Can't find my Outlook .pst files


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Madrona

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I recently installed Outlook as part of an MS Office 2021 Professional Plus suite. I synced my emails from a GMX.com email account using IMAP.

After a few weeks, when I looked for my Outlook data files in the account settings, I noticed they were .ost files, not .pst files. I then checked my Users folder under Documents/Outlook and the folder is empty.

Then I went to the users folder and looked under appdata>local>microsoft>Outlook folder and the email files are in .ost.

I'm confused, doesn't Outlook create .pst files (from .ost files?) and store them locally somewhere as .pst files?
 

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Madrona said:
I recently installed Outlook as part of an MS Office 2021 Professional Plus suite. I synced my emails from a GMX.com email account using IMAP.

After a few weeks, when I looked for my Outlook data files in the account settings, I noticed they were .ost files, not .pst files. I then checked my Users folder under Documents/Outlook and the folder is empty.

Then I went to the users folder and looked under appdata>local>microsoft>Outlook folder and the email files are in .ost.

I'm confused, doesn't Outlook create .pst files (from .ost files?) and store them locally somewhere as .pst files?
Click to expand...
You only create .pst files manually (for exporting or backing up your files).
 

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.Pst files are automatically created when an email account is set up as a POP account. .Ost files are automatically created when an email account is set up as an imap account.
For .pst files the default location of your email account data file is your Outlook sub-folder within your documents user folder.
Only .ost files will show up in appdata.
 

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Ah, that's where my confusion lay. I thought .pst files were permanent local files created from .ost files (which I thought were just cache files).

I want to migrate my Outlook files to Thunderbird.

So does that mean I'll have to first convert the .ost files to .pst files and in turn, convert to MBOX files?
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro. Version 25H2 (build 26200.7462)
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro. Version 25H2 (build 26200.7462)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo T16 AMD Gen 2

  • At a glance

    Windows 118GBonboard
    Operating System
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Old HTPC custom build (2009)
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics card(s)
    onboard
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