Locate and Move PST file in Outlook 2010

The Outlook PST is where Outlook saves all your emails when you are not using exchange. This file is very useful to backup or move to a location where it is easier to backup. This guide shows you how to find and change the location Outlook 2010 looks for the PST.

Find PST Outlook 2010

Open the start menu and type in the following file location

%localappdata%\Microsoft\Outlook\

Move PST location for Outlook 2010M

Open Regedit and navigate to the following key

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Outlook\

Right click the Outlook folder, select new and create an Expandable String Value call it ForcePSTPath

Modify the new key to the location of your PST

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16 Comments (Newest on top)

Meandthee says:

22/07/2010 at 1:45 pm

This is totally unnecessary for Outlook 2010.

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- Ben says:
  
  22/07/2010 at 3:55 pm
  
  For most users, but moving the PST can be useful
  
  Reply
Eric says:

05/12/2010 at 9:33 pm

It worked, sort of. It changed the default location but except it has the wrong drive letter. In the reg key I stated X:\Example and when I create a new email account it makes the new PST in C:\Example

Also uAndThree this is definately needed in 2010. 2010 has the gayest handling of PST files yet.

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Eric says:

05/12/2010 at 10:15 pm

MeandThee, to clarify not all email accounts are created equal. You are probably using POP3. Due to the nature of IMAP (newer & most would argue better than POP3) you are not given any options pertaining to your PST when creating your email account in Outlook 2010.

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Xavier Le Hericy says:

09/12/2010 at 5:13 am

I tried the tip with adding a ForcePSTPath value in the registry, but that didn’t help.

The problem I’m seeing is that Outlook works fine when my PST file is on my C: drive, but cannot send/receive emails if I move the PST file to my USB fash drive (I have plenty of room).

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- Ben says:
  
  09/12/2010 at 9:53 am
  
  Running a PST off a removable drive sounds like a bad idea and one that may be blocked in outlook.
  
  Reply
Eric says:

09/12/2010 at 10:15 pm

Yes having your PST on a flash drive just sounds like a bad idea. I keep all my data on an external but it is always connected. When I created this Registry entry it used the path except it pointed to C drive no X which I specified. I managed to get it to work by recreating my email account. When doing so in office 2010 you are presented with an option of where to save the file or to use an existing one. I relocated my PST to the X drive and pointed it to it via the email account wizard. This works with Pop3 but you are not given any options for your PST file when setting up an IMAP account =(

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