Open an Outlook Data File (.pst)

If you have an Outlook Data File (.pst) that does not appear in the navigation pane, you can add it so that you can work with the items in the data file.

  1. Click the File tab.
  2. Click Account Settings, and then click Account Settings.
    Account Settings in the Backstage view
  3. On the Data Files tab, click Add.
  4. Click the Outlook Data File (.pst) file that you want to open, and then clickOK.

Data file locations

 

Outlook Data Files (.pst) created by using Microsoft Outlook 2010 are saved on your computer.


THE Default Folder is located in your U drive under the outlook folder
U:/outlook Here is where your PST files are located 
 
If it is not set up correctly here are some alternate locations.  

  • Windows 7 and Windows Vista    drive:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook
  • Windows XP     drive:\Documents and Settings\user\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook

 
 

Change an Outlook Data File (.pst) display name
 

The file name that you specify for an Outlook Data File (.pst) appears in the Navigation Pane. Prior to Outlook 2010, the default display name for Outlook Data Files (.pst) was Personal Folders. This can be confusing if you work with multiple Outlook Data Files (.pst) that were created in previous versions of Outlook. We recommend that you use a descriptive display name for each Outlook Data File (.pst).

  1. Click the File tab.
  2. Click Account Settings, and then click Account Settings.
  3. On the Data Files tab, click the Outlook Data File (.pst) file, and then clickSettings.
  4. In the Name box, enter a descriptive name for the Outlook Data File (.pst).

Outlook Data File dialog box

 NOTE    Changing the display name does not rename the file. Only the name as it appears in the Navigation Pane is changed..



Close an Outlook Data File (.pst)

When you no longer need frequent access to an Outlook Data File (.pst), you can close the file. A closed file no longer appears in the Navigation Pane, but is not deleted from your computer.

  • Right-click the name of the Outlook Data File (.pst) that you want to remove from the Navigation Pane, and then click Close name.

Close Outlook Data File (.pst) command

If the Close command is not available, you are probably trying to remove the default Outlook Data File (.pst) file that is used to save your new messages. If you were to remove that data file, new messages would have nowhere to go.