Move An Outlook Personal Folders .PST File

4/7/2020 Move an Outlook Personal Folders .
pst File
Outlook User Exchange Admin O ce 365 Outlook Developer Outlook.com
Outlook Mac Outlook & iCloud 
Move an Outlook Personal Folders .pst

File
Slipstick Systems
gure and Maintain › Move an Outlook Personal Folders .pst File Visit Slipstick Forums.
What's New at Slipstick.com
17, 2019  41 Comments
016 (Win), Outlook 2013, Outlook 2010, Outlook 2007 Latest EMO: Vol. 25 Issue 5
me or move a Personal Folders .pst le while Microsoft Support Services

ng or through the properties for the PST le in either Tools | Do you need help setting up
Outlook, moving your email to a
look Today. new computer, migrating or
con guring O ce 365, or just
need some one-on-one
Outlook 2003 and newer, we recommend going into Control assistance?
pointing Outlook to the moved .pst instead of waiting for SCHEDULE AN
mpt you to locate the moved .pst. See New Method for details. APPOINTMENT
Subscribe to Exchange
Messaging Outlook
Name
Email
od (Recommended) SUBSCRIBE
n be used for POP3 or IMAP accounts, as well as SharePoint Our Sponsors

Calendar data les.
ook then make sure Outlook is not listed in Task Manager,

a few minutes after you close it.
pro le (Control panel, search for Mail) and click on Data les.
account and click Open File Location to open the folder
g the PST in Windows Explorer.
https://www.slipstick.com/outlook/config/to-move-an-outlook-personal-folders-pst-file/ 1/16
4/7/2020 Move an Outlook Personal Folders .pst File
POPULAR LATEST
WEEK MONTH ALL
Account Settings dialog Adjusting Outlook's Zoom

Setting in Email
PST to the desired location. The PST les used by POP3
How to Remove the Primary
can be renamed. (Default name for pst les Outlook creates Account from Outlook
accounts is email@address.pst) Two Copies of Sent Messages
in Outlook
e Data Files window and double click on the account's data
Security Certi cate Warning in
Microsoft Outlook
get a 'can't nd data le' error message, like this: The file
This operation has been
\username\Documents\Outlook cancelled due to restrictions
ail@domain.com - email@domain.com (POP3).pst Create rules that apply to an

entire domain
e found. After you click Ok, you can show Outlook where to
Move an Outlook Personal
Folders .pst File
Save Sent Items in Shared

Mailbox Sent Items folder
To Cc or Bcc a Meeting Request
Change your Password and

Server Settings in Outlook 2016
Newest Code Samples

Change Insight's Focus Time
Appointments
dialogs and you are ready to restart outlook. Enable Automatic Replies (OOF)
using a macro
Clean up the Junk Email folder
Use VBA to Scan to Email
Delete folders using a macro or

check your Rules Wizard rules to make sure they're still
PowerShell
o the right folders. Use PowerShell to Bulk Change
Contacts
Warn Before Sending: Checking
al: How to move a pst Contact Categories
Use PowerShell to Export and
ial shows how to move a pst le. I'm using Outlook 2016 and Import Categories
t the steps are similar for Outlook 2007 and newer and Search Calendars for
Appointments
newer.
Delete duplicate messages
using a macro
o move an Outlook pst … Recent Bugs List

Microsoft keeps a running list of
issues affecting recently
released updates at Fixes or
workarounds for recent issues in
Outlook for Windows.
O ce Update History
Update history for supported
O ce versions is at Update
history for O ce
Translate
Select Language
Powered by Translate
ultiple Outlook pro les, you'll need to select the correct

the Mail dialog in Control panel, click Pro les and double
esired Pro le, then click Data Files. Continue with Step 2
the default PST folder location

e the default folder location Outlook looks to using the
egistry key. You need to set this key before you create this
u use an older version of Outlook, or before you add the
pro le if you have Outlook 2013 and newer.
es not change the path for existing accounts. It works only for
ated after the key is set. Remember to create the folder you
the IMAP pst les in before you set the key.
hanges the default location used for IMAP *ost les in

nd newer. The ForcePSTPath key will cause Outlook to
les used by IMAP accounts in Outlook 2010 and up but not
ns.
nionLink: Your Data on Your Device.

ntacts. Calendar. Tasks. Memos.
ok 2007, you'll need to move the pst le and repoint the

owing the steps below.
the Start menu and when the Registry Editor comes up,
open it.
ollowing subkey in the registry.
16, 2019, 365 go to

ER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook
13, the path is

10 go to
07 (POP3, Sharepoint, and default pst les only):

he key and choose New then click String Value.

: ForcePSTPath with your desired data path as the value
it the registry editor. If Outlook is open, close it then restart.

data les will default to the location. Existing data les would
ed.
Me
t to edit the registry directly, you can use one of these text
to edit the path before changing the le extension to reg and
on it to run it.
h exists before adding the key to the registry. If it does not

will drop back to the default Microsoft\Outlook location under
nt (and in Outlook 2010 and up, to My Documents\Outlook
nd additional pst les.)
se double \\ between folder names in the path in the reg le.

shes if you edit the registry directly.)
ry Editor Version 5.00

USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Outlook]
="C:\\folder\\folder\\folder\\folder\\folder"
016/2019/365  Outlook 2013  Outlook 2010

007
need to edit the path name, the save it using the .reg
hange the extension to reg after saving). Then you need to
the reg le to update the registry!
d to move PST les

location of the PST by looking at the properties for Personal
Account Settings. Then, follow these steps:
ook.
le to the new location. (You can also use this technique to
e le.)
utlook. When you're prompted for the location of the now-
ST le, point to the le in its new location.
eing delivered to a pst you moved or renamed, go to File,
ettings and select the account that uses the pst. Verify the
t is listed next to the Change Folder button.
ving a .pst le to a different machine that is running Outlook,

utlook to a new computer
od only works with POP3 or standalone PST les. See How to

personal folder (*.pst) if you need to move an IMAP or
les. Files used by the Outlook Connector cannot be moved
thods.
Notes | More Information
hods
repoint the folder or le using symbolic links or junction
ld also use a registry hack to move the user pro le folder
all les in the user pro le).
mation, see Symbolic Links (MSDN), Junction Points (MSDN),

ve Shell Folders (and contents).
ate a PST le with Start | Find on a Windows system, you need

t Windows treats PST les as hidden les. In Windows
ols | Folder Options | View to make sure that hidden les are
eck your Rules Wizard rules to make sure they're still moving
ht folders.
rmation
move the IMAP personal folder (*.pst)
ft Outlook Backup and Dual-Boot
eping and Message Management Tools
How to Move Your Personal Folders
     
Where is Changing the Quick Tip:

Outlook's PST Default Data Move Folders
About Diane Poremsky

A Microsoft Outlook Most Valuable Professional (MVP) since 1999, Diane is
the author of several books, including Outlook 2013 Absolute Beginners Book.
She also created video training CDs and online training classes for Microsoft
Outlook. You can nd her helping people online in Outlook Forums as well as in
Answers and TechNet forums.
a Reply
-quote u ul ol li code spoiler
sion. (All comments are moderated.)...
Comment
 search... 
 newest  oldest  most voted
chael peterson #215011
s did not entirely work for me (Outlook 2010, Windows 7, .pst data le
fault storage location "changed" by moving My Documents folder to non-
partition during Windows installation, wanted to simply change name of
t le), though it closely follows advice commonly given. After following
above New Method steps, I nished with the advice given here:
ps://www.wintips.org/how-to- x-outlook-data- le-cannot-be-accessed-
ved/
ich involves opening Outlook, and using Account Settings to temporarily
ange the default location to the Inbox of a new temporary data le, then
hout closing the dialog, switch it right back.
0 0   Reply  April 6, 2020 1:01 pm
on W #214681
Diane, you have been performing this very generous and outstanding gift
knowledge for many years and my appreciation, like so many others, has
wn as it becomes more complex each year -thank you! I am adding a new
rkstation to my LAN. We have all Win 10-64 v1909 OS and we have an O-
5 home edition revolving account. We use Outlook 2016 on the desktop as
r dashboard of choice. All our email accounts are either Google domain
counts or Gmail accounts. Since the new computer is mine, along with the
er unit I have been using connected to the LAN (laptop) is as well, I
nted to duplicate the personal folder les.PST which I keep in the folders
ne. It is a directory tree of folders into which I sort and le all emails with
achments many as threads. It is not connected to any particular mailbox
d loads separately from them. Do I make a copy of this le and move the
py to the new computer's folder for the IMAP OST les like it is on the
top? How do I keep it in sync? All the OST les are in sync coming in
m… Read more »
0 0   Reply  January 29, 2020 5:32 pm 
Diane Poremsky #215012
Sorry I missed this previously -

>>
I wanted to duplicate the personal folder les.PST which I keep in the
folders pane.
Do I make a copy of this le and move the copy to the new computer's
folder for the IMAP OST les like it is on the laptop?
How do I keep it in sync? All the OST les are in sync coming in from
Google that way, it is a very large le
>>
Copy the pst to the new computer. You can't easily sync it with the
other computer - you'll need to copy it and replace. For this reason, I
would keep everything in google until you are done with it and just
need to archive it, or run out of space on the server.
 0 0  Reply  April 6, 2020 2:24 pm
ke B #209639
ne there is a problem with your (new) procedure - for Outlook 2007 at

st. The problem is step 3, where you say 'Close the Account Settings
log'. The problem is that when you later re-open this dialog after moving
pst le, Outlook just creates a new (blank) pst le in the original location.
s seems to be the problem many people are experiencing.
e solution is easy - leave the Data les dialog open! Now when you double-
ck on the relevant le (after having moved it to the new location), you get
desired 'pst le cannot be found' dialog, followed by the opportunity to

wse for it in the new location.
0 0   Reply  December 13, 2017 6:19 am 
Diane Poremsky #209640
There was a reason why it needed to be closed - i believe it kept a

lock on the pst if the dialog was open, but forget because I haven't
tried it in a long time... if that is no longer a problem (or you move the
pst before opening the dialog), then it doesn't need to be closed. I'll
boot up a virtual machine and test it.
 0 0  Reply  December 13, 2017 10:20 am
Mike B #209666
Hi Diane, I think there may be some confusion over which dialog

needs to be closed. After further testing I established that (in Outlook
2007) if you carry out the extra step of double-clicking on a pst listed
under the 'Account Settings>Data Files' dialog *before* moving it (not
part of the normal process), then the additional properties dialog that
opens (headed 'Personal Folders') does indeed put a lock on that pst,
however the Data Files dialog by itself doesn't put a lock on it.
To recap then, I found that the only way to provoke the necessary 'pst
le cannot be found' dialog (which is essential for allowing you to tell
Outlook where you have moved it to) was to leave the 'Account
Settings>Data Files' dialog open whilst moving the le, otherwise (if
closed rst) it just creates a new (blank) pst when re-opened instead
of complaining it can't nd it.
I hope this makes sense. Thanks for a great site by the way - my rst
port of call for any Outlook issues!
 0 0  Reply  December 15, 2017 3:30 pm
Jonnyz2 #211602
I also found the written instructions did not work as intended for
2007. However, the video process, which is different, does work.
Instead of double clicking the data le in step ve, click settings for
that data le. Then the pop up window asking for the location of the
le appears and the process works as intended.
I recommend changing the written portion (step 5) of the instructions

to match what the video shows.
 0 0  Reply  July 26, 2018 6:05 pm
ff #203204
Thank you but I have a couple of questions: old computer is
n/10 running Outlook 2007. New computer is also running Win/10 but
tlook via O ce 365. The new one has Outlook set up and running but of
urse does not have all old items... Contacts did sync via iCloud but the
me as on the old. now have a week or two of new email on the new
mputer and want to bring in all the old email and contact lists... have
ltiple email accounts and I do not want to have any effect to the new
ms on the new computer but sill add all the older items from the old. I
ve found the .PST le and have it on "Thumbdrive". What next and will the
w get lost if I bring in the old?
ank you so much.
0 0   Reply  December 3, 2016 6:33 pm
AVID A #202856
- I messaged this site once before but I cannpot nd the thread anywhere.
oved my Microsoft Outlook folder (with the PST le in it), But without
ng either the new or the old method - because Im an absolute prize idiot.
oticed the le appeared in two locations, so I deleted the one I dodnt want
now - absolute idiot)
en I right click the PST le its properties only show 58mb which suggests
me there's now nothing in it?
w when I go to my email account in Outlook - all the sub folders I created
ve vanished. Only the trash, spam and deleted folders remain.
getting very lost with all the advice, please please tell me I have just
ken the link or patha or explain what has happened and how it can be
ved - if at all !!!
E L P!!!
0 -1   Reply  November 10, 2016 9:15 am
AVID #202571
Diane,
ave a POP3 webmail account thatr I added to Outlook.

sed a shared laptop, so I decided to set up a password, hoping to then get
mpted to enter it when opening Outlook. In addition to that,
oved my outloook data.pst. le from My documents to a personal folder
eper within (Outlook was running when I did this)
ce I moved it, I noticed the outlook data.pst le became duplicated sitting

wo locations. So I deleted newly located one, reverting back to the
ginal le in my documents.
wever, When I then when to Outlook to check my email, all the folders
ve disappeared, presenting me with just the default folders (junk, deleted,
nt, inbox).
ere has everything gone?

w can I open the PST le?
ave read the whole thread but I dont think anyone has been quite as stupid
I have!!!
ase help. Thanks.
0 0   Reply  October 27, 2016 5:01 am
sra #201231
ave also same issue. I did this procedure, I moved all .pst les to new
ation. When I try to open Outlook, it generate the same les automatically
hout any message or alert !!! what was wrong?
anks ...
sra
1 0   Reply  August 31, 2016 5:47 am
aurice #200125
w do I move "My Documents" folder (Windows 7) to another drive on the

me computer from the C default drive leaving Outlook 2013 in its default
ce? When I do this using the built in properties/location/move/destination
logue for redirecting personal system folders - all works super great
CEPT Outlook 2013 no longer works - even when I have otherwise
anged the Outlook le location in settings - Error Msg = Outlook Data
e.pst path speci ed is not valid which still remains the old default
Users\...\Documents\Outlook Files\ path. So it would seem easier just to
ve Outlook as is in it's default location - I have tried to re-direct Outlook
er using the "move" folder location function in Windows 7 but have not
en successful. Reason is to free up space on a 256GB SSD C drive by
ving "stuff" to a secondary 1TB HDD.
0 0   Reply  July 20, 2016 10:18 am
Load More Comments
Custom Search
SEARCH
Windows 10 Issues
iCloud, Outlook 2016, and
Windows 10
Better Outlook
Reminders?
Coming Soon to
Windows 10: O ce 365
Search
Outlook Links Won’t Open
In Windows 10
BCM Errors after

Upgrading to Windows
10
Outlook can’t send mail

in Windows 10: error
Ox800CCC13
Missing Outlook data
les after upgrading
Windows?
Outlook 2016 Top

Issues
The Windows Store
Outlook App
Emails are not shown in

the People Pane (Fixed)
Calendars aren’t printing

in color
The Signature or
Stationery and Fonts
button doesn’t work
Outlook’s New Account

Setup Wizard
BCM Errors after October
2017 Outlook Update
Excel Files Won’t Display
in Reading Pane
Outlook 2016: No BCM
Exchange Account Set-up

Missing in Outlook 2016
Repair PST
Convert an OST to PST
Repair damaged PST le
Repair large PST File
Remove password from
PST
Merge Two Data Files
Sync & Share

Outlook Data
Share Calendar &
Contacts
Synchronize two
computers
Sync Calendar and

Contacts Using
Outlook.com
Sync Outlook & Android
Devices
Sync Google Calendar

with Outlook
Access Folders in Other

Users Mailboxes
Convert to / from
Outlook
Converting Messages
and Calendar or
Address books
Moving Outlook to a New

Computer
Moving Outlook 2010 to

a new Windows
computer
Moving from Outlook
Express to Outlook
Recover Deleted
Items
Recover deleted
messages from .pst les
Are Deleted Items gone

forever in Outlook?
Calendar Tools Productivity

Schedule Management Productivity Tools
Calendar Printing Tools Automatic Message Processing Tools
Calendar Reminder Tools Special Function Automatic Processing Tools
Calendar Dates & Data Housekeeping and Message Management
Time and Billing Tools Task Tools
Meeting Productivity Tools Project and Business Management Tools
Duplicate Remover Tools Choosing the Folder to Save a Sent Message In
Run Rules on messages after reading
Mail Tools
Sending and Retrieval Tools Help & Suggestions
Mass Mail Tools Outlook Suggestion Box (UserVoice)
Compose Tools Slipstick Support Services
Duplicate Remover Tools
Mail Tools for Outlook
Online Services
Contact Tools
Data Entry and Updating
Duplicate Checkers
Phone Number Updates
Contact Management Tools
Sync & Share

Share Calendar & Contacts
Synchronize two machines
Sharing Calendar and Contacts

over the Internet
More Tools and Utilities for
Sharing Outlook Data
Access Folders in Other Users
Mailboxes
View Shared Subfolders in an
Exchange Mailbox
"Live" Group Calendar Tools
Home | Outlook User | Exchange Administrator | O ce 365 | Outlook.com | Outlook Developer

Outlook for Mac | Outlook BCM | Common Problems | Utilities & Addins | Tutorials
Outlook & iCloud Issues | Outlook Apps
EMO Archives | About Slipstick | Advertise | Slipstick Forums
Submit New or Updated Outlook and Exchange Server Utilities
Send comments using our Feedback page

Copyright © 2020 Slipstick Systems. All rights reserved.
Slipstick Systems is not a liated with Microsoft Corporation.

Move An Outlook Personal Folders .PST File

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Move An Outlook Personal Folders .PST File

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

4/7/2020 Move an Outlook Personal Folders .

Outlook User Exchange Admin O ce 365 Outlook Developer Outlook.com

Outlook Mac Outlook & iCloud 

Move an Outlook Personal Folders .pst

me or move a Personal Folders .pst le while Microsoft Support Services

n be used for POP3 or IMAP accounts, as well as SharePoint Our Sponsors

ook then make sure Outlook is not listed in Task Manager,

WEEK MONTH ALL

Account Settings dialog Adjusting Outlook's Zoom

ail@domain.com - email@domain.com (POP3).pst Create rules that apply to an

Save Sent Items in Shared

To Cc or Bcc a Meeting Request

Change your Password and

Newest Code Samples

Delete folders using a macro or

o move an Outlook pst … Recent Bugs List

ultiple Outlook pro les, you'll need to select the correct

the default PST folder location

hanges the default location used for IMAP *ost les in

nionLink: Your Data on Your Device.

ok 2007, you'll need to move the pst le and repoint the

ollowing subkey in the registry.

16, 2019, 365 go to

13, the path is

07 (POP3, Sharepoint, and default pst les only):

he key and choose New then click String Value.

it the registry editor. If Outlook is open, close it then restart.

h exists before adding the key to the registry. If it does not

se double \\ between folder names in the path in the reg le.

ry Editor Version 5.00

016/2019/365  Outlook 2013  Outlook 2010

d to move PST les

ving a .pst le to a different machine that is running Outlook,

od only works with POP3 or standalone PST les. See How to

Notes | More Information

mation, see Symbolic Links (MSDN), Junction Points (MSDN),

ate a PST le with Start | Find on a Windows system, you need

Where is Changing the Quick Tip:

About Diane Poremsky

-quote u ul ol li code spoiler

sion. (All comments are moderated.)...

 newest  oldest  most voted

chael peterson #215011

0 0   Reply  April 6, 2020 1:01 pm

0 0   Reply  January 29, 2020 5:32 pm 

Diane Poremsky #215012

Sorry I missed this previously -

 0 0  Reply  April 6, 2020 2:24 pm

ne there is a problem with your (new) procedure - for Outlook 2007 at

desired 'pst le cannot be found' dialog, followed by the opportunity to

0 0   Reply  December 13, 2017 6:19 am 

Diane Poremsky #209640

There was a reason why it needed to be closed - i believe it kept a

 0 0  Reply  December 13, 2017 10:20 am

Hi Diane, I think there may be some confusion over which dialog

 0 0  Reply  December 15, 2017 3:30 pm

I recommend changing the written portion (step 5) of the instructions

 0 0  Reply  July 26, 2018 6:05 pm

0 0   Reply  December 3, 2016 6:33 pm

0 -1   Reply  November 10, 2016 9:15 am

ave a POP3 webmail account thatr I added to Outlook.

ce I moved it, I noticed the outlook data.pst le became duplicated sitting