How to Open Outlook Backup Files in PST: Easy Ways

Email is a crucial part of our everyday lives, whether for personal or work-related communication. Because of its importance, keeping your email data safe and accessible is essential. A common way to protect your emails is by backing them up in PST format. However, you might need to access or restore these backups at some point, so it's important to know how to open an Outlook PST backup file. In this guide, we'll explain why this process is important and walk you through simple steps to open PST files easily.

How to Open Backup Outlook Emails in PST Format

Since there are many different versions of MS Outlook, it's crucial to know which version you have before trying to open PST files. The process may differ depending on the version you're using. In this guide, we’ll explain the easiest methods to open PST files, customized for each version of Outlook. This will help you easily access your files, no matter which Outlook version you are using.

Outlook Versions of 2013, 2016, and 2019:

Step 1. Launch desktop Outlook and tap the File option in the top-left corner.

Step 2. Select Open & Export > Open Outlook Data File.

Step 3. Browse for the PST file you wish to access, then click the Open button.

Now, your Outlook backup PST files will be visible for viewing.

2010 Outlook Version:

Step 1. Open Outlook and go to File, then choose Account Settings.

Step 2. Click on Add within the Data Files section.

Step 3. Locate and select the PST file you wish to access, then click OK to open it.

2007 Outlook and Older Version:

If you use the previous versions, like 2007, you will not be able to directly open those PST files. you need to import PST files to Outlook and open them within Outlook.

Step 1. Launch Outlook and go to File > Open > Import.

Step 2. In the Import/Export Wizard, choose "Import from another program or file."

Step 3. Select "Personal Folder File (.pst)" and click Next.

Step 4. Select the destination path to save the file, then click OK. Now, you can access the backup file within Outlook.

Professional Outlook Email Auto Backup Software

If you're searching for reliable solutions for managing Outlook, it's clear how essential Outlook is for both personal and professional communication, often storing important information over time. To save time and avoid manual backups, consider using a specialized mailbox backup tool. AOMEI Backup Professional is a top-rated backup software worth considering.

AOMEI Backupper Professional offers a powerful Outlook backup feature, providing a secure option for users to back up their email data. You can easily log into your Outlook account and set up automatic, regular backups with just a few clicks. It also provides flexible options like full, incremental backup, and differential backup, allowing you to back up exactly what you need based on your preferences.

It offers an intuitive interface, making data backup a breeze with its simple steps.
In addition to email backup, it covers various backup types like system backup, disk backup, file backup, partition backup, and cloud backup, meeting diverse data backup requirements.
It supports a wide array of storage devices, including internal/external hard drives, USB drives, SSDs/HDDs, and SD cards, ensuring compatibility with various storage options.
This versatile tool seamlessly operates on all Windows OS versions, from Windows 11 to XP, ensuring smooth functionality across different platforms.

Download AOMEI Backuppertoday and explore how to automate Outlook email backups effortlessly.

1. Start by signing in to your Outlook account, then open AOMEI Backupper and head to the Backup section, followed by Outlook Backup.

2. Next, select Add Outlook and pick the desired email account along with the specific mailbox you intend to back up. Once done, click OK to confirm your selection.

3. Now, designate the destination path where you want to store your Outlook backup PST files.

4. Finally, set up a scheduled backup by accessing the Schedule Backup option and enabling it. Choose the frequency for automatically saving your email backups, whether it's Daily, Weekly, Monthly, or based on Event triggers. Once all settings are configured, hit Start Backup to initiate the task.

Tips:
AOMEI Backupper offers a range of backup options such as modifying backup modes, adding comments, enabling email notification, applying image compression, and splitting backups as required.
Moreover, the Professional edition of AOMEI Backupper includes the backup scheme feature, providing three backup modes and four auto-cleanup options, facilitating efficient storage space management.

Why Saving Outlook Backup Files in PST Format

Given the substantial volume of information shared through email, it's crucial to protect this data from loss or damage. A reliable method to secure and retain your email communications is by storing Outlook backup files in PST (Personal Storage Table) format. Opening Outlook backup files in PST format serves several important purposes:

📌Data Protection: Saving Outlook backup files in PST format serves as a reliable method for protecting your email data from loss due to system failures, hardware malfunctions, or accidental deletions.
📌Ease of Access: PST files are easily accessible and can be opened using various email clients and applications, providing users with flexibility and convenience in accessing their email archives.
📌Organization and Archiving: PST files allow users to organize and archive their email correspondence systematically, making it easier to retrieve specific emails or folders when needed.
📌Migration and Transfer: When migrating to a new computer or email platform, PST files facilitate the seamless transfer of email data, ensuring continuity of communication without disruptions.
📌Backup Redundancy: Storing Outlook backup files in PST format provides an additional layer of redundancy, offering peace of mind knowing that your email data is securely backed up and readily available for recovery purposes.

By understanding the importance of opening Outlook backup files in PST format, you can take proactive steps to safeguard your email data and ensure its accessibility whenever required.

FAQs on Backup Outlook Emails in PST

Q1: Can I open an Outlook backup file in PST format without Outlook?

A: Yes, you can use third-party software like AOMEI Backupper to open Outlook backup files in PST format without Outlook.

Q2: Can I import an Outlook backup file in PST format into another email client?

A: Yes, you can import PST files into other email clients that support the PST format, such as Mozilla Thunderbird.

Q3: Is it possible to recover deleted emails from an Outlook backup file?

A: Yes, you can recover deleted emails from an Outlook backup file by restoring the file using backup software like AOMEI Backupper.

Conclusion

In summary, knowing how to access Outlook backup files in PST format is crucial for keeping your email data safe and easy to reach. You can rely on built-in tools such as Outlook's Import and Export Wizard, use the straightforward approach of Windows File Explorer, or take advantage of the more advanced capabilities of third-party programs like AOMEI Backupper. With these options, you can find the solution that best fits your needs. By following the steps in this guide and tackling common questions, you can confidently manage and restore your Outlook backups. For any issues like auto-save Outlook emails to hard drives, give AOMEI Backupper a try to get it done quickly.