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In MS Outlook application, an OST file (Offline Storage Table) plays a key role for safekeeping the email message, contacts, notes, calendar, and other mailbox items. It makes the mailbox accessible for an offline account and Outlook saves it at a default location.As Outlook allows you to add multiple accounts in it and each account will have its own data file, so there can be multiple OST files at the same location containing each account’s mailbox.
For an Exchange account, the size of the OST file is not subject to size limits on a server, but due to limited space of a hard disk drive, you may require moving the OST file to a different location. Fortunately, there are multiple methods that help you to move the OST files manually without changing the original setting of the associated Outlook account.
Try an automated tool Kernel for OST to PST Converter to get back all data and restore the original mail from the crashed Exchange server.
When using Outlook with an Exchange account, your mailbox and other data reside on the Exchange Server. If you enable the Cached Exchange Mode,you can access the mailbox items even when Outlook is not connected to the server. To achieve this, the OST file stores a local copy of the Exchange mailbox on your system. The default locations of the OST file are:
There are workarounds that can help you change OST file location in the right way.
We will discuss both workarounds to relocate OST files in a more detailed manner.
This method involves creating a new Outlook profile and configuring a new location for the existing OST. Follow the given instructions to perform the same.
The second method involves disabling the Cached Exchange Mode, configuring a new location for the OST file, and re-enabling the Cached Exchange Mode. As a result, a new OST file is created in the newly configured location. This new file will download all the mailbox data from Exchange data automatically. If you have Outlook 2010, you can refer to the below steps to perform the same:
A Windows Registry Key ForcePSTPath can be used to change OST file location. This key is available on all Outlook versions, including Outlook Version 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007, & 2003.
To change the location of an OST file using the ForcePSTPath key, you need to follow the below steps:
Right-click on an empty area of the Registry Editor in the right-hand pane. Click on New & navigate to Expandable String Value.
To repoint the OST file from its default location to an alternate one, Symbolic Links can be utilized via the MKLINK command. This involves creating a symbolic link between the original & new paths.
To complete this process, follow the steps below:
To use the Outlook application, you need not move your OST file to another computer to use Outlook there. When you add your account to Outlook there and enable Cached Exchange Mode, a new OST file is created where you can get all your Outlook data.
Also, there is no need to keep backups for OST files, as Exchange can create them afresh. If Exchange Server crashes for any reason, you can recover your mailbox data and convert OST to PST file easily. An advanced third-party tool is available to perform the same operation,i.e., Kernel for OST to PST.
Outlook stores offline folders (.ost) in different locations depending on the version of Outlook and the operating system. You can use the steps we’ve outlined to find the location of your .ost file and change it if necessary. All three methods are easy to follow and don’t require any technical expertise. You can choose any of these methods at your convenience.
Moreover, in case you are looking to shift to PST data files, go for our recommended OST recovery tool. The software is reliable and helps in recovering the maximum possible data from corrupt or damaged OST files. It repairs all the errors present in the file and makes it accessible again. You can try the trial version of the software to check its features & performance before making a final decision.
The instructions were well-explained and easy to follow, making it a smooth process to change the OST file location. I appreciated the inclusion of screenshots, which visually guided me through each step.
Very informative and helpful article provided by the writer. With the help of this article one can easily change the location of the OST files in MS Outlook. I have already used above mentioned method. It worked very smoothly. Thank you for helping us!
I used “Create a New Outlook Profile and Move Existing OST file to a New Location” method. It worked very well for me. Thank you very much for writing such a helpful article!