How to Open an Outlook Backup File in PST Format

Outlook has become an integral part of our daily routine for checking emails, calendars, contacts, and tasks, among others. Outlook provides an Import/Export wizard that helps you back up your Outlook mail as a PST file stored on your computer. If auto-archive settings are enabled, data in Outlook is saved within Outlook itself in PST format. We might need to open a PST file from an Outlook backup because it may contain crucial information not saved in the user's primary Outlook file. Sometimes, due to work or personal reasons, we need access to this information, making the backed-up PST file useful.

Do you know how to open an Outlook backup file? Don't worry; this article will guide you step by step on how to open a backed-up PST file in Outlook. Moreover, we'll provide you with a tool for faster and easier backup and restoration of Outlook. Let's get started.

How can I open an Outlook backup file in PST format?

To open an Outlook backup file in PST format in Outlook, you must first determine your version of Microsoft Outlook, as the steps differ.

For newer versions, including Outlook 2013, 2016, and 2019:

Step 1: Open Outlook on your desktop and click the "File" option in the top-left corner.

Step 2. Click Open & Export, then click Open Outlook Data File.

Click “Open Outlook Data File”:

Step 3: Locate the .pst file you want to open, and click the “Open” button on the bottom right of the screen.

Now you can see the Outlook PST file for backup.

For Outlook 2010:

1. Open Outlook, click “File,” and select “Account Settings.”

Click “Account Settings”.

2. Click the “Add” button next to “Data File.”

Step 3. Locate and select the PST file you want to view, and then click “OK” to open it.

For Outlook 2007 and earlier:

If you're using an older version, such as 2007, you'll have to import the PST files into Outlook and open them there.

Step 1. Open Outlook, and then choose File > Open > Import.

**Step 2.** In the Import/Export Wizard, select Import from another program or file, and click Next.

Step 3. Click on Personal Folders (.pst), and then click Next.

Then, choose the location where you want to save your backup file, and click “OK.” You can then open your backup file in Outlook.

You might also be interested in: Back up Outlook email from a browser (OWA)

By the way, you can also use Todo Backup to easily backup and restore Outlook.

Outlook plays a significant role in our daily and office communication, and the longer we use it, the more important the information in the mailbox becomes. If you don't want to waste precious time backing up your mailbox manually, you need a professional email backup tool. Tools Todo Backup is one of the best backup software.

Tools Todo Backup allows for automatic backups, scheduled tasks, and performs incremental and differential backups. It can back up Outlook mail from versions 2010, 2013, 2016, and 2019. It saves Outlook emails to local folders and hard drives, and backs up important data like emails, contacts, calendars, and more from your Outlook personal data as needed.

It also offers 250 GB of free cloud storage to back up your Outlook, which can be restored and accessed with just a few clicks if needed.

Here are some features of Todo Backup that can be used to back up Outlook:

• Back up Outlook emails, contacts, calendar, tasks, signatures, etc.
• Allow scheduling of Outlook data backups, such as daily, weekly, or monthly.
• You can back up your Outlook information to a local folder, external hard drive, Network Attached Storage (NAS), or cloud storage.
• Encrypt backups to ensure the security of your personal privacy.
• Support for full backup, incremental backup, and differential backup.

Conclusions

This article aims to assist you in understanding how to open a PST file, which is an Outlook backup file format. For a quick and effortless way to back up and restore Outlook, we recommend using Todo Backup. It is a professional backup tool that can save you time and protect your vital information.

Frequently Asked Questions on How to Open Outlook Backup Files

How can I open a PST file without Outlook?

If you don't have Outlook and need to open a PST file, you can convert it to a TXT file so that you can read it on your laptop. Alternatively, you can use a third-party PST viewer to access the PST file with ease.

2. How do I open a backup file in Outlook 2010?

To open the backup file in Outlook 2010, follow these steps: Open Outlook on your desktop > Click "File" in the top left corner > "Open & Export" > "Open Outlook Data File" > Choose Outlook Data File (.pst) > Click "Open."

3. How do I open an old PST file in Outlook 365?

The process for opening an old PST file in Outlook 365 is the same as in Outlook 2010. Here's how to do it: Open Microsoft Office > File > Open & Export > Open Outlook Data File > Select Outlook Data File (.pst) > Click "OK."

4. Can I open PST files in Gmail?

To open a PST file in Gmail, you need to import the PST file into Gmail first, then add your PST archive to Gmail.