Outlook(Classic)

Is it possible to move '.ost' to a user defined directory?



Office 2024 LTSC v 2408 (Build 17932.20700)

Method 2 , using symbolic links, is preferred.

Getting an error running Method 2





As you can see, the .ost I wish to create does not exist.

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View menu > Show > Hidden items (ticked)

idgat said:

Show hidden items turned on?

Click to expand...

Yes

A junction makes one folder appear to exist in another location. Outlook sees the original path, but the data actually lives somewhere else. I believe your command is incorrect. You left out the /J

Manually Move the entire Outlook folder or just the .ost file—your choice. Most people move the whole folder.

Example:​

• Original OST folder:C:\Users\yourusername\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook
• New location:W:\OutlookData

Open commad prompt as administrator

mklink /J "C:\Users\yourusername\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook" "W:\OutlookData"

(replace yourusername with your user. Replace D:\OutlookData with new location of your data file)

Breakdown:​

• mklink → creates links
• /J → directory junction
• First path → the original location Outlook expects
• Second path → the real location where the data now lives

If successful you will get a response that the junction point was created

glasskuter said:

Open commad prompt as administrator

mklink /J "C:\Users\yourusername\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook" "W:\OutlookData"

(replace yourusername with your user. Replace D:\OutlookData with new location of your data file)

Breakdown:​

• mklink → creates links
• /J → directory junction
• First path → the original location Outlook expects
• Second path → the real location where the data now lives

If successful you will get a response that the junction point was created

Click to expand...

Still got the same error message after adding the ' /J '