Outlook Data File Locations
It is important to back up email files on a regular basis. Microsoft provides an Outlook add-in called Personal Folders Backup. It backs up Outlook .pst files, which store everything for Outlook. You may also want to manually back up or export other Outlook files.
This article lists all the possible Outlook files that you may want to include in your backups. Note that you probably will not find all of the files listed below in your configuration, because some of the files are not created until you customize Outlook features.
Some of these files might be hidden, so you may need to turn on the option to show hidden files and folders before you can locate the files.
To view hidden files and folders:
For Windows Vista:
Outlook 2007 on Windows Vista/Windows 7 file locations:
Outlook 2010 on Windows Vista/Windows 7 file locations:
Outlook 2013 on Windows 8 file locations:
This article lists all the possible Outlook files that you may want to include in your backups. Note that you probably will not find all of the files listed below in your configuration, because some of the files are not created until you customize Outlook features.
Some of these files might be hidden, so you may need to turn on the option to show hidden files and folders before you can locate the files.
To view hidden files and folders:
For Windows Vista:
- Go to Start > Control Panel > Folder Options.
- Click the View tab, and then click the Show hidden files and folder option.
- Go to Start > Control Panel > Folder Options.
- Click the View tab, and then under Hidden files and folders click the Show hidden files, folders, or drives option.
Outlook 2007 on Windows Vista/Windows 7 file locations:
- Personal Folders (.pst), including SharePoint lists:
drive:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook - Offline Folders file (.ost):
drive:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook - RSS feeds in Outlook 2007 (.sharing.xml.obi):
drive:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook - Nicknames for AutoComplete (.dat):
drive:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Outlook - Customized print settings (OutlPrnt):
drive:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Outlook - Customized toolbar settings (Outcmd.dat):
drive:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Outlook - Macros and VBA programs (VbaProject.otm):
drive:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Outlook - Navigation bar customizations (.xml):
drive:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Outlook - Send/Receive group settings (.srs):
drive:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Outlook - Signatures (.rtf, .htm, and .txt):
drive:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Signatures - Stationery (.htm):
drive:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Stationery - Templates (.oft):
drive:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates - Dictionary (.dic):
drive:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Proof - Installed Add-ins (extend.dat):
drive:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook
Note: Do not back up or copy this file; Outlook will create a new copy. - Safe and Blocked Senders lists. Stored as a hidden message.
Can be exported from Tools > Options > Junk E-mail. Export each list separately.
Outlook 2010 on Windows Vista/Windows 7 file locations:
- Personal Folders (.pst)
New profiles: PST files for POP3 accounts are created in your My Documents\Outlook Files folder.
If you are using a profile created in an older version of Outlook, PST files are in drive:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook (this is the default location, but .pst files can be anywhere on the system) - Personal Folders (.pst) for SharePoint lists:
drive:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook - Offline Folders file (.ost):
drive:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook - Nicknames for AutoComplete (.dat):
drive:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\RoamCache - Customized print settings (OutlPrnt):
drive:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Outlook - Macros and VBA programs (VbaProject.otm):
drive:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Outlook - Navigation bar customizations (.xml):
drive:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Outlook - Send/Receive group settings (.srs):
drive:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Outlook - Signatures (.rtf, .htm, and .txt):
drive:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Signatures - Stationery (.htm):
drive:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Stationery - Templates (.oft):
drive:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates - Dictionary (.dic):
drive:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Proof - Installed Add-ins (extend.dat):
drive:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook
Note: Do not backup or copy this file, Outlook will create a new copy. - Safe and Blocked Senders lists. Stored as a hidden message.
Can be exported from Tools > Options > Junk E-mail. Export each list separately.
Outlook 2013 on Windows 8 file locations:
- Personal Folders (.pst)
New profiles: PST files for POP3 accounts are created in your My Documents\Outlook Files folder.
If you are using a profile created in an older version of Outlook, PST files are in drive:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook (this is the default location, but .pst files can be anywhere on the system) - Personal Folders (.pst) for SharePoint lists:
drive:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook - Offline Folders file (.ost):
drive:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook - Nicknames for AutoComplete (.dat):
drive:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\RoamCache - Customized print settings (OutlPrnt):
drive:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Outlook - Macros and VBA programs (VbaProject.otm):
drive:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Outlook - Navigation bar customizations (.xml):
drive:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Outlook - Send/Receive group settings (.srs):
drive:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Outlook - Signatures (.rtf, .htm, and .txt):
drive:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Signatures - Stationery (.htm):
drive:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Stationery - Templates (.oft):
drive:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates - Dictionary (.dic):
drive:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Proof - Installed Add-ins (extend.dat):
drive:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook
Note: Do not backup or copy this file, Outlook will create a new copy. - Safe and Blocked Senders lists. Stored as a hidden message.
Can be exported from Tools > Options > Junk E-mail. Export each list separately.