100% Private & Secure

Free PST Viewer
Inspect Outlook Files

Drop an Outlook .pst file to inspect header, extract readable content, and browse email-like data. No upload — your data stays completely private.

Header analysisFormat detectionHex dump viewNo Outlook required

Drop your .pst file here

or click to browse

About

What Is a PST File?

PST (Personal Storage Table) is Microsoft Outlook's format for storing email, calendar, contacts, and tasks in a single file. The file begins with the magic bytes "!BDN" (0x21 0x42 0x44 0x4E). Byte 10 indicates the format: 14 for ANSI (older, 2 GB limit) and 23 for Unicode (larger files, international support).

This free PST Viewer reads the file on your device and parses the header to show filename, size, format version, and PST type. It also shows a hex dump of the first 512 bytes. Full folder and message parsing requires desktop software like Outlook or a dedicated PST tool.

Use the viewer to quickly verify a file is a valid PST, check ANSI vs Unicode, or inspect structure before migration — all without uploading your data.

Features

Features of the PST Viewer

Inspect Outlook PST files with no install

Header parsing

Read PST magic bytes (!BDN), format version (ANSI/Unicode), and content type from the file header.

Format detection

Detect ANSI (version 14) vs Unicode (version 23) PST format from byte 10.

Hex dump

View the first 512 bytes in a monospace grid: offset, hex, and ASCII for structure inspection.

No upload

PST files are processed entirely on your device. Nothing is sent to any server.

Private & secure

Your PST file never leaves your device. Ideal for quick structure checks without desktop tools.

Works everywhere

Use on Windows, Mac, or Linux. No Outlook or PST desktop software required.

How to use

How to View PST File Structure Online

Four simple steps — no install, no sign-up

01
01

Open the PST Viewer

Go to the PST Viewer page and you'll see the upload area.

02
02

Drop your .pst file

Drag and drop an Outlook .pst file, or click to browse and select one.

03
03

View header & metadata

Filename, size, format version (ANSI/Unicode), and PST type are shown in a clean info card.

04
04

Inspect hex dump

Review the first 512 bytes in offset | hex | ASCII layout for structure analysis.

Use cases

Use Cases for the PST Viewer

When and why to inspect PST files online

Quick format check

Verify a file is a valid PST and see whether it's ANSI or Unicode without opening Outlook.

Migration prep

Inspect PST structure before migrating to another email system or cloud service.

Support & forensics

Confirm file type and format for support tickets or audits without uploading full content.

No Outlook installed

Check PST files on a machine that doesn't have Microsoft Outlook.

Developer inspection

Inspect PST header and raw bytes during development or debugging.

Backup verification

Confirm backup or export files are valid PST before long-term storage.

Compare Plans

Free vs Paid — PST Viewer

Get started free, upgrade when you need more power.

Feature
Free
Paid
Daily usage
5 uses/day
Unlimited
File size limit
10 MB
Up to 500 MB
All core features
No software installation
Works on any device
Files stay on your device
Batch processing
Priority support
Upgrade — starting at $6.99/mo
Upgrade to Full Version

Unlock the Full Power of PST Viewer

Remove daily limits, process larger files up to 500 MB, enable batch processing, and get priority support.

Buy Full Version — $6.99/moor $300 enterprise

File Viewers includes:

  • 21 file viewers included
  • Unlimited daily uses
  • 100 MB file size limit
  • All file formats supported
  • Email analysis tools

Also available in the All Tools Bundle

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the PST Viewer

Q1. What is a PST file?
PST (Personal Storage Table) is Microsoft Outlook's format for storing email, calendar, and contacts locally. It uses a proprietary binary structure with a header (magic !BDN), format version (ANSI or Unicode), and B-trees. Full parsing requires desktop software; this viewer shows header and hex dump only.
Q2. Do you upload my PST file?
No. The PST Viewer processes everything on your device. Your file never leaves your computer. Nothing is sent to our servers.
Q3. Why can't I see my emails?
Full PST parsing (folders, messages, attachments) is not possible with this tool. We provide file structure analysis and header information. For full content, use Outlook or a dedicated PST desktop tool.
Q4. What is ANSI vs Unicode PST?
ANSI PST (version 14) is older and has a 2 GB limit. Unicode PST (version 23) supports larger files and international characters. Byte 10 in the header indicates the format.
Q5. Is the PST Viewer free?
Yes. The tool is free to use with no sign-up and no limits.
Q6. What if the header shows invalid?
The file may not be a standard PST, could be corrupted, or truncated. Check the hex dump to verify the first bytes are 21 42 44 4E (!BDN).
Q7. Does it work on Mac?
Yes. The viewer works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. No Outlook required.
Q8. Can I view OST files here?
OST uses the same file structure as PST. For OST-specific analysis, use our OST Viewer tool which is tailored for offline data files.

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