What to Do when Microsoft Outlook Inbox Repair Tool not Responding?

The Microsoft Outlook application keeps items like contacts, notes, and emails in the PST file. When it gets damaged, you cannot find mail items in MS Outlook. The Outlook application provides an inbox repair tool, namely SCANPST.EXE, which can repair minor corruption issues with PST files. But if you find Microsoft Outlook Inbox Repair Tool not responding, fixing PST file corruption can become challenging. In this article, you'll find all the steps you need to take to fix it.

Troubleshoot Microsoft Outlook Inbox Repair Tool Not Responding

You can fix the tool by following a series of steps. They are described in detail below.

 

1) Find and run the Inbox Repair Tool.

You first need to locate where the SCANPST.EXE is in your Outlook version. Outlook 2016 and 2019 users will find it in the following locations.

• C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office16\
• C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office19\
• C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16\
• C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office19\

After that, double-tap on the tool to launch it.

 

2) Verify the size of the PST file

Now you can go to the PST file location and check its size. Right-tap on it and select 'Properties.'

If you find the file size more than 2GB, the Inbox Repair Utility cannot fix the problem. But if it's less than that, then the tool can help.

 

3) Exit Outlook and other programs

To prevent the problem of Inbox Repair Tool freezing, close the running program. You should especially close MS Outlook as it accesses the PST file. After that, run the Inbox Repair Utility so that the damaged PST file gets repaired.

 

4) Check the health and SMART status of the drive.

Now you need to install 'CrystalDiskInfo' to check the health and read/write permissions. If you notice the health status as 'Bad,' it means there's a severe issue with your drive. You need to replace it. It can be why Microsoft Outlook Inbox Repair Tool not responding. To fix it, copy PST to healthy external storage. Use a different system to repair PST via SCANPST.EXE. After that, check the read/write permissions. For it, right-tap the PST file and select 'Properties.' Then enable 'Read/Write Permission.'

 

5) Repair MS Outlook

Now you can repair Outlook. Open the 'Control Panel' and follow these points.

• Tap 'Programs' followed by 'Programs and Features.'
• Find your Microsoft Office version installed in the list and ap it to highlight.
• After that, click 'Change.'
• Choose 'Repair' and hit 'Continue.' Follow on-screen prompts to fix the Outlook installation.

 

Final Words

The different steps given in this article to use when you find Outlook inbox repair tool not working will allow you to find the causes of the issue. Using them, you can effectively troubleshoot the problem. But if you still are unable to fix the tool, it's best to connect with professional email technical support services.