"New" Outlook data files

Dan Emerson 10 Reputation points
2024-01-05T12:43:38.8966667+00:00

I'm using the "New" Outlook on my new PC. I understand that this app will not read .pst files, for now. For years, I copied and moved my .pst files from PC to PC. I can still read my archived .pst files on my old PC, so not a huge issue.

My question is, what does this New Outlook use for data files, such as for my archives and contacts, and where are they located? Can I create my archive on my storage drive vs my Windows drive, same as I've done forever with my .pst files? I want to be able to copy and move these files same as I did my .pst files. Thanks!

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  1. glebgreenspan 1,290 Reputation points
    2024-01-05T13:27:17.5166667+00:00

    Hello Dan

    About you question

    As a result, the concept of ".pst" files, which are local data files used by the traditional Outlook application, is not applicable in the "New" Outlook. Instead, all your data is stored and synced in the cloud, allowing you to access it from anywhere. In terms of creating an archive, you can utilize the Archive feature provided by Exchange Online. This allows you to move emails from your primary mailbox to a separate Archive mailbox for long-term storage. These archived emails will be stored in the cloud, and you can access them just like your primary mailbox. Regarding the location of your data files, as they are stored in the cloud, their specific physical location is not something you need to worry about. However, you can control the storage drive where your local app data is stored. By default, the "New" Outlook app data is stored on your Windows drive in the user's AppData folder. You can change this location by modifying the app settings. In summary, the "New" Outlook uses Exchange Online for storing your data files in the cloud. You can create an archive mailbox and configure your storage drive preferences within the app settings.

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  2. Faery Fu-MSFT 17,011 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor
    2024-01-08T08:14:22.4733333+00:00

    Hi @ Dan Emerson ，

    The new version of Outlook uses a different file format for storing data files, such as archives and contacts. Instead of the .pst file format, Outlook now uses the .ost file format. The .ost file is similar to the .pst file in that it stores all of your email messages, contacts, and other data. However, the .ost file are always copies of items that are saved on a mail server and don’t need to be backed up like Outlook Data Files (.pst).

    For more information about data files, you can refer to these articles:

    Introduction to Outlook Data Files (.pst and .ost)

    Find and transfer Outlook data files from one computer to another

    Currently, the .pst file is not supported in the New Outlook, if you want to copy and move these files same as you did your .pst files, as a workaround, you can switch back to the classic Outlook at any time by clicking the toggle button in the top right corner of the window.

    And the developers are planning to release the pst file function in the future, you can follow the official document: Getting started with the new Outlook for Windows

    You can mark my reply as an answer, so that other users in the forum who have similar problems can also vote.

    Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread. 

    1 person found this answer helpful.
  3. RobertV_757 0 Reputation points
    2024-03-04T20:50:27.5266667+00:00

    I have some questions from the support answers given to Dan's original question. Hopefully this is the right place to do this. My first time posting. Hopefully it won't just be viewed as complaining, although there's plenty of that...but there actually some questions in here as well.

    Anyway, just got a new PC (not the one I'm using now, but another one on my home network) with Windows11 on it, and I see the 'New Outlook' icon on it, so was online doing some research. Pretty much don't like what I see. I like classic Outlook which I manage with multiple .pst files that I share among several PCs on my home network, and use POP; and I do not like OneDrive or the cloud. I have it turned off on all my PCs. Yeah, I know...old fashioned but I like the control I have over my stuff and don't like it out there for others to potentially look at. So, given that information...if I use this thing which I already know I will hate because I hate webmail and it looks like that's basically what this is and of course forcing you to use their Edge browser with which they've already hijacked your default web browser and are forcing you to use for any email links you click on...I have the following questions.

    If I set this up on all 5 PCs on my network (I have a family subscription of 365) are all those individual PCs accessing the same shared mail file in the cloud, wherever that may be located...also can't seem to see anywhere where this mail file is located. I do also see as pointed out above that .pst functionality may be coming in the future. So would that mean that my current local .pst's 'may' be usable? If I wait this out long enough (which I do for any new Microsoft program anyway) might what I have still be usable? It really doesn't look like anything on my local system will be an option going forward. So, not liking web-based mail, I'm not really looking forward much to this new forced Microsoft application. Also, I have a lot of email in both my active .pst's and archived .pst's and it doesn't look like they will do me any good, so I will have lost all this email history.

    Ok, I think that's it. Call me frustrated! Thanks, Bob.