Outlook: How to Open .pst (Mailbox) Files

Follow the instructions for the version of Outlook you are using. This is not supported from the web version of Outlook.

Classic Outlook

  1. In the menu go to File
  2. Select Open & Export
  3. Select Open Outlook Data File
  4. Navigate to the file on your computer, select it, and click Ok.
  5. You should be taken back to the main interface.
  6. Scroll down in your folder list to the bottom. You should see the email folder there.
  7. Expand the folder. Your emails are likely under [email name] > [email name] > Top of Information Store
  8. You should see a folder for Inbox, and the other folders that had email in them.

New Outlook

  1. Click the settings gear icon in the top right corner.
  2. Select General in the side menu
  3. Select Outlook Data Files
  4. Select + Add file
  5. Select Continue to open
  6. Navigate to the file on your computer, select it, and click Open.
  7. Close the setting window
  8. Scroll down in your folder list to the bottom. You should see the email folder there.
  9. Expand the folder. Your emails are likely under [email name] > [email name] > Top of Information Store
  10. You should see a folder for Inbox, and the other folders that had email in them.
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