Repair Outlook PST Error 0x80040116 with Simple Solution
-
Written By
Aradhya Jain -
Approved By
Shivam Rathore -
Updated on
December 11th, 2025 - Read Time
5 minutes
User Query: “I am unable to access my Outlook mailbox and getting the error code 0x80040116 whenever I try to open my PST file. How can I repair Outlook PST error 0x80040116 safely without losing any details?”
Summary: Error 0x80040116 is a common Outlook problem. This is caused due to PST corruption, oversized files, or storage issues. The users are unable to work with these errors. Although Microsoft provides built-in repair utilities. But they often fail with heavily corrupted PST files. This guide explains the manual work of an unknown error 0x80040116 in Outlook. Also, covers an automated DRS Softech PST Recovery Tool to securely fix this error.
Understanding PST Files & Error 0x80040116
A PST file stores MS Outlook details locally on your system. Over time, PST files grow large and can become damaged. While an error 0x80040116 usually appears due to:
- PST file size reaches its maximum limit
- The Outlook index becomes corrupted
- The file location has bad sectors
- PST is improperly closed or moved
- Also, the mailbox has too many fragmented items
This is why it is necessary to repair Outlook PST Error 0x80040116.
Decoding the Main Causes of Error 0x80040116
The following are the common reasons behind the error 0x80040116:
- PST file exceeds Outlook size limits
- Corrupted or damaged PST database
- Viruses or system file issues
- Improper shutdown of Outlook
- Faulty add-ins are causing conflicts
- Bad sectors where the PST is stored
- Failed compacting/compression of PST
Manual Working to Fix 0x80040116 Error in Outlook
If you don’t want to download any external software, you can move forward using the manual workaround. Therefore, you can use the built-in Inbox Repair Tool (SCANPST.exe) provided by Microsoft.
Step-by-Step Process to Repair Outlook PST Error 0x80040116
- Firstly, close Microsoft Outlook completely.
- Now, go to the location of SCANPST.exe (Varies by Outlook version):
- Outlook 2019/2016: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\SCANPST.EXE
- Outlook 2013: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office15\SCANPST.EXE
- Then, double–click SCANPST.exe to open it.
- After that, click Browse and select your corrupt PST file.
- Further, press Start to begin the scan.
- After scanning, choose Repair to fix the errors.
- Lastly, restart Outlook and check if the problem is resolved.
Limitations to Resolve Outlook Error Code 0x80040116 Manually
- This process fails on severely corrupted PST files
- It cannot recover deleted or missing mailbox items
- Sometimes, the repaired output may be incomplete
- Therefore, this method takes a long time for large files
- Also, it does not resolve deep-level PST corruption
- Moreover, it requires multiple repair attempts
Simplified Working to Repair Outlook PST Error 0x80040116
The DRS Softech Outlook PST Recovery Tool is a professional utility designed to repair corrupt PST files. This tool ensures the error with complete data integration. Also, the automated tool can read PST file without Outlook. Additionally, it helps you to:
- Repair PST files of any size.
- Recover lost emails, attachments, contacts, and calendars
- Restore folder hierarchy and metadata intact.
- Export PST to a new PST or other supported file formats.
- Also, it maintains complete accuracy and integrity during recovery.
This is the safest method to resolve Outlook.pst cannot be accessed.
One-Time PST Repair & Recovery Service
If you do not want to download any tool, you can use the DRS Softech One-Time PST Repair Service.
Just upload your damaged PST file. The experts will securely recover your data and provide a clean PST file ready to open in Outlook.
No technical steps, no risks, complete recovery done for you.
Quick Guide to Repair Outlook PST Error 0x80040116 via Utility
- Firstly, download and install the DRS PST Recovery Software.
- Now, tap Open and choose the corrupted PST file that you want to recover → OK.
- After that, choose the file that you want to preview the data in.
- Finally, apply the additional filters (if needed) → click OK.
Real-Life Scenario: Repair Outlook PST Error 0x80040116
Sophia relied on Outlook for her client communications. One day, Outlook displayed the 0x80040116 error. She lost access to years of important messages.
Manual repair didn’t work because her PST file was nearly 12GB and deeply corrupted.
Using the DRS Softech PST Recovery Tool, she recovered all her emails, attachments, folders, and contacts safely. Her Outlook account was restored without losing a single item.
Conclusion
In short, Outlook PST error 0x80040116 usually appears due to corruption or oversized PST files. While the manual SCANPST utility may fix minor issues. It cannot handle deep corruption. The Outlook PST Recovery Tool offers an advanced and secure solution to repair Outlook PST Error 0x80040116. Also, recover complete data and restore Outlook functionality in minutes. For a guaranteed fix, the automated method is the most reliable option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ans. You may still encounter this error if the PST file is severely corrupted, oversized, or stored on a damaged drive. In such cases, manual repair tools like SCANPST cannot fix deep-level corruption, so the error continues appearing.
Ans. Missing data usually means the PST file was heavily damaged. The manual repair tool only performed a partial fix. SCANPST often removes unreadable items instead of restoring them, which leads to missing emails, contacts, and attachments.
Ans. Yes. A professional DRS Softech Outlook PST Recovery Tool repairs the entire PST structure and resolves the 0x80040116 error fully. It restores both minor and severe corruption, ensuring your Outlook opens normally again.
Ans. Absolutely. The PST Recovery tool is designed to handle large and oversized PST files, even beyond 20GB, 50GB, or more. It scans, repairs, and recovers large PSTs without performance issues, making it suitable for heavy Outlook users.
