Move a Personal Folder (PST file) in Outlook

Note: Tested on the 23 November 2009 using Microsoft Outlook 2003

Find out the name of the PST file and where it is located

Step 1:

Run Outlook.

Step 2:

In the Navigation Pane, right-click Personal Folders and then select Properties for "Personal Folders"....

Outlook Personal Folder

Step 3:

Click Advanced and make a note of the name and location of the file.

Outlook Personal Folder Properties

Move the PST file

Step 1:

If Outlook is open, close it now.

Within Windows Explorer, browse to the location of the PST file (see above).

Note: By default, the PST file is located within a hidden folder. To view the file, hidden folders must first be turned on.

To do this, within Windows Explorer select Tools from the top menu, then Folder Options.

Click the View tab, and then under Advanced settings select Show hidden files and folders.

Windows Explorer show files option

Step 2:

Back in Windows Explorer, highlight the PST file, then from the top menu select edit and then cut.

Step 3:

Still within Windows Explorer, browse to a new location where the PST will be stored and select edit and then paste.

Step 4:

Next open the Control Panel and choose Mail.

Note: If the Control Panel is set up in Category View first choose User Accounts, then Mail.

Step 5:

Click Data Files, highlight the Personal Folders data file, and click Settings

Outlook Data Files

An error dialog box should appear warning that the data file could not be found:

Outlook Data Files Warning

Step 6:

Click OK, browse to the new location of the PST file, select it, and then click Open.

Step 7:

Click OK, then Close, and Close again.

Finally, restart Outlook.

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