This article proposes a new probe design with concentrated windings that can be easily opened and closed. The external inspection of pipes is realized, which is based on the principle of rotating electromagnetic field eddy current. Through the finite element (FE) model constructed in COMSOL, the characteristics of the rotating magnetic field generated by the concentrated winding and the influence of various parameters of the receiving coil on the detection effect are studied. Simulation results show that the concentrated winding can generate a rotating electromagnetic field that can be used to achieve defect detection on the outer wall of the pipeline. The pick-up of the distorted signal can be realized in a better way by utilizing the circular coil which has many turns and is close to the outer wall of the pipe and at the end of the excitation coil. An encircling rotating field eddy current (RoFEC) non-destructive evaluation system with concentrated excitation windings is established to achieve the detection of 0. 5 mm wide circumferential and axial cracks. The ability of the system for identifying cracks at different depths is tested. Cracks located at different positions on the outer wall of the pipeline from 0 to 90° are used to verify the ability of the detection system to determine the circumferential location of the defect. Results show that the developed system can detect crack of arbitrary direction and locate its circumferential location, which provides a new approach for the external detection of tubular components such as coiled tubes.