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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsYou can test whether a classic Outlook for Windows profile is damaged without deleting it: create a separate profile, add your account, and confirm that your mail and any local PST files are accessible before removing the old profile. A profile stores account and Outlook settings; it is not the same thing as your email. The important exception is mail or archives stored only in a local PST, which you should identify and back up before making changes.
First, identify where your email is stored
These instructions apply to classic Outlook for Windows, not new Outlook. Microsoft’s profile guide describes a profile as a collection of accounts, data files, and settings. Creating a new one is a safe diagnostic step; deleting an old one removes its settings, not the profile’s associated PST file. You may need to open that PST from the new profile to see its contents. See Microsoft’s profile guide and profile-removal guidance.
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| Account or file | Where the mail is kept | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| POP account | Messages may be stored in a local PST on the computer. | Locate and back up the PST and any archives. Removing a profile does not make the PST visible in another profile automatically. |
| Exchange, Microsoft 365, IMAP, or Outlook.com account | Outlook uses an OST synchronized with the account’s server. | Verify that important messages are present in the online mailbox before changing local files. Outlook can recreate an Exchange OST. |
Microsoft explains the PST and account-data distinction. Do not treat a POP PST as interchangeable with a server-synchronized OST.
Check for an easier fix before rebuilding a profile
If Outlook is frozen, stuck at “Processing,” or not responding, a profile may not be the cause. Microsoft’s troubleshooting sequence for classic Outlook starts with checking for a hidden dialog and testing Safe Mode, then installing Windows and Microsoft 365 updates. It proceeds to Office repair, data-file repair, and a new profile as indicated. The guidance is explicitly for classic Outlook, not new Outlook. Follow Microsoft’s classic Outlook troubleshooting steps before escalating.
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Record your data files and protect local mail
- Open the data-file list: in classic Outlook, select File > Account Settings > Account Settings > Data Files.
- Note each PST and OST: record the file names and locations shown. Look especially for PSTs associated with POP accounts, archives, or older mail.
- Back up local PSTs: make a separate copy before attempting repairs or changing profiles. Do not rely only on the repair tool’s backup.
- Check server mail: for a server-backed account, confirm that the folders and messages you need appear in the online mailbox before removing local data.
Microsoft’s data-file repair guidance recommends backing up a PST before repair.
Create and test a separate Outlook profile
- Close Outlook if it is open.
- Hold Shift while starting Outlook to open the profile picker, or run
Outlook.exe /profiles. - Select Options, then New. Give the profile a distinct name so it is easy to tell apart from the old one.
- Add your email account and complete sign-in.
- When prompted about which profile to use, choose Prompt for a profile to be used. This lets you switch back to the original while testing.
- Start Outlook with the new profile. Confirm that the account signs in, expected folders appear, and recent messages are present.
- If you have a local PST, add or open it from the new profile when needed. A newly created profile does not automatically show every PST attached to the old one.
If the new profile works while the old one does not, that points to the old profile as the likely source of the problem. Keep the old profile until you have checked the account and local data. Microsoft documents the picker and profile-creation steps in Create a profile in classic Outlook for Windows.
If the PST is damaged, repair the file—not just the profile
A new profile does not repair a damaged PST. For a suspected PST problem, first close Outlook and make a separate backup copy of the file. Then use Microsoft’s Inbox Repair Tool, SCANPST.EXE, which is included with Office.
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- Find and open
SCANPST.EXEin your Office installation. If you cannot locate it, use Microsoft’s file-location instructions. - Select the PST you want to check and start the scan.
- If the scan reports errors, choose Repair. The tool creates a backup during repair, but keep your separate copy as well.
- Open Outlook and check the repaired file. Microsoft notes that more than one repair pass may be needed.
SCANPST attempts to repair file errors; it does not guarantee that every damaged or permanently deleted item can be recovered. It also does not inspect Exchange mailbox data. For Exchange OST files, Microsoft says Outlook can recreate the synchronized file; first confirm that the needed messages are available in the server mailbox. Do not apply that OST approach to a POP PST.
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- KEEP YOUR SYSTEM SAFE – protect your computer from data loss in case of malware, system flaws or a defect hardware
- SECURE ALL TYPES OF DATA - backup your photos, videos, documents or others - benefit from smart rules for Outlook, Firefox, IE, Chrome, Edge or Thunderbird
- MAXIMUM FLEXABILITY – create and store backups on hard drives, USB flash drives, network drives AND in the cloud
- EASY TO INSTALL AND USE - user-friendly interface, in-program tutorials and free tech support whenever you need it
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Will I lose emails if I delete my Outlook profile?
Removing a profile deletes its account settings. Microsoft says associated PST files remain on the computer and online account information is not lost, but the PST must be opened from another profile to access its contents. Before removing the old profile, verify the new one and any local PSTs, and retain a separate backup until you have confirmed that your mail and archives are available.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Check the January 2026 POP/PST hang issue
Microsoft reported a classic Outlook issue in which some POP profiles and PSTs hung after Windows updates dated January 13, 2026. The notice covers Windows 11 versions 25H2, 24H2, and 23H2, and Windows 10 version 22H2. Microsoft marks the issue fixed and advises installing Windows updates until the system reports it is current. If the matching symptoms persist, its notice directs users toward profile repair for sync problems and SCANPST when POP account folders cannot be accessed. See the current known-issue notice.
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