Online PST File Reader

An advanced online browser-based software allows users to view PST files online on any operating system.

Drop the *.pst file here or click to select a file

Excellent 5 stars TrustRating 4.8 (2,847 reviews)

Offline PST File Viewer

Open and read Microsoft Outlook PST files, online in your browser or with our powerful offline desktop viewer. No Outlook license required.

  • No Outlook required, works completely standalone
  • Open password-protected PST, supports encrypted files
  • Recover corrupted PST, read damaged files Outlook can't open
  • Handle 50GB+ files, no size limits

  Download Offline Viewer

Try Online Free →

No Outlook Needed 100% Secure

Version 8.0 | Windows 7/8/10/11 | Free version available

Quick Summary, What is PST File Reader?

4n6 PST File Reader is a free tool to open and view Microsoft Outlook PST files without Outlook installed. Available in two versions: an Online Reader that works in any browser on any device, and an Offline Desktop Viewer for Windows with advanced features.

What is a PST file? PST (Personal Storage Table) is Microsoft Outlook's data file format for storing emails, contacts, calendars, tasks, and notes. PST files are used for backups, archives, and transferring Outlook data between computers.

Online vs Offline: Use the Online Reader for quick access from any device without installation. Use the Offline Viewer for large files, corrupted file recovery, forensic analysis, and processing multiple PST files.

Key capabilities: Open password-protected PST, recover data from corrupted files, handle 50GB+ archives, support both ANSI and Unicode PST formats, search and filter emails, view attachments safely.

Quick Facts
  • ✓ Online: Works in any browser
  • ✓ Offline: Windows desktop app
  • ✓ No Outlook Required
  • ✓ Password-Protected PST
  • ✓ Corrupted File Recovery
  • ✓ ANSI & Unicode Support
  • ✓ 100% Free & Secure

Common Challenges

Why You Need a PST File Reader

PST files require Microsoft Outlook to open, unless you have a dedicated reader.

💰
No Outlook License

Microsoft Office licenses cost $150+. Why pay just to view old email backups?

✓ Open PST files completely free

⚠️
Corrupted PST Files

PST files can become corrupted from crashes or disk errors. Outlook often refuses to open them.

✓ Recover data from damaged PST

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Old Backup Archives

Found PST files from years ago? Need to check what's inside before importing?

✓ Preview without importing

🔍
Forensic Investigation

Investigating email evidence for legal proceedings? Need read-only access.

✓ Zero modification to files

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Password-Protected

Have encrypted PST files? Our reader handles password protection reliably.

✓ Open protected PST files

📊
Large PST Files

Enterprise archives exceeding 50GB? Outlook struggles with oversized files.

✓ Optimized for large files

Preview All Components

Read all Email Items from PST Files

Access all Outlook data, emails, attachments, contacts, calendars, tasks, and notes.

View PST file with Full Information

With this PST file reader, you can effortlessly access and read PST files directly from your web browser or using our desktop application. No third-party software needed.

Read all PST elements:

  • Email Messages & Body Content
  • Email Headers & Metadata
  • All Attachment Types
  • Contacts with Photos
  • Calendar Events & Meetings
  • Tasks & Notes

All viewable PST file elements:

  • Inbox Messages
  • Sent Items
  • Drafts
  • Deleted Items
  • Junk Email
  • Custom Folders
  • Subfolders
  • Email Subject
  • From/To/CC/BCC
  • Date & Time
  • Attachments
  • Inline Images
  • Email Signature
  • HTML Body
  • Plain Text Body
  • Message Headers
  • Contacts
  • Contact Photos
  • Phone Numbers
  • Email Addresses
  • Calendar Events
  • Meeting Attendees
  • Reminders
  • Tasks
  • Notes
  • Journal Entries

Offline Viewer Feature

PST File Health Check

Instantly diagnose your PST file's condition before opening (Desktop version)

🩺 Automatic Diagnostics

When you open a PST file with the offline viewer, it automatically scans and reports on the file's health status.

What We Check:
  • ✓ File structure integrity
  • ✓ Header corruption detection
  • ✓ Folder tree consistency
  • ✓ Encryption status
  • ✓ ANSI vs Unicode format
📋 Health Report Preview
File Structure

PST header and structure intact

Healthy
Folder Hierarchy

All 47 folders accessible

Healthy
Orphaned Items

12 items without parent folder

Recoverable
File Format

Unicode PST (Outlook 2003+)

Unicode
Supports ANSI and Unicode PST Files

Full Compatibility

Support All PST File Types

This PST viewer supports both ANSI Outlook (97, 98, 2000, 2002) and Unicode Outlook (2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024) file formats.

Whether your PST file is from an old Outlook 2000 installation or the latest Microsoft 365, our reader opens it without issues. The tool automatically detects the format and handles both types seamlessly.

ANSI PST

Outlook 97-2002
Up to 2GB limit

Unicode PST

Outlook 2003+
Up to 50GB+

Key Features

Key Features of PST File Reader

Powerful features for both online and offline PST viewing

Password Protected

Open Password-Protected PST

Both online and offline versions support password-protected PST files. Enter your password and access all encrypted content securely.

Corrupted PST Recovery

Recover Corrupted PST Files

Advanced recovery algorithms read data from damaged PST files that Outlook refuses to open. Recover emails from partially corrupted archives.

Preview Attachments

Safe Attachment Preview

Preview attachments directly without downloading. View images, PDFs, and documents safely within the reader. Download when needed.

Large PST Files

Handle 50GB+ PST Files

No file size limits. Optimized for enterprise-scale PST archives. The offline viewer handles massive files that slow down Outlook.

Search and Filter

Advanced Search & Filter

Find any email instantly. Search by keyword, sender, date range, or attachment name. Filter results to quickly locate specific messages.

No Outlook

No Outlook Required

Works completely standalone. No Microsoft Outlook, no Office license, no configuration. Just open your PST files directly.

Cross Platform

Cross-Platform Access

Online version works on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android, any device with a browser. Offline version optimized for Windows.

ANSI Unicode

ANSI & Unicode PST

Full support for legacy ANSI PST (Outlook 97-2002) and modern Unicode PST (Outlook 2003+). Open files from any Outlook version.

Secure

100% Secure & Private

Online: Files processed locally, never uploaded. Offline: All processing on your computer. Your data stays completely private.

Step-by-Step Process

How to Use PST File Reader

Choose online or offline, both are simple 3-step processes

Open PST File Reader
Browse PST Contents
Search and Access Emails

Comparison

Online vs Offline PST File Reader

Choose the right version for your needs

  • Features
  • View PST Emails & Folders
  • Preview Attachments
  • Download Attachments
  • Search & Filter
  • Password-Protected PST
  • All Operating Systems
  • No Installation Required
  • Handle 50GB+ Files
  • Corrupted PST Recovery
  • Multiple PST Files
  • PST Health Check
  • Forensic Analysis
  • Quick Access
    Online
  • ✔
  • ✔
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  • ✔
  • ✔
  • ✔
  • ✔
  • ❌
  • ❌
  • ❌
  • ❌
  • Try Now
  • Recommended
    Offline
  • ✔
  • ✔
  • ✔
  • ✔
  • ✔
  • ❌ Windows Only
  • ❌ Download Required
  • ✔
  • ✔
  • ✔
  • ✔
  •  Download

Understanding Outlook Files

PST vs OST: What's the Difference?

Know which Outlook file you have and which tool you need

Characteristic PST File OST File
Full Name Personal Storage Table Offline Storage Table
Purpose Backup, archive, export Offline Exchange cache
Portable? ✓ Yes ✗ No
Tool Needed PST Reader (this page) OST Viewer →
💡
Quick Tip: Check your file extension. Files ending in .pst use this PST Reader. Files ending in .ost need OST Viewer.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about viewing PST files online and offline

You have two options: 1) Online: Use our browser-based PST Reader at the top of this page, works on any device, no installation. 2) Offline: Download our free Windows desktop viewer for advanced features like corrupted file recovery and large file handling.

100% safe and private. Your PST files are processed entirely in your browser using JavaScript, they are never uploaded to our servers. All data stays on your device and is cleared when you close the tab.

Yes. Both online and offline versions support password-protected PST files. You'll be prompted to enter the password when opening. If you've forgotten the password, you'll need recovery tools first.

Yes (Offline version). The desktop viewer includes advanced recovery algorithms that can read data from damaged PST files that Outlook refuses to open. It can recover emails from partially corrupted archives.

PST files are portable backup/archive files you create. OST files are automatic cache copies of Exchange mailbox data tied to a specific Outlook profile. PST files can be opened anywhere; OST files need an OST Viewer.

Yes (Offline version). The desktop viewer handles PST files of any size with optimized memory management. For very large files, we recommend the offline version for better performance.

Yes. Full support for legacy ANSI PST (Outlook 97-2002) and modern Unicode PST (Outlook 2003+). The viewer automatically detects and handles both formats.

Yes (Offline version). The desktop viewer operates in read-only mode and never modifies source files. It includes email header analysis and is used by forensic professionals for e-discovery and legal investigations.

Trustworthy

Why Choose 4n6 PST Reader?

Trusted by IT professionals, forensic investigators, and millions of users worldwide

Dual Options

Online + Offline Options

Choose how you want to work. Use the online reader for quick browser-based access from any device. Use the offline viewer for advanced features, large files, and forensic work. Both are free.

Secure

100% Secure & Private

Online: Files processed locally in browser, never uploaded. Offline: Everything stays on your computer. Both versions ensure your email data remains completely private and protected.

Easy

Free, Fast & Easy

No hidden costs, no subscriptions. Optimized for fast performance. User-friendly interface requires no technical knowledge. Just open your PST files and start viewing immediately.

Expert Support

Need Help With PST Files?

Our email forensics experts are ready to assist with any questions about viewing, recovering, or analyzing PST files.

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Customer Reviews

What Users Say About PST Reader

Real feedback from IT professionals, forensic investigators, and everyday users

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