Introduction of Outlook PST File – How to Export and Import PST File?
In this post, we will cover everything about the PST files. We are going to tell you what is PST file, where it is located, how to export, and import a PST file. This blog is very helpful for users who know nothing about the Outlook PST file.
Table of Content
The next section covers all the above content that helps you manage Outlook data. If you know everything about PST files, you can easily process them and avoid accidental deletion and damage problems.
What is PST File?
PST is a personal storage table in Microsoft Outlook. It is known as an Outlook data file, that contains all items like email messages, contacts, calendar entries, notes and much more. The PST file is supported by several Microsoft client applications like Microsoft Exchange Client, Windows Messaging and MS Outlook.
The PST file is used by all versions of Outlook with different size limits. Outlook 2000 and 2002 version PST files are in ANSI format and have a maximum size of 2 GB. Outlook 2003 and 2007 save the PST file in UNICODE format and maximum size of 20 GB. In Outlook 2010, 2013, 2016 and 2019, the versions have a maximum size of 50 GB.
Read More: How to Increase Outlook Mailbox Size
Location of Data File
The location of the data file differs depending on the Outlook version. By default, Outlook 2007 and 2010 save the PST file in the AppData folder. You can see the place below:
C:\users\username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook
In Outlook 2013, 2016, and 2019 the location of the .pst file is moved to the “Documents” folder. You can see the place below:
C:\users\username\Documents\Outlook Files
The easiest steps to open the folder where the Outlook PST file is stored are are as follows;
- In Outlook, click on the File tab.
- Under Add Account, click Account Settings, and select Account Settings.
- On the Data Files tab, select the account, and click Open File Location.
How to Export PST File from Outlook?
Outlook offers the Import/Export option that allows users to export or save emails, contacts, and calendars to the PST file as follows:
- Click the File menu at the top of the Outlook Ribbon.
- Click Open & Export >> Import / Export.
- Select Export to a file and hit Next.
- Click Outlook Data File (.pst) and click Next.
- Select the folder where you want to export the PST file, after clicking Next.
- Click Browse and choose where you want to save the PST file. Select Finish.
- Type and confirm the password to export PST file and click OK.
You can simply leave both the fields blank and click the OK button. It will save the PST file without any password. Hence, users can take the help of this step by step method to successfully complete how to export PST file from Outlook process.
How to Import PST File in Outlook?
With the Import/Export function, the user can import emails, calendar data and contacts from the PST file into Outlook 2019, 2016, 2013 as follows:
- Select File >> Open & Export >> Import/Export.
- Click “Import from another program or file” and hit Next.
- Select Outlook Data File (.pst) and press Next.
- Click Browse and select the PST file you want to import.
- Under Options, select the option you want to use to manage your duplicate items.
- If the PST file consists of any password then enter that password and click OK.
- Select the folder to import into, and select the Import items to the same folder option.
- Click Finish to successfully complete how to import PST file in Outlook process.
Note: If you have several PST files and want to import them into Outlook, you must repeat this process for each PST file. Additionally, use the Merge PST File Tool to combine them all into one file and import this PST file into Outlook.
How to Deal with Corrupted Data file?
You can use the Inbox Repair tool to repair your corrupt data file. Use this tool to troubleshoot data files errors and corruption issues. Sometimes this inbox repair tool will not recover badly damaged and deleted data. In such a situation, you can take the help of a professional tool like Outlook Email Recovery.
Note: If you want to add multiple PST files into MS Outlook in bulk then the above mentioned manual methods won’t be that effective, hence, you can take the help of the Add PST Tool, an expert recommended solution for Windows OS users to directly add their PST files on all MS Outlook 32 bit & 64 bit and below versions.
