Outlook Datafile usage is disabled on this computer [solved]

MS Outlook is currently the most popular email client that can be used by both regular users and skilled users. The complete data can be saved in two file formats such as PST and OST. But sometimes, while using the MS Outlook application, users may face different issues. One of the problems highlighted in Outlook 2016 is “Outlook Datafile usage is disabled on this computer”. Therefore, in this blog, we are going to learn techniques to fix this problem.

First of all, we should know about this error.

“Outlook Error Outlook Data Files usage is Disabled” error means-

You can easily see this error message on the 2016, 2013 and 2010 versions of Outlook. This error occurs when adding PST files or adding a new PST file to the data. Therefore, nothing to worry about this error as it can be easily solved by disabling the option “Prevent User from Adding New Data to Existing PST File.”

How to solve “Outlook datafile usage is disabled on this Computer” error manually?

Go through the following manual methods to solve “Outlook Data Files Usage is Disabled” for the version of Outlook 2016, 2013, 2010. This Outlook error message is disabled in your Outlook account when you add PST files or add a new PST file to your account. Now, follow the steps below:

1. As per the Outlook version from the MS Download Center, install the Office Administrative Template.
2. Now, open “policy management Support” and pick the GPO that custom settings will be requested. Press right-click on Default Domain Policy and choose ‘ Edit ‘.
3. Next, open the Outlook settings >>go to Outlook Options. Choose “Other” >>hit on Auto-Archive. Then enable the Disable data file >>disable the Auto-Archive Settings.
4. Start the Outlook application and go to the PST settings.
5. Then disable the “Prevent User from Adding New Data to Existing PST File or Prevent using sharing Exclusive PST’s”.
6. At last, to instantly apply the GPO, run gpupdate and log in.

Sometimes it happens that if you adjust the Outlook registries incorrectly, you may also face this Outlook mistake, which does not allow you to add new PST files or data to the current PST file, and if you want to make any changes to your Outlook registries, I will recommend taking outlook registry backups.

There are some situations where you may face the “Outlook PST file is disabled on this computer” error when you adjust the Outlook registries incorrectly. This does not allow you to add new PST files or data to the current PST file. So, if you want to make any changes to your Outlook registries, I will recommend taking outlook registry backups.

Points to keep in mind:

Activate/prevent users properly from adding new data to an existing PST file.

To prevent a user from adding new content to an existing Outlook PST data file, change the asset value to 0 in the PSTDisableGrow registry section. To do this, obey the following:

• Initially, open the Registry Editor.
• Search and then, go to the following registry subkey:

HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwarePoliciesMicrosoftOffice.0OutlookPST

[The .0 placeholder shows the MS Outlook version]

• HitNew under the Edit menu>> choose DWORD Value.
• Then enter PSTDisableGrow>> hit Enter key.
• Next, right-click on created PSTDisableGrow registry entry>> choose Modify.
• Within the Value databox, type 0, and then click OK.

Notice: The registry entry PSTDisableGrow will be set to the following values:

0 = In an existing PST file, users can add new data. That is the default one.

1 = The new content can not be added to an existing PST file.

Activate/prevent a user from adding a new PST file correctly.

To prevent a user from connecting to a single PST file, change the DisablePST registry entry as a value to 0. This will help you fix ‘ outlook datafile usage is disabled on this computer’. To do this, follow the steps listed below:

• Initially, open the Registry Editor.
• Search and then, go to the following registry subkey:

HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwarePoliciesMicrosoftOffice.0OutlookPST

[The .0 placeholder shows the MS Outlook version]

• Hit New under the Edit menu>> choose DWORD Value.
• Then enter DisablePST>> hit Enter key.
• Next, right-click on created DisablePST registry entry>> choose Modify.
• Within the Value databox, type 0, and then click OK.

Notice: The registry entry DisablePST will be set to the following values:

0 =Users can add data files from PST. That’s the default value.

1 = PST files cannot be added.

2 = Users can only add PST data that are exchanged exclusively, such as SharePoint PST files.

If the manual approach is tricky or doesn’t work for you then we advise you to go to an automated solution. This blunder can be easily removed by Outlook PST Repair Utility and gets the job done in no time. To remove the error, the PST file must be recovered and the recovered file replaced by the previous file. Use the method below to recover the PST file.

Conclusion

We have mentioned all the manual approaches to fix the “Outlook Data Files Usage is Disabled” error. Also, a direct way has been explained to avoid manual methods complexities.