Fix Database Status Unknown with 3 Easy Ways

Have you ever encounter the Exchange database status unknown error when you are using Microsoft Exchange Server at work or at home? Though Exchange is an important amigo in business use, it also runs into error from time to time.

A common issue arises when a mailbox database displays an 'Unknown' status. When checking its state in the Exchange Admin Center (EAC) or via PowerShell, you might see the error 'Exchange database status unknown.' This typically indicates deeper problems that can significantly impact email services and user accessibility.

This error typically occurs when your database is in an unmounted or Dismounted state, indicating that you may be unable to send or receive emails. The unknown status often relates to corruption or service failure, and you can follow the steps here to resolve the issue.

First Aid: Recover Data Lost During Database Status Unknown

If you have lost files due to a database error and are unsure how to recover them, try EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard. This reliable and professional data recovery tool can help you recover lost files after several errors.

EaseUS data recovery software for Windows 11 enables comprehensive data restoration in various challenging scenarios, including recovering files from emptied Recycle Bins, retrieving data from damaged hard drives, and restoring information from formatted USB flash drives

Follow the steps here to recover data lost during the database error:

Step 1. Choose the exact file location and then click the "Search for Lost Data" button to continue.

Step 2. After the process, locate the deleted or lost files in the left panel using the "Path" or "Type" feature. Or, you can apply the "Filter" feature to find the deleted files.

Step 3. Click the "Recover" button and save the restored files – ideally, it should be different from the original one. You can choose a cloud storage, such as OneDrive, Google Drive, etc., and click "Save" to save your recovered files.

Method 1. Restart the Server to Solve Database Status Unknown Error

Occasionally, restarting the system can resolve temporary problems, such as an 'Unknown' database status. Reboot your Exchange Server and verify the mailbox database status in the Exchange Admin Center (EAC) or via PowerShell. If the database shows as 'Mounted,' the issue was likely temporary and should now be resolved. If the problem persists, move on to the next troubleshooting step

Method 2. Dismount and Remount the Database to Fix "Database Status Unknown" Error

One of the easiest methods you can try to fix this database error is to dismount and remount the database again with the help of Exchange Management Shell. Here is how you can do this:

Step 1. Open EMS as an administrator and type the following command:

Step 2. Then, type the following command to dismount it:

(Replace "DatabaseName" with the name of the affected database).

Step 3. Choose your database and hit Enter.

Step 4. Mount your database now by typing the following command:

Now you can check if the error is gone.

Method 3. Fix Database Status Unknown Error with EseUtil

If the mounting and dismounting fail, you can then repair the database with the help of a tool called EaseUtil. 

⚠️ Note: You should dismount the database with an Unknown status before using the EseUtil commands for database repair and recovery in case of further error.

Step 1. Open EMS and type the following command:

(For example, this might look like: Eseutil /r E00 /l "PathToLogFolder" /d "PathToDatabaseFolder").

Step 2. If the repair process above fails, you can try this command again:

Conclusion

The "Database Status Unknown" error in Exchange Server indicates serious underlying issues that demand immediate attention. While a basic restart may fix temporary glitches, recurring problems will need more advanced troubleshooting—such as restarting essential services, manually remounting the database, or performing repairs with utilities like EseUtil.

FAQs on Database Status Unknown

Read this database status unknown FAQ part to get more information that you may be curious about:

1. How to fix an unknown database?

•     Verify the database name.
•     Confirm the existence of the database.
•     Check permissions.
•     Confirm server connection.
•     Create or recreate a database.

2. How to check the status of the database?

Every database maintains a defined operational state, such as ONLINE, OFFLINE, or SUSPECT. You can check a database's current state by querying the state_desc column in the sys.databases catalog view or examining the Status property using the DATABASEPROPERTYEX funct