3-Minute Guide: How to Easily Restore Outlook Backup

Microsoft Outlook is a personal information manager used for managing email, contacts, and calendars. It is part of the Microsoft Office suite. PST files are the file format Outlook uses to store emails, contacts, calendar items, and other data.

If your computer crashes or you lose Outlook data, you can recover it from a backup. If you used Outlook's Import and Export Wizard to back up Outlook, the backup is usually stored as a PST file. Others might use third-party software to back up Outlook files. This article will show you how to restore Outlook backups using the Import and Export Wizard and third-party software.

Before restoring an Outlook backup, there are several key preparatory tasks to ensure a seamless and secure process. Here are some recommended steps: 1. **Confirm the backup file**: Ensure you have the correct Outlook backup file, usually a .pst (Personal Storage Table) file, created by your backup software or manually exported. 2. **Determine the backup file type**: Identify the type of backup file (e.g., .pst for Outlook 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, or 2019), which will impact the recovery approach. 3. **Update Outlook**: Make certain your Outlook version is up-to-date. Older versions might not be compatible with newer .pst formats. 4. **Close Outlook**: Close all running Outlook instances prior to starting the recovery to prevent data conflicts. 5. **Back up current data**: If feasible, back up your current Outlook data file in case of any issues during recovery. 6. **Check disk space**: Confirm your computer has sufficient hard drive space to accommodate the restored backup file. 7. **Select a recovery method**: Depending on your requirements, use an in-built Outlook feature (like "Import and Export") or a third-party recovery tool for restoration. 8. **Decide on recovery options**: Choose whether to merge the backup data into your existing Outlook file or create a new mailbox for the recovery. 9. **Schedule downtime**: Since the recovery could take time, plan it for a non-essential work period. 10. **Tech support on standby**: Have technical support contact information ready or access to relevant tutorials in case assistance is required. By following these steps, you can safely and efficiently restore your Outlook backup.

Before restoring a backup, make sure that the files you are restoring are not currently in use by another program. If they are, close the program before proceeding.

You should also check the size of your backup file. If it's over 50 GB, it's recommended that you use a professional Outlook backup and recovery tool, like Todo Backup, to assist you with file backup and recovery.

There is also some other fine print to consider:

Ensure that your Outlook data is backed up

The first prerequisite for restoring Outlook data is that you have a backup of your data files; without it, they cannot be recovered.

• Choose the tool you will use to back up your Outlook data.

Most people use Outlook's built-in “Import and Export Wizard” feature to back up their Outlook data. Others might use third-party backup tools, like Todo Backup, to back up Outlook data. It can be helpful to know which tool you used to back up your data before beginning the recovery process.

• Choose the location for your backup storage

If you use Outlook's Import and Export Wizard, your backup will be stored in a PST file on your local drive. If you use Todo Backup tools, the backup will be stored in the location you specified when creating the backup (local drive, NAS, or the tool's cloud).

Related:

How to Restore Outlook Backup - 2 Solutions

Here, you're offered two Outlook recovery solutions, and we've compared their efficiency and difficulty. Refer to them before you make the final decision.

Solution 1: Restore Outlook Backup Using Import/Export Wizard

If you used Outlook's Import and Export Wizard to back up your data, the backup will be stored as a PST file. You can use this method to restore the backup if you know where the PST file is located.

You can find them by following the trail.

For Outlook 2010/2013/2016/2019: C:\Users\Username\Documents\Outlook Files

For Outlook 2007: C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook

Here are the steps in detail:

Step 1: Open Microsoft Outlook and click “File.”

Step 2. Click Open and Export > Import/Export.

Step 3: Choose the option to "Import from another program or file" and click Next.

Step 4: Select “Outlook Data File (.pst)” and click “Next.”

Step 5: Select the .pst file you want to restore, and click Finish.

Step 6: Choose how you want to handle duplicates, then click Next.

Step 7: Choose the destination for your imported items, then click Finish.

8. When the import is complete, click Close.

Solution 2: Restore Outlook backup using a backup software

Todo Backup is a free backup software that can help you easily back up and restore Outlook files. It supports backing up Outlook data to external hard drives, NAS, or cloud storage.

It also supports incremental or differential backups, meaning you need to back up only the parts of your data that have changed since your last full backup, saving a lot of time. Furthermore, it can compress and encrypt your backups, conserving storage space and keeping your data secure.

Please follow the guide to back up and restore your Outlook data:

Step 1: Launch Todo Backup on your computer, click “Create Backup” on the main interface, and then click the big question-mark button to “Select backup content”.

Step 2: Tap on “App Data” among the four backup options.

Step 3: You'll then see all the apps that you can back up. Look for and check the box next to "Microsoft Outlook". Choose the email account from which you want to back up your emails, contacts, or calendar, then tap "OK".

Step 4. Next, you need to select where to save your Outlook backup by clicking the illustrated area.

Step 5: The backup location can be another local drive on your computer, an external hard drive, a network, the cloud, or a NAS. We generally recommend using an external physical drive or the cloud to store your backup files.

Step 6. If interested, click on the Options button to customize settings like scheduling automatic backups daily, weekly, monthly, or event-based, and perform differential and incremental backups. Click "Backup Now" to commence the Outlook backup process. Completed tasks will be displayed on the left side in card form.

You can now restore your Outlook backup by following these steps:

Step 1. Launch Todo Backup and click on "Browse Recovery".

Click “Browse to Recover”

Step 2. Point to your backup location, and select the backup file you want to restore. (A backup created with Todo Backup is a .pbd file.)

Select the backup file

Step 3. Choose a recovery location. You can recover the data to a specific location or the original one.

Step 4: Tap "Continue" to start the recovery.

The bottom line is that Europe's leaders must recognize that the status quo is unsustainable.

We have just shown you how to restore Outlook backup using two methods < strong > to restore Outlook backup</strong>. If you used the Import and Export Wizard in Outlook to back up your data, you can use it to restore the backup file from the PST file.

With the Todo Backup tool, you can also easily restore your backups without worrying about costs, as both backup and recovery functions are free. The complimentary 250GB of free cloud storage it offers makes it an essential backup utility. You can back up Outlook to the cloud, saving local disk space, which brings great convenience to your work and life. Download and give it a try now!

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Frequently Asked Questions About Restoring Outlook Backups

How do I recover emails from an Outlook backup?

You can recover your emails from a backup file using the Import and Export Wizard in Microsoft Outlook. Open Outlook > File > Open & Export > Import/Export > Import from another program or file > Next > Outlook Data File (.pst) > Next > Locate the PST file you want to restore > Finish.

2. How do I access my Outlook backup file?

Your backups will be stored as PST files. You can find them at the following location:

For Outlook 2010/2013/2016/2019: C:\Users\Username\Documents\Outlook Files

For Outlook 2007: C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook