How to Move an Outlook Offline Data File (OST) in 2010, 2013 and 2016
- Blog
- September 22, 2022
If you’re using Microsoft Outlook 2010, 2013, or 2016, you can move your Outlook Offline Data File (OST) by following the instructions below. This is useful if you’re running out of space on your hard drive, or if you want to move your OST file to another location.
Table of Contents
How to Move an Outlook Offline Data File (OST) in 2010, 2013 and 2016
How to Move an OST File in Outlook 2010
1. First, open Outlook 2010 and go to the File menu.
2. Next, click on Account Settings and then Account Settings again.
3. On the Email tab, highlight the account you want to move the OST file for and then click Change.
4. In the Change Account window, click More Settings.
5. In the Microsoft Outlook Settings window, click the Advanced tab.
6. Under Offline Folder File Settings, click the Browse button.
7. In the Select Offline Folder File window, browse to the location where you want to move the OST file and then click OK.
8. Click OK again and then click Next.
9. Click Finish and then close the Account Settings window.
How to Move an OST File in Outlook 2013
If you need to move an OST file in Outlook 2013, there are a few steps you’ll need to follow. First, you’ll need to export your account settings from Outlook. Next, you’ll need to delete your old account and then create a new one using the new OST file location. Finally, you’ll need to import your account settings back into Outlook. Let’s take a more detailed look at each of these steps:
1. Exporting Your Outlook Account Settings
Open Outlook and click on the File tab.
Click on the Account Settings button and then select the Account Settings option from the drop-down menu.
Click on the Export button and then choose the location where you want to save your account settings file.
Click on the Save button and then close the Account Settings window.
2. Deleting Your Old Outlook Account
Open Outlook and click on the File tab.
Click on the Account Settings button and then select the Account Settings option from the drop-down menu.
Select the account you want to delete and click on the Remove button.
Click on the Yes button to confirm that you want to delete the account.
3. Creating a New Outlook Account
Open Outlook and click on the File tab.
Click on the Account Settings button and then select the Account Settings option from the drop-down menu.
Click on the New button and then select the type of account you want to create.
Enter the required information for your new account and click on the Next button.
Select the new OST file location and click on the Finish button.
4. Importing Your Outlook Account Settings
Open Outlook and click on the File tab.
Click on the Account Settings button and then select the Account Settings option from the drop-down menu.
Click on the Import button and then choose the location of your account settings file.
Click on the Open button and then close the Account Settings window.
How to Move an OST File in Outlook 2016
If you need to move your Outlook Offline Data File (OST) to a new location in Outlook 2016, follow the steps below. Please note that these instructions only apply to OST files that are used with an Exchange account.
1. Exit Outlook.
2. Locate the OST file you want to move. The default location for OST files is:
C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook\
3. Copy the OST file to the new location.
4. Launch Outlook and click File.
5. Click Account Settings, then click Account Settings again.
6. Double-click on the Exchange account.
7. Click More Settings.
8. Click the Advanced tab.
9. Click the Browse button next to the Offline Folder File field.
10. Locate and select the OST file you copied in step 3, then click OK.
11. Click Next, then Finish.
12. Close the Account Settings window.
Conclusion: What to Do If You Can’t Move Your OST File
If you’re having trouble moving your OST file, there are a few things you can try. First, make sure that the file is not in use by any programs. If it is, close the programs and try again. If that doesn’t work, try restarting your computer and then moving the file. Finally, if all else fails, you can try copying the OST file to a different location on your computer and then moving it from there.
