Last updated on June 26th, 2018

In Outlook 2003, 2007, 2010 and 2013 versions, several problems can be caused if the Outlook Personal Storage (PST) file becomes corrupted or damaged. Outlook PST file may become corrupted for a number of reasons (e.g. incompatible Outlook add-in(s), hard disk damage, power failures, etc.) and when this happens, Outlook runs into problems (errors) such as Outlook cannot start, gives send/receive errors or is not responding, stops working, freezes or hangs. In such types of Outlook errors you have to repair the Outlook PST file by using the Inbox Repair Tool (scanpst.exe) provided by Microsoft and installed in every Office version.

This tutorial will show you how to repair a corrupted Outlook PST or OST file using the Inbox Repair Tool (scanpst.exe).

How to use ScanPst.exe to repair a damaged Outlook PST (Personal folders) file or an Outlook OST (Offline Folder) file.

Step 1: Locate the Scanpst tool according to your Outlook Version.

The location of Scanpst tool differs in every Outlook version. To find the scanpst.exe tool navigate to the following location according to your Outlook version and Windows version (32 or 64bit).

• Office 365 & Outlook 2016 Click to Run: C:Program FilesMicrosoft Officerootoffice16

• Outlook 2016 (32-bit) Windows (32-bit): C:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficerootOffice16
• Outlook 2016 (32-bit) Windows (64-bit): C:Program Files (x86)Microsoft OfficerootOffice16
• Outlook 2016 (64bit) & Windows (64bit): C:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficerootOffice16

• Outlook 2013 (32bit) & Windows (32bit): C:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeOffice15
• Outlook 2013 (32bit) & Windows (64bit): C:Program Files (x86)Microsoft OfficeOffice15
• Outlook 2013 (64bit) & Windows (64bit): C:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeOffice15

• Outlook 2010 (32bit)& Windows (32bit): C:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeOffice14
• Outlook 2010 (32bit)& Windows (64bit): C:Program Files (x86)Microsoft OfficeOffice14
• Outlook 2010 (64bit) & Windows (64bit): C:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeOffice14

• Outlook 2007 & Windows (32bit): C:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeOffice12
• Outlook 2007 & Windows (64bit): C:Program Files (x86)Microsoft OfficeOffice12

• Outlook 2003 & Windows (32bit): C:Program FilesCommon FilesSystemMapi1033
• Outlook 2003 & Windows (64bit): C:Program Files (x86)Common FilesSystemMapi1033

Step 2: Enable the Hidden Files View.

You must enable the hidden files view before performing the next step. To do that, go to:

1. Start > Control Panel > Folder Options.
2. Click the View tab.
3. Click (check) the Show hidden files, folders, and drives option
4. Press OK.

Step 3. Locate the Outlook PST or Outlook OST file(s).

Now locate where your Outlook data files are stored on your disk. Outlook data are stored at different locations on your disk according your Outlook and Windows version during Outlook client setup:

– The Outlook 2003, 2007 & 2013 Personal folders (PST) and Outlook Offline folders (OST) files are stored by default at this location:

Windows XP:

• C:Documents and Settings%Username%Local SettingsApplication DataMicrosoftOutlook

Windows 10, 8, Windows 7, or Windows Vista:

• C:Users%Username%AppDataLocalMicrosoftOutlook

– The Outlook 2010, 2013 & Outlook 2016 Personal folders (PST) and Outlook Offline folders (OST) files are stored by default at this location:

• C:Users%Username%DocumentsOutlook Files

To locate the Outlook data files manually:

– If you use Outlook 2016, 2013 or Outlook 2010:

1. At File menu: go to Info > Account Settings.
2. In Account Settings window, choose the Data Files tab and click to Open File Location.

– If you use Outlook 2007 or Outlook 2003:

1. At Tools menu: click Options.
2. Selectthe Mail Setup tab.
3. Click Data Files > Open File Location.

Step 4. Run the Inbox Repair tool to scan and repair Outlook Data files (PST & OST).

1. Close Outlook application.

2. Run the scanpst.exe application from its stored location (as described in Step 1).

3. Click Browse.

4. Locate (see step-3), select and open the Outlook data file that you want to repair (e.g. the 'Outlook.pst' data file).

5. Press Start to start the repair(s).

6. Leave the 'Make backup of scanned file before repairing' option checked and click Repair.

7, When the repair is completed, press OK to close the information message and open Outlook.

You 're done!

On Windows 10, whether you're using Outlook 2019, 2016, or an older version, the app stores a copy of your emails, contacts, and calendars using two different data files depending on the account type for offline access.

If you're using an IMAP or POP account, such as those provided by your Internet Service Provider (ISP), then your account information is stored inside of an Outlook Data File (PST). On the other hand, if you're using an Office 365, Exchange, or Outlook.com account, the data is stored in the Offline Outlook Data File (OST).

Usually, these data files are very reliable, but they can eventually stop working or get damaged, and for this reason, all desktop versions of Outlook bundles a repair tool to troubleshoot and fix problems with .pst files, as well as the ability to regenerate the .ost file automatically.

In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the steps to repair corrupted data files, recover missing items from your inbox, problems opening Outlook 2019, Outlook 2016, and older versions using a .ost or .pst file.

How to repair Offline Outlook Data File (.ost)

Whether you're using an Exchange, Office 365, or Outlook.com account, to fix issues with a .ost file, close the email app, and then use these steps:

1. Open Control Panel.

   Quick Tip: If you're using only the default profile named 'Outlook,' you can type this path: %LOCALAPPDATA%MicrosoftOutlook to jump directly to the location of the .ost file, and skip to step No. 12. Otherwise, continue with the steps below.

2. Click on User Accounts.

3. Click the Mail option.

4. In the 'Mail Setup' experience, click the Show Profiles button.

5. Select the profile with the account you want to fix. (The default profile is called 'Outlook.')

6. Click the Properties button.

7. Click the Email Accounts button.

8. Click the Data Files tab.
9. Select the broken account.

10. Click the Open File Location button.

11. Click the close button for the 'Accounts Settings,' 'Mail Setup,' and 'Mail' windows.

12. Right-click the .ost file for the account having issues, and select the Delete option.

Once you complete these steps, open the desktop version of Outlook again to recreate the .ost file for the account you intend to repair.

How to repair Outlook Data File (.pst)

Alternatively, in the case that you're using an email account using IMAP or POP settings, to fix problems with a .pst file, close the Outlook application, and then use these steps:

1. Use the Windows key + R to open the Run command.

2. Type the following path and click the OK button:

   C:Program Files (x86)Microsoft OfficerootOffice16

   Quick Note: The above path applies to Office 2016, Office 2019, and Office 365. If you're running Outlook 2013, use this path: C:Program Files (x86)Microsoft OfficeOffice15. In the case that you have an older version of the app, change 'Office15' in the path to 'Office14' for Outlook 2010, or to 'Office13' for Outlook 2007 in the path.

3. Double-click the SCANPST.EXE file to open the Microsoft Outlook Inbox Repair experience.

4. Click the Browse button.
5. Locate the .pst file you want to repair.
6. Click the Open button.

7. Click the Start button.

8. Check the Make a backup of scanned file before repairing option (just in case).

9. Click the Repair button.

After completing the steps, the Microsoft Outlook Inbox Repair Tool will scan and repair the .pst file for the email account with problems. Once the repair completes, you can launch Outlook, and the issues with the account should now be resolved.

Extended recovery steps

While the tool can detect and repair many issues with a .pst file, you may still need to use additional steps to recover all the items of an email account.

If this is the case, in the left pane, you'll notice a Recovered Personal Folders or Lost and Found folders, which include the repaired items that couldn't be restored.

Recovering missing items from folder

To recover items that couldn't be restored, use these steps:

1. Open the Recovered Personal Folders or Lost and Found folder.
2. Select the items you want to recover.
3. Drag and drop those items into the correct folders.
4. Right-click the now empty folder and select the Delete option.

Recovering missing items from backup

In the case that there are still items missing, you may be able to recover them from the original Outlook Data File using the backup file created by the repair tool.

1. Open the location of the .bak file. (This file is located in the same folder as the .pst file.)
2. Right-click the .bak file and select the Copy option.
3. Right-click in the folder and select the Paste option to create a copy of the file.
4. Select the .bak file.

5. Press F2 the key and rename the file to .bak.pst and press Enter.

6. Open Outlook.
7. Click on File.
8. Click on Open & Export.

9. Click the Import/Export button.

10. Select the Import from another program or file option.

11. Click the Next button.

12. Select the Outlook Data File (.pst) option.

13. Click the Next button.
14. Specify the location of the .pst file.
15. Select the Import option that you want to use.

16. Click the Next button.

17. Select the items you want to import.

18. Click the Finish button.

Once you've completed the steps, Outlook should now include all the account items.

We're focusing this guide on Windows 10 users, but if you're using an older version of Outlook (2016, 2013, 2010, and 2007), it's still possible to use these instructions on Windows 8.1 and Windows 7.

More Windows 10 resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources: