Fix Unknown Error 0x80040600 on Microsoft Outlook

If users are experiencing difficulty accessing emails Fix Unknown Error 0x80040600 on Microsoft Outlook, contacts, tasks, calendars, journals, notes, or other data items due to a damaged or corrupted Outlook PST file, this post will provide a solution.

An unknown error has occurred 0x80040600 in Outlook

The PST file is like a database for Outlook. It stores email messages, contacts, notes, entries, etc. So, with the passage of time, there can be an overload of PST files, leading to its corruption or omission automatically, eventually causing the error to show up.

Find the default PST file that you want to repair
Run Inbox Repair tool (ScanPST.exe) to repair Outlook PST file
Recover repaired items to a new .pst file

If you’re having trouble with a particular issue, follow the steps in sequence and see if it helps solve the problem.

1] Find the default PST file that you want to repair

To access the ‘Mail’ option in ‘Control Panel’, follow these steps:

Click ‘Show Profiles’ to select the Outlook profile you want to repair.

Choose ‘Properties,’ click on ‘Data Files,’ and note the location of the default PST file.

2] Run Inbox Repair tool (ScanPST.exe) to repair Outlook PST file

Launch the Microsoft Outlook Inbox Repair tool. The tool’s location will vary depending on the version of Office you’re running. In my case, it was located under the following:

If you have a corrupt Outlook PST or OST file, you can use the Inbox Repair tool or ScanPST.exe to repair it. This utility is provided by Microsoft. Before you begin, close the Outlook program if it is running.

The Inbox Repair tool can be used to scan and repair your personal folders (.pst) file. To do this, type the path and file name of the file into the tool, or click ‘Browse’ to locate it using the Windows file system. Once you have located the file, click ‘Start’ to begin the repair process.

Although the Inbox Repair Tool can detect and fix many problems, some items may not be recovered if they were permanently deleted or corrupted beyond repair. The Inbox Repair Tool may need to be run several times in order to fix your personal folder (.pst) file.

3] Recover repaired items to a new .pst file

After you have run the Inbox Repair tool, you can start Outlook and recover repaired items. Optionally, you can try to recover additional repaired items from the backup personal folder. After you recover your items, you can create a new Personal Folders (.pst) file in your profile. To do this, start Outlook and select the profile that contains the Personal Folders (.pst) file you tried to repair.

Go to “Folder List” view by pressing CTRL+6. The following recovered folders should be visible under it.

Recovered Personal Folders-

Calendar
Contacts
Deleted Items
Inbox
Journal
Notes
Outbox
Sent Items
Tasks

However, the ‘Lost and Found’ folder may be empty. This is because it represents a rebuilt .pst file. The Inbox Repair Tool may have also recovered some folders and items. However, some items may be beyond repair.

In order to create a new Personal Folder (.pst) file in your profile, please open ‘Microsoft Outlook’, click on the ‘File’ tab on the ribbon, and then switch to the ‘Info’ tab on the menu. Next, click the ‘Account Settings’ tile, and then choose ‘Account Settings’ option again.

Switch to the ‘Data Files’ tab. Click ‘Add’ to open the Create or Open Outlook Data File dialog box.

A new Outlook Data (.pst) file should now be in your profile. The steps outlined in the previous section may vary depending on which version of Outlook you are running.