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How to rebuild/recover your email for Outlook and MacMail users

Fix Email Display Issues: Rebuild Your Mailbox (MacMail & Outlook)

Ever open an email to see a blank screen, or click on the wrong message entirely? This could be a sign of a partially corrupted mailbox data file.


Here’s how to fix it, depending on your email client:


Mac Mail Users:

  • Select the Mailbox:
    • In the Mail app sidebar, choose the mailbox you want to repair.
  • Rebuild the Mailbox:
    • Go to the “Mailbox” menu and select “Rebuild.”
Important Note: Rebuilding is a common solution for IMAP email clients, so this can happen to anyone.


Outlook Users:

  • Use the Inbox Repair Tool: Download the Inbox Repair tool (scanpst.exe) from Microsoft Support.
  • Repair Your Data File: Follow the tool’s instructions to scan and potentially repair your Outlook data file.


By following these steps, you should be able to resolve display issues caused by a partially corrupted mailbox data file.