How to Find Scanpst.exe in Outlook 2021, 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010 & 2007? – Quick Guide
Summary – ScanPST.EXE, commonly called the Inbox Repair Tool, is a built-in utility in Microsoft Outlook designed to repair corrupted PST files. This tool is stored within the Outlook installation folder, but its exact location can differ depending on the version of Outlook and Windows you are using. In this guide, we will show you how to easily find the ScanPST tool on your system. Additionally, we’ll introduce an alternative solution to use in case ScanPST is unable to fix severely damaged PST files.
Microsoft Outlook provides a built-in utility called the Inbox Repair Tool, or ScanPST.exe, to fix damaged or corrupted Personal Folder (.pst) files. This tool scans the PST file for data integrity issues and attempts to repair any errors it finds by removing corrupted or problematic items. Using ScanPST.exe helps restore your Outlook PST file to a healthy, error-free state. However, before you can use this tool, you need to locate where it’s installed on your system. In the following sections, we’ll guide you through finding the ScanPST.exe file on your computer.
Tip: If ScanPST.exe is missing or unable to recover your corrupted Outlook mailbox items, consider trying the free demo version of a professional Outlook Converter to effectively resolve the issue.
This powerful PST Converter Tool not only repairs PST file corruption and integrity issues but also enables you to export the recovered mailbox items into a variety of formats, including PDF, EML, MSG, MBOX, RTF, MHT, HTML, DOC, JPEG, BMP, and EMLx. Moreover, it supports migration to popular email services and clients like Gmail, Office 365, Yahoo, Windows Live Mail, IMAP, Thunderbird, Exchange Server, and more.
Compatible with all versions of macOS, Windows OS, and Microsoft Outlook, this tool is designed to handle batch processing, making it perfect for managing large PST files efficiently. With its intuitive interface, advanced filtering options, and broad compatibility across major Outlook and Windows editions, it serves as an ideal solution for both personal and professional email data management needs.
How to Find the ScanPST.exe Location
The ScanPST.exe tool is typically located in the default Outlook installation folder. However, its exact path varies depending on both the Outlook version and your Windows operating system architecture (32-bit or 64-bit).
For example, if you have a 32-bit Outlook installed on a 64-bit Windows PC, the tool is usually found in the Program Files (x86) folder. Conversely, if you have a 64-bit Outlook installed, it will be located in the Program Files directory.
Below are the common default paths where you can find ScanPST.exe for Outlook 2021, 2019, 2016, and Microsoft 365 on Windows systems (including both 32-bit and 64-bit versions):
Note: C: is the drive where your Program Files or Program Files (x86) folders are located. Follow the correct path according to your setup to find ScanPST.exe.
Common ScanPST.exe Locations by Outlook Version
Here are the default installation paths for Outlook 2021, 2019, 2016, and Microsoft 365:
64-bit Outlook on 64-bit Windows: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\OfficeXX\
32-bit Outlook on 64-bit Windows: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\OfficeXX\
Outlook 2016 / 2019 / 2021: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office16\
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16\
Outlook 2013: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office15\
Outlook 2010: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14\
Outlook 2007: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office12\
Replace OfficeXX with your version (e.g., Office16 for Outlook 2016).
Note: Before running the tool, make sure to close Microsoft Outlook and any other applications currently using the PST file.
Step 1: Double-click on the SCANPST.exe file to launch the Inbox Repair Tool.
Step 2: In the tool window, click Browse and navigate to the location of the PST file you want to repair.
Step 3: Once the PST file is selected, click Start to begin scanning the file for integrity errors.
Step 4: If errors are found, click the Repair button to begin the repair process.
The repair process may take some time, depending on the size and condition of the PST file. Do not close or interrupt the process even if the tool appears to freeze or become unresponsive.
However, if ScanPST.exe crashes or fails to respond for an extended period, it likely means the PST file is too large or severely corrupted, and an alternative solution will be needed.
Limitations of ScanPST.exe
While ScanPST.exe (Inbox Repair Tool) is a helpful utility for basic Outlook PST file repairs, it comes with several important limitations:
- Can only fix minor corruption and basic integrity issues
- Does not support encrypted PST files
- May fail to repair PST files larger than 2 GB, especially in older Outlook versions
- May delete or discard items it identifies as corrupt or unreadable, without recovery
- Cannot fix deep structural damage within the PST file
- May miss certain errors and leave some issues unresolved
- Does not support recovery of permanently deleted items
Note: If you’re dealing with severely corrupted or encrypted PST files, or PST files over 2 GB, ScanPST.exe is unlikely to be effective. You’ll need a more advanced PST repair solution.
Manual Guide: SCANPST.EXE Missing Location Manual
What If ScanPST.exe Is Missing or Doesn’t Work?
If ScanPST.exe is missing from your system or fails to repair the PST file, don’t worry, there’s an alternative. You can use a professional PST repair tool. Widely recommended by Outlook experts, this tool is designed to fix even severely corrupted or oversized PST files that ScanPST can’t handle.
Read More – How to Fix Common Outlook Issues
Conclusion
ScanPST.exe is a helpful built-in tool from Microsoft that can resolve minor issues with Outlook PST files. In this guide, we showed you how to find its location and use it to repair your data files. However, due to its limitations, including a lack of support for encrypted or large PSTs, it may not always provide a complete solution.
For reliable and risk-free PST file recovery, especially in cases of severe corruption or file size issues, a professional solution like CubexSoft Outlook Backup is strongly recommended. It ensures complete data recovery without loss and is ideal for both personal and business Outlook users.
