How to Sync Outlook PST Files with OneDrive

User Case: How Do I Sync Outlook PST Files with OneDrive?

“Hey folks, I need some help here! So, I've got this Windows 10 laptop and I want to sync my Outlook PST files with OneDrive. I heard it's possible, but I'm not sure how to do it. Can anyone guide me through the steps to sync Outlook PST files with OneDrive? I'm not very tech-savvy, so please keep it simple and explain it as if you're talking to a beginner. Thanks a bunch!”

If you are like this user and want to know how to sync Outlook PST files with OneDrive, you have come to the right place! This article will tell you whether PST files can be synced to OneDrive, and if so, how to do it. Here we take a look at “Can you sync PST files on OneDrive?”.  According to Microsoft, they advise against placing active PST files from Outlook in the OneDrive folder. Although they haven't provided a clear explanation, it seems that syncing the file may compromise its integrity, making it unusable if restored.

While it's not recommended, if you really need to back up Outlook PST files to OneDrive (for instance, if your OneDrive has ample space while your mailbox doesn't), there's a workaround. You can choose to back up PST files (less than 10GB) that are not connected to the mailbox. This article outlines one effective method to help you achieve this. Next, let's see how to sync Outlook PST files to OneDrive!

How to Sync Outlook PST Files with OneDrive

Sure, I've got you covered! I'll share one effective method to let you know how to sync Outlook PST files with OneDrive. The method involves manually backing up your Outlook PST files to OneDrive. And if you just want to backup Outlook PST files easily, then you can actually use our recommended third-party backup software to backup your PST files. 

Usually, the OneDrive desktop app will keep attempting to sync the PST file, but it won't succeed due to the lock imposed by Outlook. This can lead to potential corruption and data loss. Moreover, OneDrive will continuously try to upload PST files even if no changes have been made, causing network traffic issues.

To avoid these complications, it's recommended to manually move a small number of PST files, such as a few emails, into the OneDrive folder instead of relying on automatic syncing. Let's go through the steps to sync PST files to OneDrive:

Step 1. Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Users [username]\OneDrive\Documents\Outlook Files.

✪Please note: If you cannot locate the PST file in the mentioned location, you can follow these steps. Open Outlook, right-click on the account that contains the PST file you want to move, and choose Data File Properties. Then, click on Advanced to view the complete file path of the PST file.

Step 2. Copy the desired PST file and paste it into the OneDrive folder location on your computer. By doing so, you'll enable automatic backup of the PST file using OneDrive. Once the file is successfully backed up, you can safely delete it from Outlook to reclaim storage space.

Well, now that you know how to move PST files from OneDrive to Outlook manually, let's take a look at how to back up PST files easily now.

Best Way to Backup Outlook PST Files to OneDrive Easily

If you're looking to automatically move PST files to OneDrive without encountering any locking issues, I recommend utilizing the robust backup software, AOMEI Backupper Professional. It offers a reliable Outlook backup solution to seamlessly transfer your PST files to OneDrive while bypassing any potential locking problems. With this software, you can efficiently manage your PST file backups and ensure a smooth synchronization process with OneDrive.

✿With schedule backup feature, you can enjoy various scheduling options such as Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Event triggers, or USB plug in mode for your PST file backups. Additionally, by enabling the Wake the computer to run scheduled task feature, you can conveniently set off-peak hours or any time when you're not using Outlook to initiate the backup process.
✿To save time and storage space, AOMEI Backupper offers Incremental backup and Differential backup options, allowing you to back up only the changed files instead of the entire PST file each time.
✿It provides an Automatic Backup Cleanup feature, which efficiently deletes old backup images. This ensures that you won't encounter any backup disk full issues and can free up valuable space without any worries.

Don't miss out on this powerful backup software! Try it today and see how it simplifies your backup process. Download now to experience its capabilities firsthand and embark on a seamless backup journey.

Note: The Professional edition supports Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, XP, and Vista. Server users should try AOMEI Backupper Server for their needs.

Step 1. Open Outlook, enter email, and click Connect. Follow the on-screen instructions to add the Outlook account with PST files.

Step 2. Open AOMEI Backupper Professional, then select Backup followed by Outlook Backup.

Step 3. Choose Add Outlook data and select the desired Outlook account with the PST files you wish to back up. Finally, click OK to proceed.

Step 4. Choose Select a cloud drive and opt for OneDrive as the destination to store your Outlook PST files.

Step 5. Activate the desired schedule for backup, such as Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Event triggers, or USB plug in and ensure that the option Wake the computer to run scheduled task is enabled.

Step 6. Afterward, simply click on Start Backup to initiate the process of automatically syncing your PST files to OneDrive, without encountering any locking issues.

▣Please note the following:
▶ The Event triggers feature supports backing up PST files only during system startup and user log on. It does not provide the option to set a specific time for running the PST file backup task.
▶ By default, if you enable schedule backup, the software will use Incremental Backup to back up only the changed files. You also have the option to switch to Differential Backup.
▶ To avoid backup disk full issues, it is recommended to regularly delete old backup images. You can achieve this by clicking on Backup Scheme and enabling the feature.

Summary

This article tells how to sync Outlook PST files with OneDrive. While Microsoft advises against backing up Outlook PST files to OneDrive, if you're experiencing mailbox space constraints or strongly desire to do so, you can still proceed using the method mentioned above. Just remember to close Outlook before initiating the PST file backup.

For backing up your Outlook PST files easily, consider utilizing the robust Outlook backup software, AOMEI Backupper Professional. It provides support for up to five scheduled backups and enables you to back up PST files at a specific time when you're not actively using Outlook. It is also a good IMAP email backup software. Try it out now!