PST files are automatically created, requiring limited, if any assistance from corporate IT. Need to Generate PST File in Outlook. Unicode PST files have come with backward compatibility that gives users complete freedom to utilize their data file on the previous edition of MS Outlook. Dec 12, 2018 - Pst-files, unless you are using an Exchange or Hotmail account, Outlook cannot live without them. This guide contains basic but also more.

Outlook stores emails, address book entries, and other data in a PST (Outlook Personal Information Store) file. If you made a backup of the PST file or need information from a different PST file, restore it through Outlook. Losing this information can be scary, but Outlook makes it really simple to restore the data so that you can recover your Outlook contacts and emails.

Instructions in this article apply to Outlook 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007, 2003; and Outlook for Office 365.

Restore an Outlook PST File for Mail, Contacts, and Data

If you have a backup copy of a PST file and want to restore the data in the PST file, import the backup PST file. You can use this backup PST file to restore the Outlook data to the same computer, to a different computer, or to a different email account.

1. Go to File > Open & Export > Import/Export. In Outlook 2007 and 2003, go to File > Import and Export.

2. Choose Import from another program or file, then select Next.

3. Choose either Outlook Data File (.pst) or Personal Folder File (PST) depending on the version of Outlook you use, then select Next.

4. Select Browse to find and select the PST file that you want to import data from.

   Outlook may check for a backup.pst file in the DocumentOutlook Filesfolder. Select Browseto change where it searches.

5. • Replace duplicates with items imported: Imports all data and replaces data in the existing PST file that is the same.
   • Allow duplicates to be created: Imports all data and creates a duplicate of items that are the same. Every email and contact is imported even if these items are in the existing PST file.
   • Do not import duplicates: Data that matches the existing file is not imported.

6. Select the folder to import from (optional), whether to Include subfolders,and where to import. Select Filter to filter certain emails to import.

If you do not have a backup copy of your Outlook data and want to recover the PST file, use a file recovery program and search for .PST as the file extension.

How to Add a New PST Data File to Outlook

If you want to restore a PST file into Outlook and use it as another data file, add the PST file as a second account along with the default one.

1. Go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings.

2. In the Account Settings dialog box, go to Data Files.

3. Select the location of the PST, choose the file name, then select OK.

4. Highlight the PST file and select Set as Default to make it the new default data file.