Solved Relocate Outlook storage folder


ish4d0w

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Hello,

My C: partition is too small, I want Microsoft Outlook to put its mailbox data files elsewhere.

I cannot seem to be able to change this path, or even to set the default to be on the D: drive.

I found several tutorials on the internet but none of them seem to work. I am using the latest version of outlook as part of Microsoft 365.

Can you please help me ?
 
Windows Build/Version
22000.348

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Your default Outlook 365 mail folder is in "C:\Users\admin\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook". It is an .ost file.

That said, I'm not sure whether you can move that folder or not as I've just left it where it is. However, you can create a .pst data file to hold whatever files and folders you want. You can even use it as a master data file as I do. The beauty of the .pst file is you can put it anywhere, even in OneDrive. For me, I keep it in my "Documents" folder, but I've got plenty of drive space so it's not an issue.

 

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Thank you for your prompt reply!

I was able to do it using your description and learnt a lot! Also this article:
3 Effective ways to Change location of Outlook data file (OST and PST) - Info | Remo Software

was helpful too. I now understand the difference between OST and PST.
Actually PST files are the large ones (that contain mailbox data) and those needed to be moved. I could do this by creating the registry entry and then adding account manually from the old-fashioned 'manage accounts' menu.
It is important to point out that were I to add it with the new, neat and convenient wizard-like GUI, it would not work. It would simply put it to C: and would even tell me that "adding an exchange account had overwritten my storage location path"

So all in all, it is extremely painful, confusing and not user friendly to change mailbox path in Outlook. It is much more difficult than it was in previous versions, like XP Outlook Express or Windows Live Mail. Those were annoying as hell, too, but this one is beyond comprehension.

Also, off topic but I just observed that when an image isn't found, or not loaded, it displays the "red x on a sheet of paper" icon, which is reminiscent of Internet Explorer. Could it be possible, that, after all these years, Outlook is using Internet Explorer to render web content? That seems to be very bizarre as Internet Explorer is no longer supported and not the best at rendering anyway.

I believe I might soon migrate away to Thunderbird which is much more user friendly.
 

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Also, off topic but I just observed that when an image isn't found, or not loaded, it displays the "red x on a sheet of paper" icon, which is reminiscent of Internet Explorer. Could it be possible, that, after all these years, Outlook is using Internet Explorer to render web content? That seems to be very bizarre as Internet Explorer is no longer supported and not the best at rendering anyway.

Have a look at your Trust Center settings in Options. You may have automatic download of pictures set to disabled.
 

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Yes, that did the trick, thanks ! However it still deeply concerns me that now multiple signs are pointing to that Internet Explorer may be the embedded HTML rendering engine inside the email client...
 

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Yes, that did the trick, thanks ! However it still deeply concerns me that now multiple signs are pointing to that Internet Explorer may be the embedded HTML rendering engine inside the email client...

IE is not present on W11. Instead there's an iexplore.exe that, if invoked, goes to Edge.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Self-build
    CPU
    Intel I3-10100
    Motherboard
    MSI H410M-PRO
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GT 1030
    Sound Card
    Motherboard default
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Philips 27 inch
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung EVO 970 NVMe SSD 256 Gb
    Samsung QVO 870 SATA SSD 2 Tb
    PSU
    ATX 450W
    Keyboard
    Logitech
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless
    Internet Speed
    930 Mb down / 120 Mb up
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    Microsoft Office 2021 Plus
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Self-build
    CPU
    Intel i3-8100
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z370 D3
    Memory
    16 Gb
    Graphics card(s)
    Nvidia GT 720
    Sound Card
    Motherboard default
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Philips 27-inch
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 960 NVMe SSD 256 Gb
    Seagate 2 Tb HDD
    PSU
    ATX 450W
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless
    Keyboard
    Microsoft
    Internet Speed
    930 Mb down / 120 Mb up
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender

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