How to Find ScanPST.exe or Inbox Repair Tool

The Inbox Repair Tool (ScanPST.exe) is a free utility from Microsoft that helps repair errors in Outlook Data Files (.pst). It is commonly used when Outlook refuses to load or when a PST file becomes corrupted or inaccessible.

What is ScanPST.exe & Where to Find It?

ScanPST.exe is installed automatically with Microsoft Outlook, but its location varies depending on the version of Outlook and whether it’s installed via Microsoft Office setup or Microsoft Store.

Here are the default locations:

• Outlook 2016
  • C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16\ (32-bit Windows)
    
  • C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office16\ (64-bit Windows)
    
  • C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16\ (64-bit Outlook)
    
• Outlook 2013
  • C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office15\ (32-bit Windows)
    
  • C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office15\ (64-bit Windows)
    
  • C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office15\ (64-bit Outlook)
    
• Outlook 2010
  • C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14\ (32-bit Windows)
    
  • C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14\ (64-bit Windows)
    
  • C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14\ (64-bit Outlook)
    
• Outlook 2007
  • C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\ (32-bit Windows)
    
  • C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office12\ (64-bit Windows)
    
• Outlook 2003
  • C:\Program Files\Common Files\System\MSMAPI\<locale ID>\ (32-bit Windows)
    
  • C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\System\MSMAPI\<locale ID>\ (64-bit Windows)
    
• Outlook 2002 / XP
  • C:\Program Files\Common Files\System\MAPI\<locale ID>\
    
    

What Does the Inbox Repair Tool Do?

The Inbox Repair Tool (ScanPST.exe) is designed as a first-aid utility for PST file issues. It:

• Analyzes the PST’s directory structure and item headers.
  
• Detects and validates internal errors in the PST file.
  
• Creates a backup copy before attempting any repair.
  
• Repairs corrupted PST files to the maximum possible extent.
  
• Converts even renamed .pst files into mountable PST files.
  
  

Limitations of ScanPST.exe

While useful, ScanPST.exe has certain restrictions:

• Repairs only minor corruption and integrity errors.
  
• Cannot repair encrypted PST files.
  
• May fail on PST files larger than 2 GB.
  
• May delete items it considers irreparably corrupted.
  
• Cannot fix structural damage in PST files.
  
• May not detect or resolve all errors.
  
• Does not recover permanently deleted mail items.
  
  

Why ScanPST.exe Cannot Be Found?

If you cannot locate ScanPST.exe in the default installation folders, here are possible reasons:

• Outlook was installed from the Microsoft Store instead of the Office website, which places files in different directories.
  
• Security or system restrictions prevent direct execution of .exe files.
  
• Office may be installed in a custom directory different from the default paths.

To resolve this, first check whether your Outlook installation came from the Office website or Microsoft Store. If necessary, search your computer for ScanPST.exe or reinstall Office from the official Microsoft site.

Conclusion

The Inbox Repair Tool (ScanPST.exe) is a handy built-in utility from Microsoft to address minor issues and corruption in Outlook PST files. While it can fix many common errors and restore file accessibility, its limitations make it unsuitable for handling severely damaged, oversized, or encrypted PST files. If ScanPST.exe cannot resolve the issue or is unavailable on your system, using a professional PST repair and recovery tool is the best option to ensure complete data restoration without risk of data loss.

Read More:

How to repair corrupted Outlook OST files?

How to resolve MS outlook PST file corruption error

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