Tips to open OAB file
Can't open the OAB file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open OAB files as well as a list of programs that support OAB files.
OAB file extension
| File Name |
Offline Address Book |
| File Category |
Data Files |
The OAB file is supported on 1 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the OAB files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the OAB file on each system platform.
What is OAB file?
The file in the OAB format belongs to the Data Files category. Additionally, the Data Files category contains 1326 of other files. Offline Address Book appears on 1 operating systems as a functional file. Although it can be found with greater or lesser success on any operating system, it will only be useful on Windows. It is recommended to use Microsoft Outlook to handle this file. This is a program created by Microsoft Corporation. Alternatively, you can use 1 other programs. Microsoft Office will apply when it is not possible to use Microsoft Outlook.
How to open OAB file?
An often recurring problem with Offline Address Book is that OAB is not associated with the correct program file. This causes the file OAB to open by system applications not designed for this purpose, or to display a message that there is no associated program. How to solve such a problem?
The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the OAB file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.
Step 1. Install Microsoft Outlook
The first step is to check if the computer has the Microsoft Outlook program installed. The easiest method is to use the system search engine by entering the program name Microsoft Outlook in it. If we do not have this program, it is worth installing it, as it will help you automatically associate the file OAB with Microsoft Outlook. Later in this article you will find a list of programs that can open OAB files.
Programs to open OAB file
Remember to download programs supporting OAB files only from verified and safe sources. We suggest using the websites of software developers.
Step 2. Create association of Microsoft Outlook with OAB files
If the application is or has been freshly installed, but the OAB file still does not use the Microsoft Outlook program, it means no association. The association can be created using the drop-down list available by right-clicking on the file and selecting Properties. The displayed window will contain information about the program that supports this type of file. Using the "Change" button we can select the desired program. If there is no software on the list, simply select "Browse" and manually select the directory where the application is installed. However, it is important to check the "Always use the selected program ..." box, this will allow you to permanently associate the OAB file with the Microsoft Outlook application.
Step 3. Update Microsoft Outlook to the latest version
If, despite the association of the Microsoft Outlook program with the Offline Address Book file, the file still does not open, check the program version and possibly update it to the newest version. In this case, use the Microsoft Corporation website or update the program from the application.
Step 4. Check for the following problems with the OAB file
Of course, it may happen that despite the above steps, the file still does not work. The most common file problems are:
The affected file may be 0 KB or smaller than expected. Usually this applies to OAB files downloaded from the Internet in case the download did not finish properly. Downloading the file again should fix the problem.
The most common cause here is computer viruses. A virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should fix the problem. If this is not possible, you can use the online scanner. However, it is important to scan the entire system, not only the file OAB or the program directory. Sometimes virus-infected OAB files cannot be recovered, so make a backup in advance.
This can happen especially when the program is dynamically developed and the structure of the OAB files changes over time. On their websites, developers usually offer free solutions to such problems, e.g. in the form of a conversion program or an older version of the program.
The file may be corrupted in a number of ways. The repair method must be adapted to the type of file and damage. Sometimes the program itself has options to repair the most popular OAB file corruption. The easiest way is to restore the file from a backup, if there is one, or contact N/A
The program can also signal the fact of encryption. The encrypted OAB files cannot be played on other computers than the one on which they were encrypted, they must be decrypted before using on another device.
The operating system protects files in some locations (e.g. the root of the system partition) against unauthorized access. While there is usually no problem reading such a file, it may not be possible to save it. Copying the OAB file to another location will fix the problem.
This problem only occurs with more complex files. Some file types can only be opened in one program at a time. Just close unnecessary programs. If the error persists after closing other programs, wait for a while. Some anti-virus or backup software may occupy the OAB file for a certain period of time. If the problem persists, restart the machine.
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