PST (Personal Storage Table) file is a proprietary file format used to store copies of messages, contacts, notes, calendars, tasks, journals, events, etc. in Microsoft client applications such as Microsoft Exchange client, Windows messaging and Microsoft Outlook. This file format is sometimes known as “Personal Folder File.” When a user creates account in Outlook, a default PST file is automatically created.
The default folders in PST file are -
Outlook stores email messages containing all email headers and attachments. There are various folders in Outlook for storing emails. Incoming emails are saved in Inbox, outgoing messages in Sent Items, deleted emails are transferred to deleted items folder, etc. Likewise, other applications, Outlook uses various folders for storing email messages.
All folders in Outlook are shown on the left side with desired accounts. For every account, these folders are created separately.
If users want to export emails from Outlook PST file, click on Read More button and get solutions to export PST emails to multiple applications with attachments.
Contacts are saved in Outlook under People section. Outlook contacts can be easily exported to VCF and CSV formats. These are two well-known file formats used for exporting Outlook contacts. You can manually export contacts from Outlook to CSV and VCF formats with the steps discussed below.
If you wish to bulk export PST contacts to other applications, then click on Read More button and get various solutions to export Outlook contacts.
All calendar details are saved in Outlook and these calendars can be exported to ICS, a standard file format. Here are the steps to manually export Outlook calendars as ICS –
If you want to bulk export PST calendars, then click on Read more button and get several solutions to export Outlook calendars.
PST can be created in two versions – ANSI and Unicode PST. ANSI PST has maximum file size limit up to 2 GB and it was created in versions earlier to Outlook 2003. Later on, Unicode PST files are created and then the limit has been increased for data storage. The Unicode PST is the upgraded version and is used in latest versions of MS Outlook with 50 GB storage facility.
Here are the default locations of PST file in various versions –
Outlook 2007 and earlier versions on Windows XP
C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Local settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\
Outlook 2007 and earlier versions on Windows Vista, 7, 8 and 10
C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook\
Outlook 2010 on Windows XP
C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\My Documents\Outlook Files
Outlook 2010, 2013, 2016, 2016, and Microsoft 365 on Windows Vista, 7, 8 & 10
C:\Users\%username%\Documents\Outlook Files
A PST file can be opened easily in any Outlook version by following –
File>Open & Export> Open Outlook data file
Users can archive PST file with Auto Archive feature in MS Outlook. Here are the steps to archive PST file in Outlook –
Using Compact Now option in Outlook, users can easily reduce the size of their PST file. Steps to reduce PST file size –
In this post, we have provided complete details about Outlook PST file. Users can easily know what PST file is, its location, about contacts & calendars export, etc. You can go through this post and explore about PST file.