Outlook data files (.pst) created in Outlook 2010 are saved on your computer in the folder Documents \ Outlook Files... In the operating room Windows system XP these files are created in the folder My Documents \ Outlook Files.
When you upgrade Outlook to version 2010, data files that were previously created in previous versions of Outlook are saved in a different location in a hidden folder.
Windows 7 and Windows Vista disk: \ Users \ Username
Windows XP disk: \ Documents and Settings \ Username
Rest:
Outlook Data File (OST)
The .ost file is synchronized with the items on the server that is running Exchange. Since the data remains on the Exchange server, you can recreate this OST file on a new computer without having to back up this OST file.
Windows 7 and Windows Vista disk: \ Users \ Username\ AppData \ Local \ Microsoft \ Outlook
Windows XP disk: \ Documents and Settings \ Username\ Local Settings
Personal Address Book (PAB)
Windows 7 and Windows Vista disk: \ Users \ Username\ AppData \ Local \ Microsoft \ Outlook
Windows XP disk: \ Documents and Settings \ Username\ Local Settings \ Application Data \ Microsoft \ Outlook
NOTE. Personal address books (PABs) are not supported in Outlook 2010. When you upgrade to Outlook 2010, you are prompted to import any PAB file into Contacts. If the .pab file is not imported when you first start Outlook 2010, you can import it later using the command Import in View mode Microsoft Office Backstage.
Offline Address Book (OAB)
The Offline Address Book (OAB) is used by Microsoft Exchange Server accounts. It contains information such as names, addresses Email, name and information about the location of the office, from global address list (GAL) on the server running Exchange.
No need to create backup this file or restore it. This file is generated and updated automatically.
Windows 7 and Windows Vista disk: \ Users \ Username\ AppData \ Local \ Microsoft \ Outlook
Windows XP disk: \ Documents and Settings \ Username\ Local Settings \ Application Data \ Microsoft \ Outlook
Navigation Pane Configuration File (XML)
This file contains content information navigation areas.
Windows 7 and Windows Vista disk: \ Users \ Username\ AppData \ Roaming \ Outlook \ profile_name.xml
Windows XP disk: \ Documents and Settings \ Username\ Application Data \ Microsoft \ Outlook \ profile_name.xml
Microsoft Exchange Registered Extensions (DAT)
Windows 7 and Windows Vista disk: \ Users \ Username\ AppData \ Local \ Microsoft \ Outlook
Windows XP disk: \ Documents and Settings \ Username\ Local Settings \ Application Data \ Microsoft \ Outlook
Auto-completion list Outlook contacts
Autocomplete is a feature that suggests names and email addresses as you type them. The suggested choices are possible matches from a list of names and addresses from sent emails. This list is called the auto-complete list.
The Auto-Complete List (NK2 file) file is no longer used in Outlook 2010. Auto-complete list items are now stored in a Microsoft Exchange Server mailbox or in a specific Outlook data file (PST) account.
Exchange Server Accounts
If you are using an Exchange Server account, the auto-complete list is stored in a mailbox on the Exchange server. This allows you to use the Auto-Complete List on any computer that has Outlook with an Exchange account.
POP3 accounts
The auto-complete list is stored in an Outlook data file (PST). For its location, see Outlook Data File (PST).
IMAP and Windows Live Hotmail accounts
The auto-complete list is stored in an Outlook data file (PST). Outlook data files (.pst) for these account types are different from other .pst files in Outlook. These files are used as copies of the data on the account's mail server and are not intended to be moved or restored. A new .pst file is created when you set up an IMAP or Windows Live Hotmail account in a different Outlook profile or on a different computer. Therefore, the auto-complete list is unique to the computer and profile where the account is configured, and items from it are not available when using a different profile or computer.
Rules (RWZ)
Windows 7 and Windows Vista disk: \ Users \ Username
Windows XP disk: \ Documents and Settings \ Username\ Application Data \ Microsoft \ Outlook
NOTE. If you upgrade to Outlook 2010 from a version of Outlook that is earlier than Microsoft Outlook 2002, an .wz file may be present on your computer's hard drive. This file is no longer required and rule information is now stored on the server that is running Microsoft Exchange and in the Outlook Data File (PST) for email accounts POP3 and IMAP... This file can be deleted.
If you are using the import and export rules feature, the default location for the RWZ files is Documentation.
Plot Styles (Outlprnt file without extension)
Windows Vista disk: \ Users \ Username\ AppData \ Roaming \ Microsoft \ Outlook
Windows XP disk: \ Documents and Settings \ Username\ Application Data \ Microsoft \ Outlook
Signatures (RTF, TXT, HTM)
Windows 7 and Windows Vista disk: \ Users \ Username\ AppData \ Roaming \ Microsoft \ Signatures
Windows XP disk: \ Documents and Settings \ Username\ Application Data \ Microsoft \ Signatures
Forms (HTM)
Windows 7 and Windows Vista disk
Windows 7 and 64-bit Windows Vista with 32-bit Outlook 2010 disk: \ Program Files (x86) \ Common Files \ Microsoft Shared \ Stationery
Windows XP disk: \ Program Files \ Common Files \ Microsoft Shared \ Stationery
Non-standard forms
Windows 7 and Windows Vista disk: \ Users \ Username\ AppData \ Local \ Microsoft \ Forms
Windows XP disk: \ Documents and Settings \ Username\ Local Settings \ Application Data \ Microsoft \ Forms
Dictionary (DIC)
Windows 7 and Windows Vista disk: \ Users \ Username\ AppData \ Roaming \ Microsoft \ UProof
Windows XP disk: \ Documents and Settings \ Username\ Application Data \ Microsoft \ UProof
Templates (OFT)
Windows 7 and Windows Vista disk: \ Users \ Username\ AppData \ Roaming \ Microsoft \ Templates
Windows XP disk: \ Documents and Settings \ Username\ Application Data \ Microsoft \ Templates
Send and Receive Settings (SRS)
Windows 7 and Windows Vista disk: \ Users \ Username\ AppData \ Roaming \ Microsoft \ Outlook
Windows XP disk: \ Documents and Settings \ Username\ Application Data \ Microsoft \ Outlook
Message (msg, htm, rtf)
Windows 7 and Windows Vista disk: \ Users \ Username\ Documents
Windows XP disk: \ Documents and Settings \ Username\My documents
Well, of course, you say - on the local computer in a personal folders (PST) file. Perhaps, I will answer. But not necessarily. And it’s not all that simple. Mail can also be stored on the server. But there are two types of folders for storing mail on the local computer - personal and archived?
Let's try to figure it out.
The free space on the computer receiving e-mail is not infinite. Sooner or later, you will want to know how you can create personal files for your mail messages. You can store these files locally on your computer, where you won't have the size limits imposed by anyone else.
The user may decide that the email is hosted on his computer because that is where he is viewing it. In fact, when working with Exchange or with the Web-based e-mail service, most messages remain on the server until the user moves them elsewhere.
Where, then, should the email be moved? Microsoft allows you to create local data files, called Personal Folders (PST) files, that actually reside on your local computer. There are several advantages to using personal folder files.
Lack of reminders. If you store all e-mail in the Inbox folder located on the server, sooner or later you will receive a message asking you to clear your mailbox. In some cases, such messages may contain a threat to block the mailbox until the user fulfills these requirements. Storing e-mail in a local folder file in Microsoft Outlook frees you from receiving these types of messages.
Lack of congestion. When storing less important messages in separate folder it becomes possible to focus on the most important messages.
Reducing used disk space. The ability to compress Personal Folders (PST) files makes them the most efficient way to store messages. The less disk space the files occupy, the more it remains at the user's disposal.
Freedom of movement. PST files can be moved from one computer to another, as well as stored on a CD. You can also store these files on a shared computer and assign a password to control access to messages.
Archive and personal folders are not part of mailbox.
- Mailbox
- Archive folders and personal folders
Received messages are placed in the Inbox folder. Typically, the Inbox is located inside mailbox along with folders "Calendar", "Contacts" and others. If messages are stored locally, they are moved to archive or personal folders, which are separate files data outside mailbox. Microsoft Outlook has information about the location of these folders, but they are not available to the server.
You can use both personal and archive folders to store messages in your personal folders file, or both!
What is the difference between archive and personal folders?
It is important to keep two points in mind from the outset.
- Messages stored in a Personal Folders (PST) file are not accessible from the email server. They are located on the local computer, and the user, when moving to another computer, will not be able to read these messages until they move them to the new machine.
- Only one user can work on a PST file at a time. Even if the computer is shared and you have permissions to access the Personal Folders file for multiple users, each user must close the PST file so that another user can open it.
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Outlook keeps backups of data in different locations. Depending on your account type, you can back up emails, personal address book, navigation pane options, signatures, templates, and more.
If you are using a Microsoft Exchange, Office 365, or Outlook.com account, emails will be archived on the mail server. In most cases, the Personal Folders (PST) file is not used with these account types.
To view some backup files for Outlook, you need to show hidden system folders and file name extensions. For information on how to do this, see.
About backing up your Office 365, Exchange, and Outlook.com accounts
For Office 365 accounts, Exchange or Outlook.com accounts, Hotmail.com, or Live.com accounts that do not have POP or IMAP access, the Personal Folders PST file is missing. You might have an Offline Folders (OST) file, but when you add a new email account, Outlook automatically recreates it. This file cannot be moved from one computer to another.
For Office 365 accounts, Exchange or Outlook.com accounts, Hotmail.com, or Live.com accounts that don't have POP or IMAP access, you can transfer the following information from one computer to another.
Navigation pane options
These options are available in one of the following locations.
Windows 10 drive: \ users \<имя_пользователя>\ Appdata \ Roaming \ Microsoft \ Outlook \ Profile Name. XML
Previous Windows versions
Print Styles
The Outlprnt file can be found in one of the following locations.
Windows 10 drive: \ users \<имя_пользователя>\ appdata \ roaming \ microsoft \ outlook \ outlprnt
Previous Versions Windows drive: \ my documents and and \ Application date \ Microsoft \ Outlook \ Outlook
The files from which Outlook signatures are generated can be found in the following locations.
Windows 10 drive: \ users \<имя_пользователя>\ appdata \ roaming \ microsoft \ signatures
Previous versions of Windows
In 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Outlook, stationery is stored in different locations. The files that create Outlook stationery can be found in the following locations.
All Windows versions on disk: \ Programs Files \ Common Files \ Microsoft Shared \ Stationery
All Windows versions on disk: \ Program Files (x86) \ Common Files \ Microsoft Shared \ Stationery
Customizable forms
The files that create custom Outlook forms can be found in the following locations.
Windows 10 drive: \ users \<имя_пользователя>\ appdata \ local \ microsoft \ forms
Earlier versions of Windows on disk: \ my documents and and \ Local Settings \ Application Data \ Microsoft \ Forms
Custom dictionary files are stored in the following locations.
Windows 10 drive: \ users \<имя_пользователя>\ appdata \ roaming \ microsoft \ uproof
Previous versions of Windows <имя_пользователя>\ Application Data \ Microsoft \ UProof
All Outlook templates you create are stored in one of two locations. Templates will have the extension oft.
Windows 10: drive: \ Users \<имя_пользователя>\ AppData \ Roaming \ Microsoft \ Templates
Previous versions of Windows: drive: \ Documents and Settings \<имя_пользователя>\ Application Data \ Microsoft \ Templates
Send and receive parameters
The send and receive options include which accounts are checked at what frequency. The send and receive options file can be found in one of the following locations. The file will have the SRS extension.
Windows 10: drive: \ Users \<имя_пользователя>
Previous versions of Windows: drive: \ Documents and Settings \<имя_пользователя>
Email, calendar, contacts and tasks for POP and IMAP accounts
If you have a POP or IMAP account, all of your data is already saved in a Personal Folders (PST) file. It can be transferred to another computer while saving the data. Moving a .pst file from one computer to another does not transfer your email account settings. If you need to set up Outlook on a new computer, copy the .pst file from your old computer and set up on the new email account. Then open the .pst file on a new computer.
The location of the .pst file depends on the versions of Outlook and Windows, and how the account is set up or the .pst file is created. The .pst file can be found in the following locations.
Windows 10 drive: \ users \<имя_пользователя>\ appdata \ local \ microsoft \ outlook
Windows 10 drive: \ users \<имя_пользователя>\ roaming \ local \ microsoft \ outlook
Earlier versions of Windows on disk: \ my documents and options \<имя_пользователя>\ Settings \ Application Data \ Microsoft \ Outlook
Advice: .
Note: Your configuration might not include all of these files, as some of them are only created when you customize Outlook features.
Can't find folders?
Some folders may be hidden. To display in Windows hidden folders, do the following:
Click the button Start and select the item Control Panel.
Open up Folder options.
To find Folder options, at the top of the window in the search box, enter Folder options... In Control Panel for Windows XP in the box Address enter Folder options.
In the tab View In chapter Extra options in category Files and folders In chapter Hidden files and folders check the box Show hidden files and folders.
Outlook Data File (PST)
Outlook data files (.pst files) contain e-mail messages, calendars, contacts, tasks, and notes. You need Outlook to work with items in the .pst file.
When you archive Outlook data, it is saved in PST files.
Notes:
Microsoft Exchange Server credentials store the data on the mail server. So that you can use Cached Exchange Mode or work offline, copies of items are saved as an offline Outlook data (OST) file. For more information, see Outlook Data File (OST). Some organizations also allow items to be exported or archived to a .pst file.
Moving the .pst file to a network shared network is not supported. For more information, click the article number below to view an article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base
: personal folder files are not supported in local network or through global communication channels.
Specifying the Name and Location of the Personal Folders File
Microsoft Outlook 2010
In Outlook 2010, click the File tab on the ribbon, and then select the Details tab from the menu.
Click the button Account setup and select the command Account setup.
Click files data.
Make a note of the path to the PST file and its name. For example, C: \ Excel \ Mailbox.PST specifies a PST file named Mailbox. pst and is located in the Exchange folder on drive C.
Outlook data files (.pst) created in Outlook 2010 are saved on your computer in a folder Documents \ Outlook Files... In Windows XP, these files are created in the folder My Documents \ Outlook Files.
Advice: If the Outlook Data File (PST) is large, it may slow down OneDrive sync and will show "Processing changes" or "File in use." Learn how to delete the Outlook data file. PST from OneDrive.
After you upgrade to Outlook 2010 on a computer that already had data files that were created in earlier versions of Outlook, those files are saved in a different location in a hidden folder.
Windows 7 and Windows Vista
Windows XP
Advice: Information about hidden Windows folders see Windows Help and Support Center.
Start Outlook.
On the menu Service select team Parameters.
In the tab Mail setup press the button data files .
Make a note of the path to the PST file and its name. For example, C: \ Excel \ Mailbox.PST specifies a PST file named Mailbox. pst, which is located in the Exchange folder on drive C.
5. Press the button Close, press the button OK and then on the menu file select team logging out and logging out to close Outlook.
Copying a personal folders file
From the Start menu, select Programs and then File Explorer.
Browse the files to the PST file folder.
Copy the PST file to the location you want.
For more information on copying files and folders, follow the steps below.
Click the Start button and select Help.
Click the Search tab and enter the Copy command.
In the dialog box select a section to display click the link copy or move a file or folder.
Point Outlook to a new Personal Folders file
Microsoft Outlook 2010
Open Outlook 2010.
On the ribbon, open the tab file and select the tab from the menu intelligence .
Open the tab Account parameters, and then press the button again. Account settings .
In the tab Data files press the button Add to.
In chapter a type file select item Outlook data file (*. pst).
OK.
Select the .pst file and click the button use by default.
9. Press the button OK.
Delete
11. Press the button "Yes", press the button " Close"and then click OK
12.on the menu file select team output.
13. Restart Outlook.
Microsoft Office Outlook 2007
Open Outlook.
On the menu Service select team Parameters.
In the tab Mail setup press the button email accounts even if you don't have an email account.
In the tab Data files press the button Add to.
Click the item Office Outlook Personal Folders (PST) File and press the button OK.
Find the new location of the .pst file and click OK two meanings.
Click the button use by default.
If this is the default email delivery location, the following message appears:
You have changed the default delivery location for email. This will change the location of your Inbox, Calendar, and other folders. These changes will take effect the next time you start Outlook.
9. Press the button OK.
10. Select the .pst file listed under "Finding the name and location of your personal folders file" and then click the " Delete"to remove the local PST file from the profile.
11. Press the button "Yes", press the button " Close"and then click OK to close all dialog boxes.
12.on the menu file select team output.
13. Restart Outlook.
If PST is the default delivery location, the following message appears:
The location to which messages are delivered has changed for this user profile. To complete this operation, you may need to copy the contents of the old Outlook folders to the new Outlook folders. For information on how to change where mail is delivered, see Microsoft Outlook Help. Some keyboard shortcuts in the Outlook bar may no longer work. Do you want Outlook to recreate your keyboard shortcuts? Any keyboard shortcuts you created will be removed.
Click the button Yes to have Outlook update the Outlook bar shortcuts to point to the new location of the .pst file, or No to keep the keyboard shortcuts for the original local .pst file in the list of keyboard shortcuts.
Your profile now points to the .pst file in the new location. Outlook will open a new PST file and you can now delete the PST file from its original location.
File (OST)
The .ost file is synchronized with the items on the Exchange server. Since the data remains on the Exchange server, you can recreate this OST file on a new computer without running backup OST file.
Windows 7 and Windows Vista drive: \ \ Appdata \ local \ microsoft \ outlook
Windows XP drive: \ my documents and and \ Local Settings \ Application Data \ Microsoft \ Outlook
Personal Address Book (PAB)
Windows 7 and Windows Vista drive: \ \ Appdata \ local \ microsoft \ outlook
Windows XP drive: \ my documents and and \ Local Settings \ Application Data \ Microsoft \ Outlook
Note: Personal address books (PABs) are not supported in Outlook 2010. When you upgrade to Outlook 2010, you will be prompted to import any PAB files into your contacts. If you don't import the PAB file when you first start Outlook 2010, you can import it later using the command " Import"in Microsoft Office Backstage View.
Offline Address Book (OAB)
The Offline Address Book (OAB) is used by Microsoft Exchange Server accounts. It contains information such as names, email addresses, titles, and office location information from the GAL on the server that is running Exchange.
You don't need to back up or restore this file. It is created and updated automatically.
Windows 7 and Windows Vista drive: \ \ Appdata \ local \ microsoft \ outlook
Windows XP drive: \ my documents and and \ Local Settings \ Application Data \ Microsoft \ Outlook
Navigation Pane Configuration File (XML)
This file stores information about the content of the Navigation Pane.
Windows 7 and Windows Vista drive: \ Users \ User \ Appdata \ Roaming \ Outlook \ Profile Name. XML
Windows XP drive: \ my documents and and \ Application \ Name. XML
Microsoft Exchange Registered Extensions (DAT)
Windows 7 and Windows Vista drive: \ \ Appdata \ local \ microsoft \ outlook
Windows XP drive: \ my documents and and \ Local Settings \ Application Data \ Microsoft \ Outlook
Auto-complete list for Outlook contacts
Autocomplete is a feature that suggests suggestions for names and email addresses as you type them. The suggested options are taken from a list of names and mailing addresses from previously sent messages.
In Outlook 2007, the Auto-Complete List (NK2) file is stored in the following folders:
Windows Vista: drive: \ Users \<имя пользователя>\ AppData \ Roaming \ Microsoft \ Outlook
Windows XP: drive: \ Documents and Settings \<имя пользователя>\ Application Data \ Microsoft \ Outlook
The completion list (NK2) file is no longer used in Outlook 2010. Auto-complete list items are now saved in your Microsoft Exchange Server mailbox or in your account's Outlook Data File (PST).
Exchange Server Accounts
If you are using an Exchange Server account, your Auto-Complete List is stored in a mailbox on the Exchange Server. This allows you to use the Auto-Complete List on any computer where you use Outlook with your Exchange account.
How do I determine if I have a Microsoft Exchange Server account?
Open the tab File... Click the button Account setup and select the command Account setup... In the tab Email the list of accounts indicates the type of each of them.
POP3 accounts
The auto-complete list is saved in an Outlook data file (PST). See Find and transfer Outlook data files from one computer to another for location information.
IMAP and Outlook.com accounts
The auto-complete list is saved in an Outlook data file (PST). The Outlook Data File (PST) for these accounts is not the same as in Outlook. It is a copy of the data in the mail server account and is not intended to be moved or restored. When you set up an IMAP or Outlook.com (formerly Hotmail) account in a different Outlook profile or on a different computer, a new Outlook Data File (PST) is created. Therefore, the auto-complete list is unique to the computer and profile in which the account is configured, and its entries do not appear in another profile or computer that you are using.
Rules (RWZ)
Windows 7 and Windows Vista
Windows XP
Note: If you upgraded to Outlook 2010 from an earlier version of Outlook than Microsoft Outlook 2002, you might have an .wz file on your computer's hard drive. The .rwz file is no longer required, and the rule information is now stored on the server running Microsoft Exchange and in the Outlook Data File (PST) for POP3 and IMAP e-mail accounts. You can delete the file.
If you are using the rules import and export function, by default the RWZ files are located in the folder Documents.
Plot Styles (Outlprnt file without extension)
Windows Vista drive: \ \ Appdata \ roaming \ microsoft \ outlook
Windows XP drive: \ my documents and and \ Application Data \ Microsoft \ Outlook
Signatures (RTF, TXT, HTM)
Windows 7 and Windows Vista drive: \ Users \ User \ Appdata \ Roaming \ Microsoft \ Signature
Windows XP drive: \ my documents and and \ Application Data \ Microsoft \ Signatures
Forms (HTM)
Windows 7 and Windows Vista
Windows 7 and Windows Vista 64-bit with Outlook 2010 32-bit drive: \ Program Files (x86) \ Common Files \ Microsoft Shared \ Stationery
Windows XP drive: \ Program Files \ Common Files \ Microsoft Shared \ Stationery
Customizable forms
Windows 7 and Windows Vista drive: \ Users \ User \ Appdata \ Local \ Microsoft \ Forms
Windows XP drive: \ my documents and and \ Local Settings \ Application Data \ Microsoft \ Forms
Dictionary (DIC)
Windows 7 and Windows Vista drive: \ Users \ User \ Appdata \ Roaming \ Microsoft \ Upruf
Windows XP drive: \ my documents and and \ Application Data \ Microsoft \ UProof
Templates (OFT)
Windows 7 and Windows Vista drive: \ Users \ User \ Appdata \ Roaming \ Microsoft \ Templates
Windows XP drive: \ my documents and and \ Application Data \ Microsoft \ Templates
Send and Receive Parameters (SRS)
Windows 7 and Windows Vista drive: \ \ Appdata \ roaming \ microsoft \ outlook
Windows XP drive: \ my documents and and \ Application Data \ Microsoft \ Outlook
Messages (MSG, HTM, RTF)
Windows 7 and Windows Vista drive: \ Users \ User \ Documents
Windows XP drive: Documents and Documents Settings
Show hidden folders and file name extensions
Some folders may be hidden and file name extensions (such as PST, OST, PAB) may not be shown in Windows. To show hidden folders and filename extensions, do the following:
In Windows 10, click Start and select the item Control Panel.
In Windows 8, press Windows Key + X, then click Control Panel.
In Windows 7, click Start and select Control Panel.
In chapter Files and folders uncheck the box Hide extensions for registered file types.
In chapter Hidden files and folders click Show hidden files, folders and drives.
Click the button OK.
Open the control panel.
In the list View choose Large icons or Small icons to see all the control panel icons.
Click Folder properties.
Go to the tab View.
In field Extra options:
By archiving or backing them up, as well as ways to restore Outlook data files (.pst or .ost) from a backup or archive.
After all, regardless of whether you use Outlook to create and send emails, to import contacts from Gmail into the address book of an email client or use its address book, you create tasks or calendar marks in it, this means that a lot of valuable data. In this regard, it is useful for every Outlook user to know how to secure and save their data in order to avoid losing it in the future.
Content:
Mail control panel
First, let's take a look at the Outlook Mail Control and Settings Panel, which lets you configure your mail client on Windows. To open it, go to the Computer Control Panel and select the section post office.
In the opened window Mail setup three sections are available: Accounts, Data files, Configurations.
Selecting the first two items opens the same window Email Account Settings, only with different bookmarks, in which you can add an account, see the storage location of the data of each mail account, restore or make changes to them.
To add an account in Outlook, click the button Accounts, and in the bookmark Email click Create a.
If you need to perform certain actions with the data of a specific mail account, then go to the tab Data files in which you can do the following:
- Add or remove data file.
- Install Data file parameters.
In this menu, among other functions, there is a function to reduce the size of the data file, which will be useful if such a file "will increase" up to large size and will take up a lot of hard disk space. To do this, click on the menu Parameters button Shrink. - Set the data file to be the main one by default
- Open the location of the file (data file) by clicking the corresponding button.
Outlook data files (* .pst and * .ost)
More often than not, the user does not need to know where the Outlook email client stores its data. But if you need to create a backup copy of the mail client data or transfer it to another disk in order to save or free up free space hard disk computer, you need to know its location.
Outlook stores the emails of each mail account in .pst or .ost file, but the location of such a file depends on the version of the mail client used. In this article, we will show you the locations of Outlook data files and how you can change their location if necessary.
If you've been using Outlook for a while, you've probably heard of PST files. Each email inbox in Outlook has its own data store in the form of a PST file, which stores all emails and correspondence, calendar marks and reminders. The PST file data can be compressed and encrypted or not, depending on the settings made.
You may have noticed that the larger the amount of data stored in the PST file, the slower the mail client starts to work. From time to time Outlook suggests archiving older messages in order to mitigate this phenomenon by loading less data from the email client when it starts up.
Also, in the Outlook data folder, you may have come across a file with the .ost extension. OST files have a similar function to PST files, but are used as temporary offline email storage. The point is that the user can use the messages from the OST file while the email server is disconnected (no Internet connection), and after the connection is restored, Outlook will synchronize everything.
That is, a PST file is created by Outlook if all e-mail and correspondence is saved on the local computer, and an OST file is created when working with email hosts that save all data. e-mail on a remote server (for example, Gmail or Outlook.com). In this case, the OST file simply contains a local copy of your email data.
Where are Outlook data files stored
The storage location for Outlook data files depends on the version of the program. Outlook 2007 and 2010 saves by default PST and OST files to folder AppData:
C: \ Users \ Username\ AppData \ Local \ Microsoft \ Outlook
Starting with Outlook 2013, the location of the PST file has changed, and now they are stored in the Documents folder. So, Outlook 2013 and 2016 saves PST files in the following folder:
C: \ Users \ Username\ Documents \ Outlook Files
See storage folder PST or OST a specific account file can also be used using Outlook itself. To do this, go to the menu File / Setting up accounts.
In the window Account settings in the Data files tab, select the account you want to view (if there are several) and click "Open file location"
Outlook will open an explorer window and show the folder in which it is stored PST file (or OST file, if this account uses such).
Archive Outlook data
The main data file that Outlook works with is the file with the name of the account. You can also create an archive or a backup copy from this file. This can be done by setting up automatic data archiving or manually archiving data.
Automatic data archiving
To set up automatic archiving of Outlook data, open the application and go to the File tab. Select the required account from the pop-up menu (if there are several).
After that, click on Cleaning Tools and select a menu item.
After clicking the button, Outlook will archive the installed mailbox folders. To change the settings of the autoarchive parameters, just right-click on one of the folders in your Outlook mailbox and select Properties / / .
By clicking the button Default archive settings, you can set the archiving of folder items with the default settings.
Back up Outlook data manually
If there is no need to configure automatic mail archiving, then this can be done manually. To do this, go to the menu File / Cleaning products / Archive.
In the menu that opens, set the required parameters and click Ok.
As a result of both described methods of archiving Outlook data, the mail client will create a file with the data archive, which can be imported back if necessary.
Back up and restore Outlook data file
Also, in order to ensure the safety of the mail client data, you can create a backup copy of the Outlook data file. It is enough just to copy .pst or .ost your account file to another drive or cloud storage. To do this, open the location desired file PST and copy it.
To recover the data file copied this way, open Outlook and go to File / Open and export / Open Outlook Data File, and select the required data file.
As a rule, the mail client immediately opens the folder with the data files.
After that, Outlook will display all data from the selected file PST and you will be able to use your mail as usual. If you no longer need to use this backup copy of the data file, this data can be deleted from the mail client.
Note... As you can see in the Outlook Data, Files and Options Import and Export Wizard, data can only be imported from a file PST... That is, in the event that your mail account uses an OST data file, it will not be able to import it in this form. To do this, you will need to convert the OST file to PST format. Such conversion is not provided with the built-in Outlook tools; for this, use third-party software.
How to change the default storage folder of Outlook data file (* .pst or * .ost)
If you need to move your Outlook files from C drive or just to more comfortable spot then this can also be done. Only this file cannot be simply copied by holding the left mouse button. If you do this, Outlook will create a new file in the default folder for PST file and as a result, part of the mailbox information will be lost. To move a data file, you must change the default location for storing Outlook files using the registry and only then move the file.
Attention... The Registry Editor is a tool that, as a result of improper actions with which, can damage the operating system, after which its work will become unstable. Therefore, be careful when carrying out any actions with the Registry Editor, and it is better to create a backup copy of it before making any changes.
Close Outlook and open Registry editor.
On the left side Registry Editor go to the following path:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Office \ 16.0 \ Outlook \
where 16.0 is your Outlook version.
Next, create a new unit in this folder. To do this, right-click in the right window and select Create a / Expandable string parameter... Name the new unit "ForcePSTPath".
Please note that if you are working with OST file, then you need to create a unit with the name "ForceOSTPath"... Often, users create both units so that all Outlook files are stored in the same folder.
Double click on the new unit ( "ForcePSTPath" or "ForceОSTPath") and in the properties window that opens, specify the folder where you want to save the Outlook data files, and then click Ok.
Close up Registry editor... After that Outlook should create a new one PST file in the specified new folder, and now you can transfer the old one PST file to a new folder. Once opened, Outlook should work as before.
Today I want to tell you how to find edited files in Outlook. When I was a system administrator and I had to squeeze in and help ordinary users, there were situations when they received a letter with an attachment and they opened it directly from Outlook, edited it, and then only realized that the changes were not saved, I don’t know whether due to inattention , or because of their illiteracy, but it turns out that such files are not lost.
Where are the files stored?
Microsoft has been faced with this situation for a long time and in the outlook settings such files are saved after editing from a letter, for each operating system it's your way.
% username% is your account name
- For Windows XP: C: \ Documents and Settings \% username% \ Local Settings \ Temporary Internet Files \ Content.Outlook \
- For Windows 7: C: \ Users \% username% \ AppData \ Local \ Microsoft \ Windows \ Temporary Internet Files \ Content.Outlook \
- For Windows 8.1 C: \ Users \% username% \ AppData \ Local \ Microsoft \ Windows \ INetCache \ Content.Outlook \
Let me remind you that this folder will be hidden, see the link for how to display hidden folders.
and teach users to be at least a little more attentive, and not to shift everything onto their shoulders system administrator who, in their opinion, should correct all their stupidity
To further simplify your life, and the user can again forget where it lies and again strain you with the question of where are my files, I will give you the outlooktempcleaner utility, it will be able to constantly open this folder (Content.Outlook), where the edited files are stored through outlook ...
Install outlooktempcleaner, the wizard will open, click next
if desired, we can specify our let settings
After a couple of seconds, this utility will be installed, run it through the start button.
In the utility that opens, click Open Folder. It will open the required folder with your desired files.