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Outlook saves backup information in a variety of different locations. Depending on what type of account you have, you can back up your emails, your personal address book, your navigation pane settings, your signatures, templates, and more.
If you're using a Microsoft Exchange, Office 365, or Outlook.com account, your email messages are backed up on your email server. In most cases, you won't have a Personal Folders file (.pst) for these types of accounts.
In order to view some of the backup files for Outlook, you'll need to unhide system folders and file name extensions. For information on how to perform that task, see How to unhide folders and file name extensions.
Backup information for Office 365, Exchange, or Outlook.com accounts
Navigation Pane settings
- Windows 10 drive:Users<username>AppDataRoamingMicrosoftOutlookprofile name.xml
- Older versions of Windows drive:Documents and SettingsuserApplication DataMicrosoftOutlookprofile name.xml
Print styles
- Windows 10 drive:Users<username>AppDataRoamingMicrosoftOutlookOutlprnt
- Older versions of Windows drive:Documents and SettingsuserApplication DataMicrosoftOutlookOutlprnt
Signatures
- Windows 10 drive:Users<username>AppDataRoamingMicrosoftSignatures
- Older versions of Windows drive:Documents and SettingsuserApplication DataMicrosoftSignatures
Stationery
- All versions of Windows drive:Program FilesCommon FilesMicrosoft SharedStationery
- All versions of Windows drive:Program Files (x86)Common Files Microsoft SharedStationery
Custom forms
- Windows 10 drive:Users<username>AppDataLocalMicrosoftForms
- Older versions of Windows drive:Documents and SettingsuserLocal SettingsApplication DataMicrosoftForms
Dictionary
- Windows 10 drive:Users<username>AppDataRoamingMicrosoftUProof
- Older versions of Windows drive:Documents and SettingsuserApplication DataMicrosoftUProof
Templates
- Windows 10 drive:Users<username>AppDataRoamingMicrosoftTemplates
- Older versions of Windows drive:Documents and SettingsuserApplication DataMicrosoftTemplates
Send/Receive settings
- Windows 10 drive:Users<username>AppDataRoamingMicrosoftOutlook
- Older versions of Windows drive:Documents and SettingsuserApplication DataMicrosoftOutlook
Email, calendar, contact, and task information for POP and IMAP accounts
- Windows 10 drive:Users<username>AppDataLocalMicrosoftOutlook
- Windows 10 drive:Users<username>RoamingLocalMicrosoftOutlook
- Older versions of Windows drive:Documents and Settings<username>Local SettingsApplication DataMicrosoftOutlook
Can't find the folders?
- Click the Start button, and then click Control Panel.
- Open Folder Options.To locate Folder Options, in the search box at the top of window, type Folder Options. In Control Panel for Windows XP, type Folder Options in the Address box.
- On the View tab, under Advanced settings, under Files and Folders, under Hidden files and folders, select Show hidden files and folders.
Outlook Data File (.pst)
- Microsoft Exchange Server accounts save your information on the mail server. To use Cached Exchange Mode or to work offline, copies of your items are saved in an offline Outlook Data File (.ost). See the Outlook Data Files (.ost) section for more information. Also, some organizations allow you to export or archive your items to a .pst file.
- Moving a .pst file to a network share is not supported. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
297019 Personal folder files are unsupported over a LAN or over a WAN link
How to identify the name and location of your personal folders file
- In Outlook 2010, click the File tab in the Ribbon, and then click the Info tab on the menu.
- Click Account Settings, and then click Account Settings.
- Click DataFiles.
- Note the path and file name of your .pst file. For example, C:ExchangeMailbox.pst indicates a .pst file that is named Mailbox.pst and is located in the Exchange folder on your drive C.
- Start Outlook.
- On the Tools menu, click Options.
- On the Mail Setup tab, click the Data Files button.
- Note the path and file name of your .pst file. For example, C:ExchangeMailbox.pst indicates a .pst file that is named Mailbox.pst located in the Exchange folder on your drive C.
How to copy your personal folders file
- On the Start menu, point to Programs, and then click Windows Explorer.
- Browse through the files to the location of your .pst file.
- Copy your .pst file to the location that you want.
- Click the Start button, and then click Help.
- Click the Search tab, and then type copy.
- In the Select Topic to display box, click Copy or move a file or folder.
How to point Outlook to your new personal folders file
- Open Outlook 2010.
- Click the File tab on the Ribbon, and then click the Info tab on the menu.
- Click the Accounts Settings tab, and then click Account Settings again.
- On the Data Files tab, click Add.
- Under Save as type, select Outlook Data File (*.pst).
- Find the new location for your .pst file, and then click OK.
- Select the .pst file, and then click Set as Default.
- If this is your default e-mail delivery location, you will receive the following message:
- Open Outlook.
- On the Tools menu, click Options.
- On the Mail Setup tab, click the E-mail accounts button, even if you do not have an email account specified.
- On the Data Files tab, click Add.
- Click Office Outlook Personal Folders File (.pst), and then click OK.
- Find the new location for your .pst file, and then click OK two times.
- Click Set as Default.
- If this is your default e-mail delivery location, you will receive the following message:
File (.ost)
Personal Address Book (.pab)
Offline Address Book (.oab)
Navigation Pane settings (.xml)
Registered Microsoft Exchange extensions (.dat)
Outlook Contacts Auto-Complete List
Exchange Server accounts
POP3 accounts
IMAP and Outlook.com accounts
Rules (.rwz)
Print styles (Outlprnt with no extension)
Signatures (.rtf, .txt, .htm)
Stationery (.htm)
Custom forms
Dictionary (.dic)
Templates (.oft)
Send/Receive settings (.srs)
Message (.msg, .htm, .rtf)
How to unhide folders and file name extensions
Some of the folders might be hidden folders, and Windows might have file name extensions (such as .pst, .ost, .pab) turned off. To show hidden folders and file 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.