force Outlook to recreate the corrupted .OST file. This process involves renaming or deleting the existing file, prompting Outlook to generate a new one upon restart.

1. In the Explorer window that opens, locate and Rename or Delete the .OST file (e.g., change "youraccountname@domain.com.ost" to "youraccountname@domain.com.ost.bak").
2. Open Outlook and verify if the issue persists. If it does, proceed to Method 2.

Note: After launching Outlook, it will recreate the Outlook .OST data file and re-download all messages from the mail server.

B. For POP3 Accounts (PST)

If you are using a POP3 account, you need to repair the corrupted .PST file using the Inbox Repair Tool, also known as scanpst.exe. This tool checks the integrity of the .PST file and repairs any detected issues.

1. Open a new Explorer window and run the "scanpst.exe" from the following location:

• C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\%OfficeVersion%\SCANPST.EXE

Note: The location of "SCANPST.EXE" varies based on your Windows and Office version:

• Office 2019 & 2016 & Office 365:
  • Windows 32-bit: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16
  • Windows 64-bit & Office 32-bit: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office16
  • Windows 64-bit & Office 64-bit: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16
  • Click-to-Run Office 32-bit: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16
  • Click-to-Run Office 64-bit: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office 16\root\office16
• Office 2013:
  • Windows 32-bit: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office15
  • Windows 64-bit & Office 32-bit: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office15
  • Windows 64-bit & Office 64-bit: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office15
  • Click-to-Run Office 32-bit: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office15
  • Click-to-Run Office 64-bit: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office 15\root\office15
• Office 2010:
  • Windows 32-bit: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14
  • Windows 64-bit & Office 32-bit: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14
  • Windows 64-bit & Office 64-bit: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14
• Office 2007:
  • Windows 32-bit: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12
  • Windows 64-bit: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office12

2. In the 'Microsoft Outlook Inbox Repair' tool, click Browse.

3. Navigate to the location of the Outlook PST data file on disk, select the PST file (e.g., "youraccountname@domain.com.pst") and click Open.

4. Press the Scan button and wait for the 'Inbox Repair Tool' to repair the corrupted Outlook data file.

Note: During the repair process, you will be prompted to create a backup. Select "Yes" to proceed.

5. Once the repair process is complete, open Outlook to check if the issue is resolved. If not, proceed to Method 2.

Method 2. Rebuild the Search Index

If the error persists after repairing the Outlook data file, rebuilding the Windows Search Indexing database can help. This process involves clearing and rebuilding the index, which can resolve issues related to search functionality.

1. Close Outlook.
2. Type "control panel" in Search and open the Control Panel app from the results.
3. In Control Panel, set 'View by' to Small icons and open Indexing Options.

4. Click the Advanced button in Indexing Options.

5. In the 'Index settings' tab, click the Rebuild button.

6. Click OK to rebuild the Index.

7. Wait for the index rebuilding process to complete, then restart your computer.
8. After restarting, open Outlook and check if the problem is resolved.

Method 3. Run Outlook Without Add-Ins

Third-party add-ins can sometimes cause Outlook to behave unexpectedly. Running Outlook in Safe Mode disables these add-ins, allowing you to identify if they are the source of the problem.

1. Press Windows + R keys to open the Run command box.
2. Type: outlook /safe and click OK.

3. If Outlook opens without issues, proceed to disable add-ins as follows:

To Disable Outlook Add-ins:

1. Click the File menu and select Options.
2. Select Add-ins in the left pane.
3. In the right pane, select COM Add-ins and click Go…

4. Uncheck all checkboxes to disable all Add-ins and click OK.

5. Restart Outlook.

Method 4. Repair Windows System Files

Corrupted system files can lead to various issues, including Outlook errors. Using the DISM and SFC commands, you can repair these files and restore system integrity.

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator. To do this:

1. Press the Windows + R keys to open the 'Run' command box.
2. Type CMD and then press CTRL + SHIFT + ENTER.

2. In the command prompt, enter the following command and press Enter:

• DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

3. After the DISM operation completes, type the following command and hit Enter:

• sfc /scannow

4. Wait for the System File Checker to repair the Windows System Files.
5. Once completed, restart your computer.

Method 5. Check Your PC for Viruses & Malware

Viruses or malware can disrupt normal operations in Windows and other applications. Use this Malware Scan and Removal Guide to detect and remove any malicious software running on your computer. Additionally, if you have a third-party antivirus program installed, consider uninstalling it to see if the issue persists.

Additional Solutions

If the above methods do not resolve the issue, consider the following:

1. Create a new Outlook profile and re-add your email account in the new profile.
2. Repair Microsoft Office.

Summary

To resolve the "Windows Search exited without properly closing your Outlook *.OST or *.PST file" error, you can repair or recreate the Outlook data file, rebuild the search index, run Outlook without add-ins, repair system files, and check for malware. If these steps do not work, consider creating a new Outlook profile or repairing Microsoft Office. These solutions should help restore Outlook functionality and prevent further disruptions.

We hope these methods have helped you resolve the issue. Please share your experience in the comments below or share this guide on social networks to help others.

• Author
• Recent Posts

Konstantinos Tsoukalas

Konstantinos is the founder and administrator of Repairwin.com. Since 1995 he works and provides IT support as a computer and network expert to individuals and large companies. He is specialized in solving problems related to Windows or other Microsoft products (Windows Server, Office, Microsoft 365, etc.).

Latest posts by Konstantinos Tsoukalas (see all)

• Top Windows 11 Issues and Solutions for April 2026: A Comprehensive Guide. - April 29, 2026
• FIX "BitLocker Recovery" Loop after installing KB5083769 - April 27, 2026
• Ultimate CoD Warzone Settings for Enhanced FPS and Visibility - April 9, 2026