How to Open Outlook Backup Files in PST: Easy Ways

email has become an indispensable part of our daily lives, serving as a primary means of communication for both personal and professional purposes. Given the importance of email correspondence, it's essential to ensure the safety and accessibility of your email data. One common method of safeguarding your emails is by creating backup files in PST format. However, there may be instances where you need to access or restore these backup files, which is why knowing how to open an Outlook backup file in PST format is essential. In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve into the reasons for performing this operation and provide detailed methods to help you accomplish it effortlessly.

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.

How to Open Backup Outlook Emails in PST Format

There are already too many versions of MS Outlook. Suppose you want to open Outlook PST files. First, you should know the version of your Outlook, and know the instruction steps that differ between versions. So in the following article, we will provide you with the most efficient way to open PST files according to the requirements of different versions.

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

Since you are seeking all kinds of solutions to Outlook. You must admit that Outlook is already crucial for both personal and office communication, accumulating significant information over time. To avoid the hassle of manual backups, consider using a professional mailbox backup tool. AOMEI backup professional stands out as one of the top choices in backup software.

AOMEI Backup Professional offers a robust Outlook backup feature, ensuring users with email backup needs have a secure solution. Easily log into your Outlook account and automate regular backup with this built-in feature. With just a few clicks, you can back up all files from your Outlook mailbox effortlessly. Moreover, it provides customizable backup options like full, incremental backup, and differential backup, catering to users' specific needs for achieving differential backup of desired content.

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.

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.

Q4: Can I open an Outlook backup file in PST format on a Mac computer?

A: Yes, you can open Outlook backup files in PST format on a Mac computer using compatible third-party software or virtualization tools.

Q5: Are there any size limitations for opening Outlook backup files in PST format?

A: While there are no inherent size limitations, larger backup files may require more time and resources to open and access.

Conclusion

In conclusion, mastering the art of opening Outlook backup files in PST format is essential for ensuring the safety and accessibility of your email data. Whether you choose to use built-in tools like Outlook's Import and Export Wizard, leverage the simplicity of Windows File Explorer, or opt for the advanced features of third-party software like AOMEI Backupper, there are multiple options available to suit your needs. By following the methods outlined in this guide and addressing common questions, you can effectively manage and restore your Outlook backup files with confidence. If you have any Outlook backup-related problems like auto-save Outlook emails to hard drives, try AOMEI Backupper now to get it done in seconds.