Share via

Outlook Troubleshooting: Inbox Repair Tool Keeps Popping Up

  • Article

MS Outlook users often experience various errors from various causes. One infrequent error that occurs is the case of the Inbox Repair Tool popping up now and then. Whilst this tool has an advantageous function of fixing possible errors in the Outlook Inbox, it will be annoying if it pops up every day. It could cause several inconveniences like making it impossible to open some files and folders. 

In this post, we will show you how to fix this error so if you are experiencing such, you should read this. Before getting to it, it is important to note what file is causing the error to show up. Identifying the file is the first step in fixing this problem. 

Fix 1: Check Third-Party Add-ins

Sometimes, the Microsoft Outlook Inbox Repair Tool Keeps Popping Up error can be triggered by third-party Outlook add-ins you install. The likely ones to cause this are Sync, Anti-Spam, and Anti-Virus add-ins. 

Fix 2: Use ScanPST.exe

Somewhat ironically, the ScanPST.exe tool is the Inbox Repair Tool that keeps popping up. Nevertheless, the tool is recommended by Microsoft to fix all PST file errors so there’s no harm in trying it.

Follow the steps below to do this:

  • Close and ensure the Outlook Program is not running
  • Locate the ScanPST application in your hard disk; it is located in the Microsoft Office folder. You can as well click on the Start button and search for “SCANPST”
  • Double click on the application to open
  • Enter the name of the PST file showing the error. You can also click on Browse to locate the file from your local drive
  • Click on Start to begin the repair process
  • Log in to your Outlook account to recover the file
  • Choose a location for saving the new file
  • Save the file and close

This should fix the error but not in every case. The ScanPST application is limited to fixing errors in only small and in some cases medium-sized PST files. If the PST file causing the error is large in size, the application will do no good in repairing. This is one reason why Microsoft advises against keeping large and oversized PST files. ScanPST.exe will also do no good in repairing if the file corruption level is at its max. 

However, if the ScanPST application detects and fixes the error in the file, it is recommended that you re-run the scan. Do this by repeating the steps above about 2 or 3 times to ensure that no other error comes up. Let’s look at other possible methods of fixing.

Fix 3: Format PST File

If a PST file is making it impossible for you to access your mailbox, you can format it. The formatting here does not imply erasing the file content it rather implies converting the file from one format base to another. Precisely, it implies converting from ANSI to UNICODE based PST file format. ANSI is the old base format in which Outlook PST files before 2003 where stored in. If your PST file is ANSI based, converting it to the modern UNICODE format can help fix errors. 

The first thing to do is to check the format base and this can be done by following these steps: 

  • Open the PST file causing the error
  • Right-click at the top of the folder tree (the root of the file)
  • Select Data File Properties
  • Click on the Advanced Button
  • Look at the Description

If the file format base is UNICODE, the description would read “Outlook Data File: and you should skip this method. If it is ANSI based, it’ll read “Outlook Data File (97-2002)” and you can use any of the below methods to convert:

  1. Create a new UNICODE based PST file and copy all content of the old ANSI based PST file into it and save. 
  2. Export the old ANSI based PST file and chose to create a new PST file in the export window.