Describes how to investigate items in an Outlook Data File (.pst) and troubleshoot search issues.

Open and close Outlook Data Files (.pst) that contain copies, archives, or backups of your Outlook information.

Create Outlook Data Files (.pst) on your computer to save Outlook items by account, project, or to archive older items.

Jan 13, 2026 · After Windows updates on January 13, 2026 users with Outlook POP account profiles and profiles with PST files report that Outlook hangs and does not exit properly.

Outlook Data File (.pst) support in new Outlook provides access to emails stored in a .pst file. You can browse, manage, and move emails (drag and drop) between .pst files and mailboxes.

Import all of your Outlook email, contacts, or calendar events that you saved to a .pst so you can view them in Outlook.

If you want to back up the message folders locally (in addition to keeping them on the server), you can automatically move or delete older items with AutoArchive or export the items to a .pst file that you …

Export from Outlook app Export contacts from Outlook to a CSV file or Excel Export email, contacts, and calendar to a PST file

Moving a .pst file from one computer to another doesn't transfer your email account settings. If you need to set up Outlook on a new computer, copy your .pst file from the old computer, then set up your …

If you cannot open your Outlook data file or suspect that the file is damaged, use the Inbox Repair tool (scanpst.exe) to repair errors in the file.