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Written By Harshita Sachdeva
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Approved By
Shivam Rathore -
Updated on September 10th, 2026
Find ScanPST.exe Location in Outlook: Where Is the Inbox Repair Tool Stored?
Arnold James Asked
A few months back, I had some crucial, business-related information and stored it as an Outlook data file. Now, when I’m trying to access the information, the file is corrupted. To access the required data, I have to repair the PST file and use the Outlook Inbox Repair Tool for the same. But the issue is that I am not familiar with the Office installation type. That’s why I need to find location of ScanPST.exe in Outlook and instructions to use it. I am also looking for a quick solution, as there is a limited time frame available for me to retrieve the required data.
Overview: Microsoft’s Inbox Repair Tool, also known as ScanPST.exe, is a built-in tool responsible for restoring Outlook data files. PST files are used by organisations and individual users at a large scale nowadays to store crucial data. Therefore, it is mandatory to keep this information intact, the folder structure intact, and the file error-free. To remove any kind of inconsistencies and data integrity issues in the corrupted Outlook data file (.pst), this utility is used.
Now, the location of ScanPST.exe may not be the same for all employees within a company. It could differ based on your Outlook version, how you installed Office (MSI or installer), or even the Windows architecture (32-bit/64-bit). Therefore, this blog is written to help you find the exact path of ScanPST.exe or use the Aryson Outlook PST Repair to accomplish the recovery process without even investing much time in the process.
Find Location of ScanPST.exe in Outlook
As discussed above, the location of ScanPST might vary for different versions of Outlook and the installation type. The below-given tabulated structure represents the possible location of these files to locate ScanPST.exe.
| Outlook Version | Office Folder | Installation Type | 64-bit Windows Path | 32-bit Office Path |
| Outlook 2021 | Office16 | Click-to-Run | C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\SCANPST.EXE | C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\SCANPST.EX |
| Outlook 2019 | Office16 | Click-to-Run | C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\SCANPST.EXE | C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\SCANPST.EXE |
| Outlook 2016 | Office16 | Click-to-Run | C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\SCANPST.EXE | C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\SCANPST.EXE |
| Outlook 2016 | Office16 | MSI | C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16\SCANPST.EXE | C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office16\SCANPST.EXE |
| Outlook 2013 | Office15 | Click-to-Run | C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\office15\SCANPST.EXE | C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\office15\SCANPST.EXE |
| Outlook 2013 | Office15 | MSI | C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office15\SCANPST.EXE | C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office15\SCANPST.EXE |
| Outlook 2010 | Office14 | Office installation | C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14\SCANPST.EXE | C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14\SCANPST.EXE |
| Outlook 2007 | Office12 | Office installation | C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\SCANPST.EXE | C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office12\SCANPST.EXE |
Why Can’t I Find ScanPST.exe in the Expected Location?
There may be several reasons why a user still cannot find the ScanPST file in the anticipated directory. A few of these possibilities are outlined below.
- Click-to-Run installs add a \root\ folder that MSI installs skip entirely.
- 32-bit Office on 64-bit Windows redirects the path to Program Files (x86).
- Custom install directories move Office outside the default Program Files tree.
- Microsoft 365 Apps updates the build number silently without changing the path structure.
- Group Policy–managed enterprise endpoints sometimes restrict user access to the Office root folder.
Proven Methods to Find Location of ScanPST.exe in Outlook?
Here, in this section, we will primarily focus on discussing the two most effective ways to find the location of the ScanPST.exe on Windows, particularly. Follow the steps associated with each method, and if nothing works, refer to the dedicated software section included below.
Method 1: Search for SCANPST.EXE
The first approach to follow is to directly proceed to the File Explorer of your system and search for the file to know its location. This can be used if you don’t even know the location where Outlook is installed.
- Open File Explorer >> select This PC.
- In the search box, enter the text “SCANPST.EXE.”
- This will allow Windows to complete the search.
- The file will appear in the results >> Right-click on it >> select the “Open file location” option.
- Run the tool by double-clicking it.
Method 2: Check Microsoft Office Installation Folders
Manual navigation works when Search is disabled by enterprise policy, common across locked-down organization endpoints.
- Open C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root.
- If empty, check C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root.
- Open the OfficeXX folder matching your version (16, 15, 14, or 12).
- Locate SCANPST.EXE inside that folder.
How to Use ScanPST.exe to Repair a PST File?
ScanPST performs a structural check on the PST header, folder tree, and message store itself prior to actually writing out any changes. Once you find location of ScanPST.exe in Outlook, perform the steps below.
- Close the Outlook application completely.
- After that, run the Inbox Repair Tool from its version-specific path.
- Click Browse >> select the .pst file, typically under
C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook. - Click the Start button to start the scan process.
- Once the scanning finishes, you must review the error log.
- Confirm the backup checkbox is enabled before repairing >> Repair.
- Once again, one must open Outlook and check on the mail, contacts, and calendar folders.
User Case Study
Problem: When Andrew attempted to open an Outlook 2021 PST file, he discovered that it was corrupted. In order to repair it, he tried using the Inbox Repair Tool—though he can’t find Scanpst.exe in Outlook to actually fix it.
Solution: They searched through the Microsoft Office folders and eventually located ScanPST. exe within the Office16 Click-to-Run folder.
What Happens After Running ScanPST.exe?
- ScanPST checks the PST against Microsoft’s header and node-table schema for errors.
- Detected errors get logged before any repair action starts.
- A .bak backup of the original file is saved automatically in the same folder.
- Items with unrecoverable pointers get removed rather than partially restored.
- Users should verify mail, contacts, and calendar folders after repair completes.
If you are unable to find location of ScanPST.exe in Outlook, and it is necessary to repair the corrupted PST file, it is better to use the dedicated software provided below.
What to Do If ScanPST.exe Cannot Repair the PST?
ScanPST is accountable for correcting the header and structural problems—yet it really doesn’t manage this when corruption gets worse, and your PST file hits its 50GB Unicode-format size limit. Enterprises and M365 administrators that manage large mailboxes always keep a verified backup every time they try to repair .pst files. In this process, if ScanPST fails, the most widely chosen option is the Aryson Outlook PST Repair Tool. This software can recover mailbox data such as emails, contacts, calendars, tasks, and notes and save the recovered data in PST and other formats.
Steps to Recover the PST Files Using This Software
- Download and install the Aryson Outlook PST Repair tool onto your Windows system.
- Launch the program >> press ‘Open‘ to locate >> pick out the damaged PST file itself.
- Depending upon the degree of damage, determine your preferred recovery approach.
- Choose between 32-bit or 64-bit versions when prompted >> then click ‘OK‘ so that it can begin its scan process.
- Once this scanning phase is over, you should see your email folders arranged neatly again.
- Select the folders or mailbox items you want to recover.
- Click Save >> choose PST as the output format.
- Use the Date Filter to recover specific emails from a particular date range.
- Choose the destination location >> click OK to save the recovered PST file.
Apart from this, there are many other features and filters provided by this utility. Once you follow the comprehensive documentation of the same, you will be understand the possible backup options to perform.
Conclusion
The location of the ScanPST.exe file may vary with the installer type, Office folder, etc. The location of ScanPST.exe file may vary with the installer type, Office folder etc. To find location of ScanPST.exe in Outlook, take a look at the table provided earlier. For repairing a corrupted PST file, there are both manual and professional methods available. If you experience difficulties whilst utilising the software, contact our technical support – they’ll offer very individualised assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Where is ScanPST.exe located in Outlook?
Ans: The location of ScanPST.exe depends on the Outlook version, Office installation type, and system architecture. For example, Outlook 2021, 2019, and 2016 commonly use the Office16 folder, while Outlook 2013 uses Office15.
Q2. How can I find ScanPST.exe if it is not in the default location?
Ans: You can search for SCANPST.EXE using File Explorer. Open This PC, enter SCANPST.EXE in the search box, and open the file location from the search results. You can also manually check the Microsoft Office installation folders.
Q3. How do I use ScanPST.exe to repair a corrupted PST file?
Ans: Close Outlook first, then run SCANPST. EXE – Navigate to your damaged PST file and press ‘Start’ to begin scanning it. Inspect the results of the scan, make a copy of your original PST file, and then select ‘Repair.’ Once repaired, restart Outlook and confirm that all your recovered email messages are there.
Q4. What should I do if ScanPST.exe fails to repair my PST file?
Ans: When ScanPST. exe is unable to fix your PST file, you could try using the Aryson Outlook PST Repair Tool to recover your mailbox information from either a severely corrupted or completely inaccessible PST file. This software will offer three different recovery methods—standard, advanced, and deep—and also enables you to save any restored content in formats including PST, EML, MSG, and MBOX.
Q5. Does ScanPST.exe recover all data from a severely corrupted PST file?
Ans: Not necessarily. ScanPST. exe is developed to identify and fix structural problems with Outlook data files—yet very seriously corrupted PST files might still hold irrecoverable items themselves. When this occurs, the mentioned Outlook PST recovery tool may be employed to try additional data restoration.
Q.6 Where is scanPST.exe located in Windows 11?
Ans: When it comes to Windows 11, ScanPST.exe is usually located in the Office installation folder, such as:
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\SCANPST.EXE
Q.7 How to find ScanPST.exe in Outlook?
Ans: Open File Explorer and search for SCANPST.EXE. You can also check the Office16 folder under Microsoft Office\root.
About The Author:
Harshita Sachdeva, a professional technical writer at Aryson Technologies, specialize in delivering clear, hands-on documentation for data management, migration, and recovery solutions. With a meticulous, reader-first approach, I break down complex technical processes into simple, actionable content - helping IT professionals and decision-makers tackle challenges efficiently.
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