Beginning with Outlook 2013, there are changes in how IMAP accounts are handled. Instead of using two data files, one for IMAP email and one for your calendar and contacts, Outlook 2013 uses an .ost file for IMAP accounts and stores appointments, tasks, contacts, and notes in the IMAP data file, in folders labeled "(This computer only)".
While users with just one email account in their profile may like having only one data file, it's really not in most user's best interest to use the IMAP .ost file for calendars and contacts.
This is problematic for a number of reasons, including the fact that you can't move an IMAP .ost file to another computer or profile. You need to export the contents of the non-mail folders to a .pst file to move them to a new computer (or a new profile). You can't backup the .ost and easily recover the appointments and contacts from it. You need to export the folders on a regular basis to back them up.
In addition to the issues involving backing up or moving your calendars and contacts, you also won't be able to set a range of flags and reminders or use Categories on the items stored in the IMAP .ost file.
New Appointments are saved in the wrong calendar | Set reminders on Tasks in IMAP
Configuring special IMAP folders in Outlook 2013
The solution? Use a .pst file for your calendar and contacts. If you have a POP3 account in your profile, set it as default and move your calendar and contacts to the folders in the pst file. You can remove the (This computer only) folders by closing Outlook, deleting the IMAP .ost file then reopening Outlook. It will create a new .ost file without the special Outlook folders.
Create a local pst file
If you have a pst file in your profile you want to use for Calendar and Contacts, set the data file as the default then move any appointments or contacts in the 'This Computer Only' folders (steps are in Section B)
Follow the steps in Section A if you need to create a pst folder.
A. Create a local pst file:
- Go to File, Account Settings, Data Files tab
- Click Add, type in a name for the pst file
- Set it as Default data file
- Close Outlook and reopen it
B. Move Contents from the '(This Computer only)' folder to the folder in the *.pst file:
- Switch to the Calendar (This Computer only) folder
- Go to the View tab, select Change View
- Switch to a List view
- Select All and move or drag the appointments to the new calendar folder
- Repeat the steps above for Contacts, Tasks, and Notes if you have contents in those folders.
C. Remove the (This Computer only) folders from the IMAP data file
- Close Outlook.
- Open Windows Explorer, type %localappdata%\microsoft\outlook in the address bar
- Delete the IMAP ost file
- Restart Outlook
Create a local pst file video tutorial
Folder order and Start up folder
After adding the pst file for calendar and contacts, you may want to rearrange the navigation pane, putting the IMAP account at the top and the Calendar & Contacts pst at the bottom.
I also recommend choosing a different start up folder if Outlook starts in the pst file's Inbox. Make this change in File, Options, Advanced. The option to choose a start up folder is near the top of the screen.
Tools
Using Safe PST Backup, you can back up your Outlook in any situation. Use Safe PST Backup for migration and the whole Outlook data files you have created will be backed up to the last date. Back up Email archive, Contacts, Calendar and other folders automatically. Incremental backup will be done regardless if Microsoft Outlook is running or not. Updated Safe PST Backup 3.00 allows to filter data by more parameters. Added single panel to set backup rules without configuration file |
Diane you are a lifesaver! I've read a million articles about this problem and only yours works. After leaving a job, I had to transition from MS Exchange to Outlook 365, lose my corporate email and get my gmail personal address working in Outlook, all while not losing my contacts or calendar. You nailed it! Thanks again.
Best instruction on how to fix the "(this computer only) issue. Thank you!
Hi Diane - thanks for this great information. My question is, after I've set up the pst calendar on my main computer, should this sync now to my other computers with Outlook or do I need to set up the new pst calendar on my other computers?
Had to get a new computer. Updated to Office 2019 at same time. You post saved my bacon!!! Thank you so much. Switching from a .pst only file to a combination of .ost and .pst worked like a charm. Can now do categories with my calendar and contacts, again. Thank you!
hi Diane. I have the THIS COMPUTER ONLY problem only affecting some tasks (not sure why it's only some, maybe it's when I add a tasks when I'm not connecting to WIFI like on a plane?). Those tasks never show up on outlook today or on reminders or anything. The rest of my email works just fine - I have two email accounts.My data file shows the two OST accounts and then an icloud archive pst account. What should I do so I never get a THIS COMPUTER ONLY task? you are so helpful - thank you!
If an imap ost file is set as the default data file, you'll always have the 'this computer only' folder. You would need to add a pst file and set it as default.
How many Task folders do you have in your profile? Are the tasks that don't show up in outlook today in the same folder as ones that do show up?
Thanks Diane. I think I just have what's below. No, the ones that are in THIS COMPUTER ONLY and don't give reminders or anything show up in TO DO LIST and then when I click on the adomain list I get all the regular things. I'd rather the d99@gmail.com be the primary but not sure how to do that. I don't want to lose any data. Thanks for your help!
Under data files I have 3
david@adomain.org xxxx.ost
d99@gmail.com xxxx.ost
icloud archive icloudarchive.pst
If you want to use the domain address instead of gmail as the default data file, you can set it as default in File > Account Settings > data files tab. It may or may not fix the problem though.
Or you could set icloudarchive.pst as default and use it for tasks, calendar & contacts.
I know flagged mail in imap accounts does not have reminders - tasks may not either (I'll need to boot up a test machine to check - I use exchange accounts on this computer.)
(FYI I edited your addresses so spammers can't get them from here.)
Thanks for this.
I've manged the process on my laptop, but the calendar in my Outlook on my phone is still not there.
Do I have to uninstall and re-add the account or should it all just sync automatically?
Android phone by the way if that makes any difference.
Cheers
Ali
The calendar needs to be in outlook.com or you need to use a sync utility to sync it with gmail calendar to show up on the phone.
Thank you for this! This has worked for my computer but my iphone is not syncing to calendar still, even after resetting that address on phone.
Are you using the icloud addin to sync?
Thank you so very much. This was so helpful and now I can categorize my calendar.