The desktop computer Outlook application uses two kinds of data documents to store regional duplicates of your emails, calendars, get in touches with, as well as other products, to allow you access to your details without a net connection.
If you’re utilizing an Outlook.com, Outlook 365, or Exchange account, this details is kept in an Offline Outlook Data File making use of the .ost format. However, if you’re using a POP or IMAP account like those you obtain from an Internet Service Provider (ISP), your details will certainly be stored in an Outlook Data File utilizing the .pst format instead.

An Outlook Data File (.pst) contains your backed-up email messages, calendars, contacts, tasks, and notes, and can be stored in one of the following default locations: drive:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook. drive:\Users\<username>\Roaming\Local\Microsoft\Outlook.
By default, an Microsoft Outlook PST file is located at: “C:\Users\ \AppData\Local\MicrosoftOutlook” under Windows 7 or Vista and at: C:\Documents and Settings\ \Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\ under Windows XP.
Introduction to Outlook Data Record (.pst and.ost)
When you include an email account to Outlook, a neighborhood copy of your information is kept on your computer system. This feature allows you to access your previously downloaded and install or integrated e-mail messages, calendar info, calls, and jobs without an internet link.
Certain kinds of accounts, such as POP accounts, keep their details in Outlook Data Files (.pst files). Outlook 365 accounts, Exchange accounts, IMAP accounts, as well as Outlook.com accounts to store their information in Offline Outlook Data Files (.ost files).
Outlook Data File (.pst)
An Outlook Data File (.pst) includes your messages and also various other Outlook items and is reduced your computer. POP accounts- which is a usual kind of account you could create when adding an email account from a web solution supplier (ISP) like Xfinity or AT&T or Cox- download and install every one of your email messages from your mail web server and also conserve them on your computer system.
Keep in mind: In Outlook 2013 and also earlier variations, IMAP accounts also made use of an Outlook Data File (.pst). In Outlook 2016 as well as Outlook for Office 365, IMAP accounts make use of Offline Outlook Data Files (.ost files).
You could likewise utilize an Outlook Data File (.pst) to backup or export items from any kind of type of e-mail account. To find out more on backing up your e-mail messages, job, calendar, as well as contact information, see Export or backup e-mail, get in touches with, as well as the calendar to Outlook.pst documents. You can additionally import e-mail messages, job, get in touch with, and also schedule data from another Outlook Data File (.pst). For even more info regarding importing items, see Import email, get in touches with, as well as the calendar from an Outlook.pst document.
Note: You could not import from an Offline Outlook Data File (.ost) file.
Because these documents are saved money on your computer system, they aren’t based on mailbox dimension restrictions on a mail web server. By moving things to an Outlook Data File (.pst) on your computer, you can maximize storage area in the mailbox on your mail server.
When messages or various other Outlook things are conserved in an Outlook Data File (.pst), the items are available just on the computer system where the file is conserved.
Offline Outlook Data File (.ost)
Many various other account kinds, such as IMAP accounts, Office 365 accounts, Exchange accounts, and also Outlook.com accounts use an Offline Outlook Data File (.ost) data to save an integrated duplicate of your mailbox information on your local computer system. When your link to the mail server is interrupted, for instance, when you’re on an aircraft without WiFi or if your web connection disconnects, you can still access all emails, calendar data, get in touches with, as well as jobs that have been formerly downloaded and install. You could check out and compose messages, produce consultations, and add get in touches with. Nonetheless, your e-mail messages will not be sent and no brand-new messages will certainly be downloaded up until your web link is recovered.
When the connection is brought back, adjustments are automatically synchronized, and the folders as well as things on the web server and also on your computer equal once again.
File Locations
The fastest way to open the folder where your Outlook Data Files (.pst and.ost) are saved is to do the following:.
- In Outlook, click the File tab.
- In the right pane, click Account Settings, then click Account Settings.
- On the Data Files tab, click an entrance, then click Open Folder Location.
Outlook Data Files (.pst) created using Outlook 2013 or Outlook 2016 are usually minimized by your computer system in the Documents \ Outlook Files folder. If you upgraded to Outlook on a computer system that currently had data documents that were developed in Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 or earlier, these data are saved in a various location in a covert folder at drive: \ Users \ user \ AppData \ Local \ Microsoft \ Outlook.
The offline Outlook Data File (.ost) is also saved at drive:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook. Most data remains on the server; however, any items that are saved locally should be backed up. For example, Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, and any folders marked Local only.
Transfer as well as discover Outlook information documents from one computer to another
Overview saves backup details in a range of various locations. Relying on exactly what kind of account you have, you can support your e-mails, your individual personal digital assistant, your navigating pane settings, your trademarks, layouts, and much more.
If you’re using a Microsoft Exchange, Office 365, or Outlook.com account, your e-mail messages are supported on your e-mail server. You won’t have a Personal Folders documents (.pst) for these sorts of accounts.
In order to check out several of the back-up documents for Outlook, you’ll have to unhide system folders and also file name extensions.
Backup information for Office 365, Exchange, or Outlook.com accounts.
For Office 365 accounts, Exchange accounts, or Outlook.com, Hotmail.com, or Live.com accounts not accessed by POP or IMAP, you will not have a Personal Folders (. You can’t move that documents from one computer system to another.
Email, task, call, as well as calendar details for POP and also IMAP accounts.
You can relocate this documents to a new computer system and maintain your information. Relocating a.pst data from one computer to one more does not move your email account setups. If you require to set up Outlook on a brand-new computer, duplicate your.pst file from the old computer, after that set up your e-mail account on your brand-new computer system.
The area of the your.pst file depends on your variation of Outlook, your version of Windows, as well as how you set up your account or created the.pst documents. You could locate the your.pst file among the complying with areas:
- Windows 10 drive: \ Users \<username>\ AppData \ Local \ Microsoft \ Outlook.
- Windows 10 drive: \ Users \<username>\ Roaming \ Local \ Microsoft \ Outlook.
- Older variations of Windows drive: \ Settings and also files \<username>\ Local Settings \ Application Data \ Microsoft \ Outlook.
Ways to unhide folders and also data name extensions.
Some of the folders could be concealed folders, and also Windows could have filename extensions (such as.pst to show covert folders and data name extensions, do the following:
- Open Control Panel.
- In Windows 10, right-click the Start button, and then click Control Panel.
- In Windows 8, press the Windows key + X, then click Control Panel.
- In Windows 7, click Start > Control Panel.
- In the View by list, make sure either Large icons or Small icons is selected so that you can see all the icons in Control Panel.
- Click Folder Options.
- Click the View tab.
- In the Advanced settings box:
- Under Files and Folders, uncheck the Hide extensions for known file types box
- Under Hidden files and folders, click the Show hidden files, folders, and drives button.
- Click OK.
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