Updated on May 23, 2025 by Armaan
This blog will deliver a detailed explanation to import OST files to Outlook. Here, you will learn about OST files and their location in your system. When will you need to open OST files in Outlook? And how to migrate your Outlook data files to the Outlook application. Read the article till the end for complete information.
In this Artical
Outlook OST files stand for Offline Storage Table. It stores your complete Outlook mailbox profile. This file type enables accessing your emails when you are offline. Also, any change made in the mailbox will automatically be reflected in the Offline Storage Table file when Outlook connects to the Internet.
Location of Outlook Offline OST File
The Outlook OST file is stored in the root folder of MS Outlook. The default path of the OST is “C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook”.
Depending on the version of Outlook you use, the location may slightly vary but it remains in the root folder. You can manually locate OST files in Outlook by following the below steps.
Outlook OST files are the Offline storage table and store your Outlook mailbox locally. However, there are many situations when the PST file format is more suitable and beneficial. You will be required to change OST into PST file format in the following scenarios:
These are some of the main reasons for which you must change OST to PST file format. Now, let us check how to import OST files to Outlook 365 or Outlook application.
Microsoft Outlook does not allow you to directly add OST file to Outlook 2019 or other versions.
You need to convert OST to PST file format for migrating your Outlook emails. Now, we share two effective and easy-to-perform manual methods for file conversion. Afterward, importing the OST file to Outlook will be feasible.
In this technique, you use the auto-archive functionality of Outlook. It allows saving Outlook mailbox into PST file format automatically into local drive on a regular frequency. Follow the below steps.
Another manual method to convert OST to PST file format is the Import/Export feature. Using this option, you can back up any required Outlook mailbox into PST file format. Below is the procedure for downloading emails via the Import/Export feature.
It is the procedure for converting OST to PST so that you can import OST to Outlook 365 or MS Outlook application. Once you migrate Outlook OST files to PST file format, you can easily import PST to Outlook.
The standard methods mentioned above are undoubtedly effective when it comes to converting OST to PST file format. However, every approach has some limitations. The above-explained solutions are no different. Some of the major drawbacks of the manual approach of converting Outlook OST to PST file format are:
You might be wondering if there is any solution available that helps you migrate Outlook OST files into PST without any of the above-mentioned challenges. The answer is the professional OST file to PST Converter.
Regain OST to PST Converter Tool is a highly recommended and proficient tool to convert OST to PST file format. This is an enhanced software that provides numerous options for fast and efficient file conversion. Moreover, you can export your Outlook OST files directly to Office 365. It provides various advanced features.
How to Convert OST to PST File
Microsoft does not provide any feature to import OST files to Outlook directly. You must convert OST to PST file format so that you can migrate the mailbox data to Outlook. Using the AutoArchive option and the Import/Export feature are the two manual solutions. These techniques are effective but for fast and accurate mailbox migration, we recommend you to use the professional Outlook OST file to PST file Converter Tool.
Q 1. Can I import an OST file directly into Outlook?
Ans. No, Outlook does not support direct import of OST files. You must first convert OST file to PST (Personal Storage Table) file using a professional Regain OST to PST converter.
Q 2. Why would I need to import an OST file to Outlook?
Ans. You might need to import an OST file if your original Outlook profile is inaccessible, corrupted, or deleted, and you need to recover emails, contacts, or other data stored in the OST.
Q 3. Can I open an OST file on another computer?
Ans. No, OST files are tied to the Outlook profile and account on the specific computer they were created on. You need to convert OST to PST to access the contents on another computer.
Q 4. Is it possible to import OST files to Outlook 2016, 2019, or Microsoft 365?
Ans. Yes, but not directly. First, convert OST to PST, then use Outlook’s Import/Export Wizard to import the converted file into Outlook 2016, 2019, or Microsoft 365.
Q 5. Can I import OST to Outlook without Exchange Server?
Ans. Yes, but you must first convert OST file to PST format. Outlook does not allow to import OST files directly, especially if Exchange is no longer accessible.
Q 6. How do I convert an OST File to PST in Outlook?
Ans. The manual approach to convert OST to PST file format is by using the Autoarchive feature and the Import/Export option of Outlook. These methods are effective but do not provide accurate migration. Therefore, we suggest using the professional OST to PST Converter Tool.
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