Microsoft Outlook with a POP3 account keeps a copy of all emails, contacts, calendars, attachments, and basically everything you throw at it in a PST (Personal Storage Table) file. Sometimes those PST files get corrupted — maybe because of a sudden shutdown, size issues, or just plain bad luck — and then Outlook acts all weird. You open it, and instead of loading, it just stalls or throws errors. When that happens, the built-in repair tool, called Inbox Repair or ScanPST, can sometimes save the day. But beware: it’s not perfect, and depending on how bad the damage is, it might fail or only do a partial fix. Still, it’s worth trying before jumping to third-party options.
How to Fix PST Files With Outlook’s Inbox Repair Tool (ScanPST)
Locating the ScanPST.exe File
First things first, you need to find where ScanPST.exe lives on your system. Usually, it’s tucked inside the Outlook installation folder. On most setups, it’s in a path like C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16 for Office 2016, or similar for Office 2013/2019/365. If you’re not sure, just search for ScanPST.exe in your Program Files folder. On some setups, especially if you installed Office in a custom directory, you might have to dig around or look in Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features to confirm the version you’re using and then find the executable. Because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary, right?
Finding Your PST File Location
Before running ScanPST, gotta pinpoint where your PST lives. Usually, it’s in Outlook itself: go to File > Account Settings > Data Files. Here, you’ll see a list with all your PSTs and their paths. The path might look like C:\Users\yourname\Documents\Outlook Files\yourfile.pst. If you’re dealing with a large or suspiciously slow Outlook, finding and backing up these PSTs before repairs is a solid idea. Noticed that sometimes, the PSTs get big enough that repair attempts might take a while or even stall — so patience is key or maybe split large files beforehand.
Running the Repair Tool
- Navigate to the folder where you found
ScanPST.exe. Right-click and select Run as Administrator. Just doing this might solve permission issues you didn’t realize were holding things back. - The inbox repair window should open — click Browse and point it to your problematic PST file.
- Hit Start. The tool will scan the file, which can take a few minutes depending on size and corruption level. Watch for errors; if it finds issues, there’ll be an option to make a backup before it attempts repairs. Don’t skip that, just in case the repair messes things up even more. Once it’s done, if it reports no errors, definitely still make a backup copy of the repaired PST just in case.
- If errors are found, check the box for “Make a backup of the scanned file before repairing, ” then click Repair. Be warned: on some larger or severely damaged files, the process might hang or crash mid-way — that’s frustrating, but you can try again or move to a more advanced tool.
Limitations and When Things Don’t Go as Planned
This tool can handle minor corruption like header errors or minor structural issues. But if the PST is severely damaged, password protected, or huge (over 50 GB), it might just give up. Sometimes, the repair process takes longer than expected, or Outlook keeps crashing after repairs. In those cases, the built-in tool might not cut it anymore. Also, it can’t recover deleted items or repair password-protected PSTs.
Because of these limitations, some folks turn to dedicated third-party PST repair utilities, like Stellar Repair for Outlook. These usually can manage bigger files, more severe corruption, and have features like splitting large PSTs into manageable chunks. Not saying the free tool isn’t worth a shot, but if the PST is crucial or stubborn, a dedicated tool might save a lot of headaches.
What If the Built-in Tool Fails?
If ScanPST just doesn’t do the trick, or if it crashes halfway through, maybe time to consider professional-grade solutions. There are apps that are designed to recover data from really damaged PST files, even if they’re massive or password protected. Stellar Repair for Outlook is one of those. It can often recover everything, even from files that refuse to open normally. Usually, these tools will create a healthy copy of your mailbox data, which you can then import back into Outlook — kinda like hitting reset but with your data intact.
Wrap-up
Dealing with corrupt PST files is a pain, no doubt. The built-in Outlook Inbox Repair tool can fix minor issues, and if that doesn’t work, there are decent third-party options. Just remember to back up your files first — especially before using repair tools — because sometimes they just add to the chaos. On one machine, the repair might work on the first try; on another, it could take multiple runs or a switch to a third-party utility. Basically, don’t lose hope — there are options, even if it’s a bit frustrating at times.
Summary
- Find
ScanPST.exein your Outlook folder or search for it. - Locate your PST file via Outlook’s Data Files panel.
- Run ScanPST as Admin, browse to your PST, and scan it.
- If errors show up, backup and repair — patience needed!
- For stubborn corruption, consider third-party tools like Stellar Repair.