You receive a message that Outlook can't open your data file
You can use the Inbox Repair tool (SCANPST.EXE) to diagnose and repair errors in your Outlook data file. The Inbox Repair tool checks the Outlook data files on your computer to see if they're in good shape.
You might want to use the Inbox Repair tool in the following situations:
You receive a message that Outlook can't open the set of folders
You think your Outlook data file may be damaged
If you're using an Exchange email account, you can delete the offline Outlook Data File (.ost) and Outlook will recreate the offline Outlook Data File (.ost) the next time you open Outlook.
Notes:
The Inbox Repair tool doesn't connect or analyze any data stored in an Exchange mailbox. The tool only looks for errors (corruption), and if there are any, gives you the opportunity to allow the tool to fix those errors. If you can't start the Inbox Repair tool, you should try to repair your Outlook program.
We recommend backing up your existing Outlook data file before you start the Inbox Repair tool. For more information, see How to back up an Outlook data file.
Exit Outlook and browse to one of the following file locations:
Outlook 2019: C:Program Files (x86)Microsoft OfficerootOffice16
Outlook 2016: C:Program Files (x86)Microsoft OfficerootOffice16
Outlook 2013: C:Program Files (x86)Microsoft OfficeOffice15
Outlook 2010: C:Program Files (x86)Microsoft OfficeOffice14
Outlook 2007: C:Program Files (x86)Microsoft OfficeOffice12
Open SCANPST.EXE.
Select Browse to select the Outlook Data File (.pst) you want to scan. If you need help locating your Outlook Data File, see Locating the Outlook Data Files.
Note: By default, a new log file is created during the scan. You can choose Options and opt not to have a log created, or you can have the results appended to an existing log file.
Choose Start to begin the scan.
If the scan finds errors, choose Repair to start the process to fix them.
Note: The scan creates a backup file during the repair process. To change the default name or location of this backup file, in the Enter name of backup file box, enter a new name, or choose Browse to select the file you want to use. You may need to run the tool several times in order to repair your Outlook Data File. In some cases, items may not be recovered if they were permanently deleted or corrupted beyond repair.
When the repair is complete, start Outlook with the profile associated with the Outlook Data File you just repaired.
What happens after you repair an Outlook Data File?
In the Folder Pane, you might see a folder named Recovered Personal Folders that contains your default Outlook folders or a Lost and Found folder. Although the repair process might recreate some of the folders, they may be empty. The Lost and Found folder contains any folders and items recovered by the repair tool that Outlook can't place in their original structure.
Create new data file
You can create a new Outlook Data File and drag the items in the Lost and Found folder into the new data file. After you've moved all the items, you can remove the Recovered Personal Folders (.pst) file, including the Lost and Found folder. To create a new Outlook Data File, see Create an Outlook Data File.
Recover items from the backup (.bak) file
If you can open the original Outlook Data File, you might be able to recover additional items. The Inbox Repair tool creates a backup file with the same name as the original, but with a .bak extension, and saves it in the same folder. There may be items in the backup file that you might be able to recover that the Inbox Repair tool couldn't.
Browse to the folder where the .pst file is stored and you'll find the .bak file (for example, [email protected]) created by the Inbox Repair tool.
Make a copy of the .bak file and rename it with a bak.pst extension. For example, [email protected].
Import the bak.pst file into Outlook, and use the Import and Export Wizard to import any additional recovered items into the newly created .pst file.
Note: Learn how to import a .pst file by reading Import email, contacts, and calendar from an Outlook .pst file.
You can check the location of your Outlook Data Files in Outlook.
Select File > Account Settings > Account Settings.
Select the Data Files tab.
All Outlook Data Files (.pst) and Offline Data Files (.ost) are listed along with the name of the account the files are associated with.
If you’re having problems with any Office program like Word, Excel or Outlook, you can always perform a repair, which will try to fix any issues that may be causing the program to not load properly or some other type of problem.
To repair Office, you first have to open the Control Panel and then click on Programs and Features.
Click on the Office version you have installed and then click on the Change button.
Next, click on the Repair radio button and click Next. This will start the repair process.
In Office 2016, the first screen that appears when you click Change is the repair Office dialog. Here you have the option to try a quick repair or an online repair. The online repair is handy because it will download all the latest fixes to solve the problem.
It’ll take some time to repair and once it has finished, you’ll see a message saying the configuration of Office 2013 is complete. You’ll then have to restart the computer in order for the repair to complete.
Repair is a great Office tool that I have used in many previous versions of Office to fix things like the Normal.dot template being changed in Word, Outlook PST and email problems, etc. If Office is running slow or having some other issue, try performing a repair and hopefully it will fix your problem. Enjoy!
If an Office application such as Word or Excel isn’t working correctly, sometimes restarting it will fix the problem. If that doesn’t work, you can try repairing it. When you’re done, you might need to restart your computer.
The steps to access the repair tool vary depending on your operating system. Choose from the drop-down list below.
Right-click the Start button (lower-left corner), and select Apps and Features on the pop-up menu.
Select the Microsoft Office product you want to repair, and select Modify.
Note: This will repair the entire Office suite even if it's just one application you want to repair such as Word or Excel. If you have a standalone app installed, then search for that application by name.
Depending if your copy of Office is Click-to-run or MSI-based install, you'll see the following options to proceed with the repair. Follow the steps for your installation type.
Click-to-run
In the window How would you like to repair your Office Programs, select Online Repair > Repair to make sure everything gets fixed. (The faster Quick Repair option is also available, but it only detects and then replaces corrupted files.)
MSI-based
In Change your installation, select Repair and then click Continue.
Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the repair.
Right-click the Start button (lower-left corner), and select Control Panel from the pop-up menu.
From Category view, under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
Right-click the Microsoft Office product you want to repair, and from the drop-down, select Change.
Note: If you have a suite such as Office 365 Home, or Office Home and Student 2013 or 2016, search for the suite name, even if it's just a particular application you want to repair such as Word or Excel. If you have a standalone application such as Word or Excel, search for the application name.
Depending if your copy of Office is Click-to-run or an MSI-based install, do the following for your Office installation type:
Click-to-Run installation type:
In How would you like to repair your Office Programs, select Online Repair to make sure everything gets fixed, and then select Repair. (The faster Quick Repair option is also available, but it only detects and then replaces corrupted files.)
MSI-based installation type:
In Change your installation, select Repair and then click Continue.
Follow the remaining instructions on the screen to complete the repair.
Click the Start button > Control Panel.
From Category view, under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
Click the Office product you want to repair, and then click Change.
Note: If you have a suite such as Office 365 Home, or Office Home and Student 2013 or 2016, search for the suite name, even if it's just a particular application you want to repair such as Word or Excel. If you have a standalone application such as Word or Excel, search for the application name.
Depending if your copy of Office is Click-to-run or an MSI-based install, do the following for your Office installation type:
Click-to-Run installation type:
In How would you like to repair your Office Programs, select Online Repair to make sure everything gets fixed, and then select Repair. (The faster Quick Repair option is also available, but it only detects and then replaces corrupted files.)
MSI-based installation type:
In Change your installation, select Repair and then click Continue.
Follow the remaining instructions on the screen to complete the repair.
Use this easy fix tool to completely uninstall Office.
Click the button below to download and install the Office uninstall support tool. (This tool won't uninstall stand-alone apps such as Project or Visio. For stand-alone apps, uninstall the app using the control panel.)
Follow the steps below to download the uninstall support tool according to your browser.
Tip: The tool may take a few minutes to download and install. After completing the installation, the Uninstall Office products window will open.
Edge or Internet Explorer
At the bottom of the browser window, select Run to launch the SetupProd_OffScrub.exe.
Chrome
In the lower-lower left corner right-click SetupProd_OffScrub.exe > Open.
Firefox
In the pop-up window, select Save File.
Next, from the upper-right of the FireFox browser window, select the downloads arrow and then select SetupProd_OffScrub.exe.
Select the version you want to uninstall, and then select Next.
Follow through the remaining screens and when prompted, restart your computer.
After you restart your computer, the uninstall tool automatically re-opens to complete the final step of the uninstall process. Follow the remaining prompts.
Select the steps for the version of Office you want to install or reinstall. Close the uninstall tool.
Office 365 | Office 2019 | Office 2016 | Office 2013 | Office 2010 | Office 2007
Open an Office application, such as Outlook or Word.
Go to File > Account or Office Account.
If you see an 'Update Options' item, you have a Click-to-Run installation. If you don't see the 'Update Options' item, you have an MSI-based install.