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Move an Outlook Personal Folders .pst File

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› Outlook › Configure and Maintain › Move an Outlook Personal Folders .pst File

Last reviewed on September 24, 2020     50 Comments

Applies to: Outlook (classic), Outlook 2007, Outlook 2010

You can't rename or move a Personal Folders .pst file while Microsoft Outlook is running or through the properties for the PST file in either Tools | Services or Outlook Today.

If you are using Outlook 2003 and newer, we recommend going into Control Panel, Mail and pointing Outlook to the moved .pst instead of waiting for Outlook to prompt you to locate the moved .pst. See New Method for details.

New Method (Recommended)

This method can be used for POP3 or IMAP accounts, as well as SharePoint and Subscribed Calendar data files.

First, close Outlook then make sure Outlook is not listed in Task Manager, Processes tab a few minutes after you close it.

  1. Open the profile (Control panel, search for Mail) and click on Data files.
  2. Select the account and click Open File Location to open the folder containing the PST in Windows Explorer.
    open-file-location
  3. Close the Account Settings dialog
  4. Move the PST to the desired location. The PST files used by POP3 accounts can be renamed. (Default name for pst files Outlook creates for email accounts is email@address.pst)
  5. Reopen the Data Files window and double click on the account's data file.
  6. Now you'll get a 'can't find data file' error message, like this: The file C:\Users\username\Documents\Outlook Files\email@domain.com - email@domain.com (POP3).pst cannot be found. After you click Ok, you can show Outlook where to find it.
    datafiles-error
  7. Close the dialogs and you are ready to restart outlook.

Don't forget to check your Rules Wizard rules to make sure they're still moving data into the right folders.

Video Tutorial: How to move a pst

This video tutorial shows how to move a pst file. I'm using Outlook 2016 and Windows 10 but the steps are similar for Outlook 2007 and newer and Windows 7 and newer.

If you have multiple Outlook profiles, you'll need to select the correct profile. Open the Mail dialog in Control panel, click Profiles and double click on the desired Profile, then click Data Files. Continue with Step 2 above.

 

Changing the default PST folder location

You can change the default folder location Outlook looks to using the ForcePSTPath registry key. You need to set this key before you create this profile when you use an older version of Outlook, or before you add the account to the profile if you have Outlook 2013 and newer.

Note: This does not change the path for existing accounts. It works only for accounts created after the key is set. Remember to create the folder you want to store the IMAP pst files in before you set the key.

This key also changes the default location used for IMAP *ost files in Outlook 2013 and newer. The ForcePSTPath key will cause Outlook to recreate the pst files used by IMAP accounts in Outlook 2010 and up but not in earlier versions.

If you use Outlook 2007, you'll need to move the pst file and repoint the profile to it, following the steps below.

Type regedit on the Start menu and when the Registry Editor comes up, double click to open it.

Registry Editor for ForcePSTPath

Browse to the following subkey in the registry.

For Outlook 2016, 2019, 365 go to
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook

For Outlook 2013, the path is
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\15.0\Outlook

For Outlook 2010 go to
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Outlook

For Outlook 2007 (POP3, Sharepoint, and default pst files only):
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Outlook

Right click on the key and choose New then click String Value.
String Value: ForcePSTPath with your desired data path as the value data

Click OK and edit the registry editor. If Outlook is open, close it then restart. Newly created data files will default to the location. Existing data files would need to be moved.

Do It For Me

If you don't want to edit the registry directly, you can use one of these text files - you need to edit the path before changing the file extension to reg and double clicking on it to run it.

Be sure the path exists before adding the key to the registry. If it does not exist, Outlook will drop back to the default Microsoft\Outlook location under the user account (and in Outlook 2010 and up, to My Documents\Outlook files for POP3 and additional pst files.)

Remember to use double \\ between folder names in the path in the reg file. (Use single slashes if you edit the registry directly.)

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Outlook]
"ForcePSTPath"="C:\\folder\\folder\\folder\\folder\\folder"

Outlook 2016/2019/365 Outlook 2013 Outlook 2010 Outlook 2007

Remember: you need to edit the path name, the save it using the .reg extension (or change the extension to reg after saving). Then you need to double click on the reg file to update the registry!

Old Method to move PST files

Find the current location of the PST by looking at the properties for Personal Folders in File, Account Settings. Then, follow these steps:

  1. Close Outlook.
  2. Move the file to the new location. (You can also use this technique to rename the file.)
  3. Restart Outlook. When you're prompted for the location of the now-missing PST file, point to the file in its new location.
  4. If mail is being delivered to a pst you moved or renamed, go to File, Account Settings and select the account that uses the pst. Verify the correct pst is listed next to the Change Folder button.
    verify correct pst is set as delivery location

If you are moving a .pst file to a different machine that is running Outlook, see Moving Outlook to a new computer

Note: this method only works with POP3 or standalone PST files. See How to move the IMAP personal folder (*.pst) if you need to move an IMAP or SharePoint PST files. Files used by the Outlook Connector cannot be moved using these methods.

Notes | More Information

Other methods

It is possible to repoint the folder or file using symbolic links or junction points. You could also use a registry hack to move the user profile folder (this will affect all files in the user profile).

For more information, see Symbolic Links (MSDN), Junction Points (MSDN), and How to Move Shell Folders (and contents).

Notes

If you try to locate a PST file with Start | Find on a Windows system, you need to be aware that Windows treats PST files as hidden files. In Windows Explorer, use Tools | Folder Options | View to make sure that hidden files are shown.

You need to check your Rules Wizard rules to make sure they're still moving data into the right folders.

More Information

How to move the IMAP personal folder (*.pst)
Microsoft Outlook Backup and Dual-Boot
Housekeeping and Message Management Tools
How to manage .pst files in Microsoft Outlook

Move an Outlook Personal Folders .pst File was last modified: September 24th, 2020 by Diane Poremsky

Related Posts:

  • How to move IMAP data files
  • open file location from settings
    Where is Outlook's PST file?
  • Changing the Default Data File
  • Using IMAP Accounts in Outlook

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 find her helping people online in Outlook Forums as well as in the Microsoft Answers and TechNet forums.

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Ash Nallawalla (@guest_220282)
May 16, 2023 8:08 pm
#220282

I love your resource that you've curated over many years, but this trick did not work for me in Outlook 2021 and Windows 11. (For the benefit of anyone who has just found this page). I had to move the .pst to the original location to use the account.

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Diane Poremsky(@diane-poremsky)
Author
Reply to  Ash Nallawalla
June 3, 2024 2:53 pm
#221154

You need to select a folder in a different data file after you move the pst. Either one used by another account or add a new data file and add a folder to it. Click Ok - verify the path is showing next to the change folder button then go back into change folder and select the correct folder.

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Mike Mays (@guest_217791)
March 18, 2021 8:32 am
#217791

The "NEW" method does not work for Outlook 2013. Step 5 re-creates an empty .ost file when it is clicked, instead of issuing the "Not Found" message

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Diane Poremsky(@diane-poremsky)
Author
Reply to  Mike Mays
March 18, 2021 3:30 pm
#217795

It works, but I prefer using the registry key to move it, but you need to remove the account from your profile. Junction points work good too, especially for IMAP and Exchange account data files and don't require you to re-add the account to your profile.

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watt (@guest_217454)
January 18, 2021 8:39 am
#217454

The method works (Office 365) --- EXCEPT, when you next open Outlook, you get a send/receive error -- mail does not go in or out. So I had to move the pst file back to its original location.

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Diane Poremsky(@diane-poremsky)
Author
Reply to  watt
January 18, 2021 9:28 am
#217455

This is with a pop account? You may need to reselect the inbox as the delivery location. (select account in settings, click Change Folder and reselect the correct folder.)

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Ron (@guest_221152)
Reply to  Diane Poremsky
June 3, 2024 1:53 pm
#221152

I tried this method for Outlook 365 and Win11. I moved the pst file and re-opened Outlook, changed the path to the new location, and all my existing folder/mails were there. But I could no longer send/receive. So, I tried to reselect the inbox of my account as the delivery location, but it would not accept it. The respective field next to "Change Folder" remained blank, no matter which folder I selected in my account. Is there an additional trick to this?

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Diane Poremsky(@diane-poremsky)
Author
Reply to  Ron
June 3, 2024 2:52 pm
#221153

When you repoint the folder using Change folder, you need to select a folder in a different data file. Either one used by another account or add a new data file and and an inbox to it. Click Ok - verify the path is showing next to the change folder button then go back into change folder and select the correct folder.

You need to use a different data file, not a different folder in the same data file.

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Ron (@guest_221155)
Reply to  Diane Poremsky
June 3, 2024 5:10 pm
#221155

Yes, I just tried that and it works.
Thanks a lot

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michael peterson (@guest_215011)
April 6, 2020 1:01 pm
#215011

This did not entirely work for me (Outlook 2010, Windows 7, .pst data file default storage location "changed" by moving My Documents folder to non-OS partition during Windows installation, wanted to simply change name of .pst file), though it closely follows advice commonly given. After following the above New Method steps, I finished with the advice given here:
https://www.wintips.org/how-to-fix-outlook-data-file-cannot-be-accessed-solved/
which involves opening Outlook, and using Account Settings to temporarily change the default location to the Inbox of a new temporary data file, then without closing the dialog, switch it right back.

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Don W (@guest_214681)
January 29, 2020 5:32 pm
#214681

Hi Diane, you have been performing this very generous and outstanding gift of knowledge for many years and my appreciation, like so many others, has grown as it becomes more complex each year -thank you! I am adding a new workstation to my LAN. We have all Win 10-64 v1909 OS and we have an O-365 home edition revolving account. We use Outlook 2016 on the desktop as our dashboard of choice. All our email accounts are either Google domain accounts or Gmail accounts. Since the new computer is mine, along with the older unit I have been using connected to the LAN (laptop) is as well, I wanted to duplicate the personal folder files.PST which I keep in the folders pane. It is a directory tree of folders into which I sort and file all emails with attachments many as threads. It is not connected to any particular mailbox and loads separately from them. Do I make a copy of this file and move the copy to the new computer's folder for the IMAP OST files like it is on the laptop? How do I keep it in sync? All the OST files are in sync coming in from… Read more »

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Diane Poremsky(@diane-poremsky)
Author
Reply to  Don W
April 6, 2020 2:24 pm
#215012

Sorry I missed this previously -
>>
I wanted to duplicate the personal folder files.PST which I keep in the folders pane.

Do I make a copy of this file and move the copy to the new computer's folder for the IMAP OST files like it is on the laptop?
How do I keep it in sync? All the OST files are in sync coming in from Google that way, it is a very large file
>>
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.

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Mike B (@guest_209639)
December 13, 2017 6:19 am
#209639

Diane there is a problem with your (new) procedure - for Outlook 2007 at least. The problem is step 3, where you say 'Close the Account Settings dialog'. The problem is that when you later re-open this dialog after moving the pst file, Outlook just creates a new (blank) pst file in the original location. This seems to be the problem many people are experiencing.

The solution is easy - leave the Data files dialog open! Now when you double-click on the relevant file (after having moved it to the new location), you get the desired 'pst file cannot be found' dialog, followed by the opportunity to browse for it in the new location.

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Diane Poremsky(@diane-poremsky)
Author
Reply to  Mike B
December 13, 2017 10:20 am
#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.

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Mike B (@guest_209666)
Reply to  Diane Poremsky
December 15, 2017 3:30 pm
#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 file 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 file, otherwise (if closed first) it just creates a new (blank) pst when re-opened instead of complaining it can't find it.

I hope this makes sense. Thanks for a great site by the way - my first port of call for any Outlook issues!

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Jonnyz2 (@guest_211602)
Reply to  Mike B
July 26, 2018 6:05 pm
#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 file in step five, click settings for that data file. Then the pop up window asking for the location of the file appears and the process works as intended.

I recommend changing the written portion (step 5) of the instructions to match what the video shows.

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Jeff (@guest_203204)
December 3, 2016 6:33 pm
#203204

Thank you but I have a couple of questions: old computer is Win/10 running Outlook 2007. New computer is also running Win/10 but Outlook via Office 365. The new one has Outlook set up and running but of course does not have all old items... Contacts did sync via iCloud but the same as on the old. now have a week or two of new email on the new computer and want to bring in all the old email and contact lists... have multiple email accounts and I do not want to have any effect to the new items on the new computer but sill add all the older items from the old. I have found the .PST file and have it on "Thumbdrive". What next and will the new get lost if I bring in the old?
Thank you so much.

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DAVID A (@guest_202856)
November 10, 2016 9:15 am
#202856

Hi - I messaged this site once before but I cannpot find the thread anywhere.

I moved my Microsoft Outlook folder (with the PST file in it), But without using either the new or the old method - because Im an absolute prize idiot.
I noticed the file appeared in two locations, so I deleted the one I dodnt want
(I know - absolute idiot)

When I right click the PST file its properties only show 58mb which suggests to me there's now nothing in it?
Now when I go to my email account in Outlook - all the sub folders I created have vanished. Only the trash, spam and deleted folders remain.

Im getting very lost with all the advice, please please tell me I have just broken the link or patha or explain what has happened and how it can be solved - if at all !!!

H E L P!!!

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