Microsoft Outlook 2013 Repair Tool

Posted on by admin
How to run scanpst in outlook 2013
  1. Microsoft Outlook Repair Tool Outlook 2013

Don't worry, you can resolve this issue permanently using Kernel for Outlook PST Repair Software. It is an advanced, secure and certified third party Outlook tool. Using this tool you can recover large corrupted and deleted Outlook PST file, tasks, calendars, email properties and much more data items.

My computer crashed while Outlook was running so I now want to check my pst-file for errors with scanpst.exe.

After searching for a long time on my computer, I finally found it in a very odd location (e.g. not in the location everybody is saying where it should be) and I can’t start it either as that returns a permissions error.

Why is scanpst.exe not in its default location and how can I start it so I can repair my pst-file?

When you’ve installed Outlook via the Microsoft Store on Windows 10, the installation location is different from a “regular” installation via the Office website.

In addition, there are several additional security (sandbox) restrictions which will prevent you from running certain exe-files directly. Trying to run scanpst.exe will run into the following error;

With a small trick and the help of Word, we can still run it though.

Step 1: Am I using Outlook from the Microsoft Store?

If you don’t know whether Outlook was installed via the Microsoft Store, there are a couple of ways to find out.

  • Method 1
    Go to: Start-> Settings-> Apps
    If you see a listing for Microsoft Office Desktop Apps, you’ve installed Outlook via the Microsoft Store.
    If you see a listing for Microsoft Office 365, you’ve installed Outlook via the Office website.
  • Method 2
    In Outlook go to: File-> Office Account
    Look at the version information shown next to the “About Outlook” button.
    It will either have “Microsoft Store” behind the version number or “Click-to-Run”. The latter indicates an installation via the Office website.


The About Outlook information reveals the installation source.

Note: If it turns out that you are not using the Microsoft Store based installation of Outlook, then you can find an overview of the possible locations of scanpst.exe here: Inbox Repair Tool (scanpst.exe).

Step 2: Open scanpst.exe via another Office app installed via the Microsoft Store

The trick to still be able to run scanpst.exe is to open it via another Office app that you have installed via the Microsoft Store. In the instructions below, we are going to use Word but if you only installed Outlook and are still able to open it, then you can use that as well of course.

  1. Open any file browsing dialog in Word.
    For instance;
    • File-> Open-> Browse
    • Insert-> Pictures
  2. Browse to: C:Program FilesWindowsApps
  3. Open the folder called: Microsoft.Office.Desktop.Outlook_####.####.####.#_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
    • The # stands for the version number of Outlook.
    • Be careful you do not select the Outlook folder with “neutral” in its name as well. If you only see the AppxMetadata folder after opening it, you picked the wrong folder
  4. Open the folder called: Office16.
  5. Set the dropdown filter in the bottom right corner of the dialog to: All Files (*.*)
  6. Scroll down and right click on scanpst.exe and choose: Open.


A bit unconventional but not impossible; Opening scanpst.exe via Word.


After opening scanpst.exe, it works exactly the same way as normal.

Note: For step-by-step instructions to use scanpst.exe see: Using the Inbox Repair Tool (scanpst.exe)

Optionally: Switch to an Office website (Click-to-Run) installation

In case you want to switch from the Microsoft Store installation to an Office website (Click-to-Run) installation, you can do so in the following way;

  1. Go to: Start-> Settings-> Apps
  2. Uninstall: Microsoft Office Desktop Apps
  3. Go to: Office.com.
  4. Login if you aren’t so automatically, click on the “Install Office” link in the top right corner and follow on-screen instructions.
Repair outlook 2013 windows 10

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.

Microsoft Outlook Repair Tool Outlook 2013

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: