Repairing Your Outlook Profile One of the most common issues with Outlook is a corrupted or damaged profile. Your profile contains all your email account settings, contacts, calendar, and other data. If your profile becomes corrupted, it can cause Outlook to crash, freeze, or display error messages. Fortunately, you can repair your Outlook profile using the built-in repair tool.
Repairing a Profile in Outlook 2010, 2013, or 2016
To repair your Outlook profile in Outlook 2010, 2013, or 2016:
Open Outlook and go to the File tab.
Choose Account Settings > Account Settings.
On the Email tab, select your account (profile) and then choose Repair.
Follow the prompts in the wizard, and when you’re done, restart Outlook.
If you’re using Outlook 2019 or Microsoft 365, the process is slightly different:
Open the Start menu and click on the gear icon or go to Settings.
Click on Apps in the Settings.
Locate Office in the list (it may appear as Office, then a year, or as Office 365).
Click Modify.
It is recommended to start with a Quick Repair. You can try an Online Repair if you like afterwards, but be aware that if it fails or errors, you may have to reinstall Office manually.
Click on the Repair button and follow the prompts.
After the repair completes, you can open and use Outlook as normal.
Repairing Your Outlook Data Files In addition to your profile, Outlook also uses data files to store your email messages, calendar events, contacts, and other information. These data files, known as Personal Folders (.pst) or Offline Folder (.ost) files, can also become corrupted over time. When this happens, you may experience issues like slow performance, error messages, or even the inability to open Outlook altogether. Fortunately, you can use the Inbox Repair tool (scanpst.exe) to diagnose and repair errors in your Outlook data files.
Using the Inbox Repair Tool
To use the Inbox Repair tool:
Exit Outlook and browse to one of the following file locations:
Outlook 2019: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16
Outlook 2016: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16
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.
Choose Start to begin the scan.
If the scan finds errors, choose Repair to start the process to fix them. The scan creates a backup file during the repair process. To change the default name or location of this backup file, enter a new name or choose Browse to select the file you want to use.
When the repair is complete, start Outlook with the profile associated with the Outlook Data File you just repaired.
After repairing your data file, you may 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.
Repairing Your Entire Outlook Installation If repairing your profile and data files doesn’t resolve the issue, you may need to repair your entire Outlook installation. This process will reinstall Outlook and replace any corrupted or missing files. To repair your Outlook installation:
Repairing Outlook 2010, 2013, or 2016
Open the Start menu and click on the gear icon or go to Settings.
Click on Apps in the Settings.
Locate Office in the list (it may appear as Office, then a year, or as Office 365).
Click Modify.
It is recommended to start with a Quick Repair. You can try an Online Repair if you like afterwards, but be aware that if it fails or errors, you may have to reinstall Office manually.
Click on the Repair button and follow the prompts.
After the repair completes, you can open and use Outlook as normal.
Uninstalling and Reinstalling Outlook If repairing your Outlook installation doesn’t resolve the issue, you may need to uninstall and reinstall Outlook. This process will remove all traces of Outlook from your computer and allow you to start fresh with a clean installation. To uninstall and reinstall Outlook:
Uninstalling and Reinstalling Outlook
Download and run the Office uninstall support tool.
Select the version of Office you want to uninstall and follow the prompts.
After uninstalling, download and install the version of Outlook you want to use.
Conclusion Repairing Microsoft Outlook can be a daunting task, but with the right tools and knowledge, it’s a process that can be completed relatively easily. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you should be able to diagnose and repair most common Outlook issues, whether they’re related to your profile, data files, or the entire installation. Remember to always backup your data before attempting any repairs, and don’t hesitate to seek professional help if you encounter any issues that you’re not comfortable troubleshooting yourself.