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Opening PST files in New Outlook

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› Outlook › Opening PST files in New Outlook

Last reviewed on March 5, 2025     4 Comments

Applies to: Outlook (new)

PST support is beginning to roll out to new Outlook users. Currently the PST files are read-only; you cannot mark the messages read or unread, reply, forward, or delete the messages in the PST. (The feature will be updated in the coming months to support read/write access.) While you can’t copy a message to paste into a new message as an attachment, you can copy the message bodies.

To see if PST support is available in your copy of new Outlook, go to View tab > View Settings > General > Outlook Data Files. It should be available to Microsoft 365 software subscribers who have joined the Insider program for Office. (The Insider program is open to all subscribers. Look for the option on the File > Account page in any Office app. )

Add PST files to new Outlook

Currently, you must have classic Outlook installed to open a PST file in new Outlook. If Outlook was uninstalled by an update, you’ll need to reinstall it if you are using new Outlook and want to open a PST file.

Also, if the filename and display name in classic Outlook is your email address, you may be unable to open it if the same account is in new Outlook. To avoid confusion, I recommend renaming the PST in classic Outlook first.

The ability to open PST files in new Outlook is limited to Microsoft 365 subscribers. You need to either add your Microsoft account to new Outlook or connect your subscription to new Outlook in Settings > Accounts > Your accounts > Add subscription.

If you have a perpetual version of Office, you will not be able to open a PST in new Outlook.

Note: PST files are not supported in the ARM version of new Outlook. This affects some Surface computers and virtual Windows installed on a Mac.

More Information

Microsoft support article: Open and find items in an Outlook Data File (.pst)

Opening PST files in New Outlook was last modified: March 5th, 2025 by Diane Poremsky

Related Posts:

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  • Classic Outlook Missing from Computers
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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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Ian Burnell (@guest_221680)
May 8, 2025 7:31 am
#221680

I have purchased Office 2024. It states I need a "Microsoft subscription account" to add PST files which is what you state above, but doesn't that defeat the point of having a local copy of Outlook 2024?. I don't wish to subscribe to 365 and want to access my local PST file which I can't (other than switching to classic mode)

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Diane Poremsky(@diane-poremsky)
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Reply to  Ian Burnell
May 8, 2025 10:11 am
#221681

If you want to access the PST, you need to use classic. I don't know if Microsoft will be changing the (dumb) policy, but until they do, you will need a subscription. Sorry.

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Gary (@guest_221646)
March 15, 2025 7:08 pm
#221646

I know it’s way early in the game, but I was able to add my PST file to Outlook for Windows. I’ve noticed that any emails in the PST file older than mid-2010 or so show up with the sender as [Unknown], and the email can’t be opened (“Message can’t be displayed right now”). I can view all emails using my current Outlook 365. My emails are all associated with a POP account if that makes any difference. I was wondering if anyone else is experiencing this issue or has any possible suggestions. Thanks in advance.

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Diane Poremsky(@diane-poremsky)
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Reply to  Gary
May 8, 2025 10:14 am
#221682

I have not seen that. I'll test it with some old PST files I have. One theory is it's related to Unicode and the older messages are not using unicode.

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