How to Find Out Where Microsoft Office Is Storing My Emails

Microsoft Outlook retains personal folder (PST) files for the email accounts that you have configured. These files store all the data associated with your email accounts, including the saved messages and folder structure. Although it is possible to export your saved messages using Outlook's backup capability, you may find it easier to simply locate and copy the file manually. In Outlook 2007, you can find out where the program is storing your emails to move or copy the data files manually.

Things You'll Need

• Microsoft Outlook 2007

Instructions

1. Launch Outlook. Click the "Tools" menu at the top of the screen.

2. Click "Account Settings."

3. Click the "Data Files" tab. The PST file associated with each email account configured on the computer is displayed here.

4. Click a name on the list, then click the "Open Folder" button to open a Windows Explorer window and browse directly to the folder containing the PST file.

Tips & Warnings

• If your goal is to create a copy of your Outlook PST file to back it up, close Outlook after opening the folder containing the PST file. When Outlook is open, it locks the data files it uses, which prevents them from being copied.

• This procedure is only valid for Outlook 2007.

References

• Site Developer: Outlook Backup Tutorial