This article is a comprehensive guide to use the Inbox Repair Tool (aka scanpst.exe) in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Table of Contents
What is the Scanpst.exe tool
Microsoft Outlook stores all your emails, contacts, and calendar entries in a PST (Personal Storage Table) file. Over time, these files can become corrupted due to unexpected shutdowns, oversized data, or software conflicts. That’s where the Inbox Repair Tool (Scanpst.exe) comes in. This built-in utility is designed to diagnose and fix errors in PST files, helping you recover lost or inaccessible Outlook data. When you use the inbox repair tool, it scans the file for inconsistencies, repairs damaged structures, and restores functionality so you can continue working without disruption.
How to use the Inbox repair tool for repairing PST files in Outlook
To repair a corrupted file using Scanpst.exe, see the steps below.
- Locate the Scanpst.exe tool. It is typically in
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16 for Microsoft 365. - Run the Tool, and it should open. Click Browse and select the PST file you want to repair.
- The tool will check the PST file for errors..
- Click Repair if the errors are found. A backup is automatically created.
- Once repaired, Restart Outlook and open the PST file. If it worked, your emails, contacts, and calendar entries should now be accessible.
Use the Stellar Repair for Outlook
As an alternative, you can use Stellar Repair for Outlook, an excellent software, in place of the Inbox Repair tool. While many users first try to use the inbox repair tool (Scanpst.exe) to fix corrupted PST files, it can fail with large or severely damaged data. The Outlook PST Repair Tool from Stellar is a more reliable solution for repairing corrupted or damaged Outlook data files, which often cause email loss or performance issues. Unlike the built-in utility, this advanced tool scans the entire PST file, repairs errors, and restores all mailbox items. Additional features include the recovery of accidentally deleted items and the ability to preview them before saving.
Pricing for Stellar Repair for Outlook
Professional – $79 (Save $20) → Repairs PST with precision, recovers all mailbox items, restores deleted emails.
Technician – $149 (Save $50) → Adds split/compact options and exports PST directly to Office 365.
Toolkit (Best Seller) – $199 (Save $300) → Includes all Professional + Technician features plus 6 extra tools like OST to PST conversion.
Download
You can download the software from this link:
Outlook PST Repair Tool to Fix Corrupt PST File
To summarize, these are the two most reliable methods to repair our corrupted Outlook Data file.
