
A password-protected Outlook PST file can contain important emails, contacts, calendars, tasks, notes, and other mailbox data. But when the PST password is forgotten or lost, accessing this information can become difficult.
In such situations, PST Password Recovery Software can help users recover, remove, or reset the password associated with an Outlook data file. These tools are designed to simplify the password recovery process and provide access to protected PST files.
There are several PST password recovery tools available in the market. However, choosing the right one depends on factors such as password recovery capabilities, PST compatibility, ease of use, batch processing, and data preservation.
In this article, we have compared the 3 best PST Password Recovery Software to help you choose a suitable solution for your requirements.
Top 3 PST Password Recovery Software – Quick Comparison
Software | Best For | Password Recovery | Multiple PSTs | PST Support |
SysTools PST Password Recovery | Removing forgotten PST passwords | Yes | Yes | ANSI & Unicode |
Stellar Password Recovery for Outlook | Recovering lost Outlook PST passwords | Yes | No | Password-protected PST |
Kernel Outlook Password Recovery | Recovering, removing & resetting PST passwords | Limited | Yes | Multiple Outlook versions |
1. SysTools PST Password Recovery – Best Overall PST Password Recovery Software
SysTools PST Password Recovery is a dedicated utility designed to remove passwords from Microsoft Outlook PST files. It can be useful when users have forgotten the password of an old or password-protected PST file and need to access the stored mailbox data.
The software supports both ANSI and Unicode PST files and provides options to add individual PST files or folders containing multiple files. It also includes a search option to locate PST files when their exact storage location is unknown.
Key Features of SysTools PST Password Recovery
Remove password from Outlook PST files
Unlock password-protected PST files
Support both ANSI and Unicode PST formats
Add individual PST files
Add multiple PST files through the folder option
Search for PST files automatically
Process multiple PST files
Support PST files created by different Outlook versions
Work without requiring Outlook to be installed or configured
Maintain the data stored inside the PST file
Available for Windows and Mac users
Why Choose SysTools PST Password Recovery?
SysTools is suitable for users who specifically want to remove password protection from Outlook PST files. The software provides a dedicated interface for adding and processing PST files instead of requiring users to work through multiple Outlook settings.
It can also be useful when multiple password-protected PST files need to be processed, as users can add files individually or select a folder containing multiple PST files.
Best For
SysTools PST Password Recovery is best suited for:
Users who have forgotten their PST password
Users working with multiple password-protected PST files
IT professionals managing Outlook data files
Users working with ANSI or Unicode PST files
Users who want a dedicated PST password removal solution
2. Stellar Password Recovery for Outlook – Best for Recovering Forgotten PST Passwords
Stellar Password Recovery for Outlook is designed to recover lost or forgotten passwords associated with Microsoft Outlook PST files. The software generates different valid password sets that can be used to unlock password-protected or encrypted PST files. Stellar states that the tool provides six different password options and supports PST files encrypted by Outlook 2021, 2019, 2016, and earlier versions.
Key Features of Stellar Password Recovery for Outlook
Recover lost or forgotten Outlook PST passwords
Generate six different password options
Unlock password-protected PST files
Work with encrypted PST files
Support Outlook 2021, 2019, 2016, and earlier versions
Find PST files when their location is unknown
Provide a straightforward password recovery process
Work on Windows systems
Why Choose Stellar Password Recovery for Outlook?
Stellar can be considered when the main requirement is recovering a forgotten Outlook PST password.
The software allows users to add a password-protected PST file and run the password recovery process. After the scan, the generated valid password options can be used to access the protected PST file.
3. Kernel Outlook Password Recovery – Best for Recovering, Removing & Resetting PST Passwords
Kernel Outlook Password Recovery is another dedicated solution for recovering and managing passwords associated with Outlook PST files. The software provides options to recover, remove, and set a new password for password-protected PST files. It also supports long, complex, multilingual, and special-character passwords.
Kernel also provides a bulk password recovery option for multiple PST files and supports large PST files. According to the vendor, the software can generate an alternate password to access a locked PST file when required.
Key Features of Kernel Outlook Password Recovery
Recover lost or forgotten PST passwords
Remove existing PST passwords
Set a new password for PST files
Recover passwords from multiple PST files
Support long and complex passwords
Handle special and non-English characters
Generate an alternate password for accessing locked PST files
Support PST files from different Outlook versions
Preserve PST data during password recovery
Provide a simple recovery interface
Save the recovery report in CSV format
Why Choose Kernel Outlook Password Recovery?
Kernel is useful when users need more than basic password recovery. It provides separate options for recovering a password, removing an existing password, or setting a new password.
The software also supports bulk processing, which can be useful for users or IT professionals handling multiple Outlook PST files.
What to Consider When Choosing PST Password Recovery Software?
Choosing the right PST password recovery software depends on your specific requirements. Before selecting a tool, consider the following factors.
1. Password Recovery Capability:
The software should be capable of handling forgotten or lost PST passwords. Some tools focus mainly on recovery, while others also provide password removal and reset options.
2. PST Compatibility:
Check whether the software supports the PST format you are using. Support for both ANSI and Unicode PST files can be important when working with PST files created by different Outlook versions.
3. Multiple PST File Support:
If you have multiple password-protected PST files, choose software that can process more than one file. Batch processing can save considerable time compared with handling every PST separately.
4. Complex Password Support:
Some PST files may use long passwords, special characters, or non-English characters. In such cases, check whether the software supports complex and multilingual passwords.
5. Data Preservation:
Password recovery should not compromise the mailbox data stored inside the PST file. It is always recommended to create a backup copy of the original PST before performing any password recovery or removal operation.
6. Ease of Use:
A simple interface can make the recovery process easier, especially for users who do not have advanced technical knowledge of Outlook data files.
Which PST Password Recovery Software Should You Choose?
The best tool depends on what you want to accomplish with the password-protected PST file.
Choose SysTools PST Password Recovery if:
You want to remove a forgotten PST password.
You work with ANSI or Unicode PST files.
You need to process multiple PST files.
You want to search for PST files automatically.
You need a dedicated PST password removal utility.
You want support for Windows and Mac.
Choose Stellar Password Recovery for Outlook if:
Your main requirement is recovering a forgotten PST password.
You work with password-protected or encrypted PST files.
You need support for multiple Outlook versions.
You want a dedicated Outlook password recovery tool.
Choose Kernel Outlook Password Recovery if:
You want to recover a forgotten PST password.
You need to remove an existing PST password.
You want to set a new PST password.
You need to process multiple PST files.
You are dealing with long, complex, or multilingual passwords.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is PST Password Recovery Software?
Ans: PST Password Recovery Software is designed to help users recover, remove, or reset passwords associated with Microsoft Outlook PST files when the original password is forgotten or unavailable.
2. Can I recover a forgotten Outlook PST password?
Ans: Yes. Dedicated PST password recovery tools can help users regain access to password-protected Outlook PST files. The exact recovery process depends on the tool being used.
3. Can SysTools remove a forgotten PST password?
Ans: Yes. SysTools PST Password Recovery is designed to remove passwords from password-protected Outlook PST files, including files where the original password is forgotten.
4. Does SysTools support ANSI and Unicode PST files?
Ans: Yes. SysTools supports both ANSI and Unicode PST file formats.
5. Does Stellar recover the original PST password?
Ans: Stellar states that its Password Recovery for Outlook generates six different valid password options that can be used to unlock the protected PST file.
6. Can Kernel remove a PST password?
Ans: Yes. Kernel Outlook Password Recovery provides options to recover and remove PST passwords and also allows users to set a new password.
7. Can I recover passwords from multiple PST files?
Ans: Yes. SysTools supports processing multiple PST files, while Kernel also provides bulk PST password recovery capabilities.
8. Should I back up my PST before password recovery?
Ans: Yes. Creating a backup of the original PST file is recommended before performing any password recovery, removal, or reset operation.
Conclusion
A forgotten Outlook PST password can prevent users from accessing important mailbox data. When the original password is unavailable, manually trying to recover access may not always be practical, particularly when working with multiple or complex PST files.
Dedicated PST Password Recovery Software provides a more convenient way to handle these situations.
Among the three tools discussed above, SysTools PST Password Recovery is a suitable option for users looking for dedicated PST password removal with support for ANSI and Unicode files and multiple PST processing. Stellar Password Recovery for Outlook focuses on recovering lost or forgotten PST passwords, while Kernel Outlook Password Recovery provides options to recover, remove, and set new PST passwords.
Before choosing any tool, consider the PST format, number of files, password complexity, operating system, and the specific recovery operation you need.