Save Emails and contacts as pst file in Outlook

You probably also know the problem that not only your Outlook mailbox gets more and more full with time, but also the contact list. Of course, it would be very annoying if all your e-mails and contacts were lost due to a system error or a hard drive failure. Because many of these e-mails and contacts are very important, and not so easy to get back.

Read our article on how to create a backup of your contacts and emails in Microsoft Outlook.

Microsoft Outlook: Save e-mail and contacts as a pst file

Save Emails and contacts as pst file in Outlook

You probably also know the problem that not only your Outlook mailbox gets more and more full with time, but also the contact list. Of course, it would be very annoying if all your e-mails and contacts were lost due to a system error or a hard drive failure. Because many of these e-mails and contacts are very important, and not so easy to get back.

Read our article on how to create a backup of your contacts and emails in Microsoft Outlook.

1. Open import / export assistant

The first thing you need to do in Outlook is to open the Import / Export Wizard.

To do this, go to “File” / “Open and Export”.
Then on “Import-Export”.
And here you select the item “Export to file”.

See picture (click to enlarge)

The first thing you need to do in Outlook is to open the Import / Export Wizard.

To do this, go to “File” / “Open and Export”.
Then on “Import-Export”.
And here you select the item “Export to file”.

See picture (click to enlarge)

2. Select file type

Since we want to create a backup that we can later integrate again into Outlook, we select here the item “Outlook data file (pst)”.

By the way:
The abbreviation “pst” stands for “Personal Store”

See picture (click to enlarge)

Since we want to create a backup that we can later integrate again into Outlook, we select here the item “Outlook data file (pst)”.

By the way:
The abbreviation “pst” stands for “Personal Store”

See picture (click to enlarge)

3. Select folders to backup

In the next step, we are asked to select the folders to be backed up, such as Inbox, Outbox, Contacts, and so on.

We recommend to include all folders

As a result, you have created a complete backup of all emails and contacts as a traceable snapshot.

See picture (click to enlarge)

In the next step, we are asked to select the folders to be backed up, such as Inbox, Outbox, Contacts, and so on.

We recommend to include all folders

As a result, you have created a complete backup of all emails and contacts as a traceable snapshot.

See picture (click to enlarge)

4. Select location for backup

Next, you need to specify a location for your backup file, and also assign a file name (which always ends with “.pst”!).

By default, these backups are always under “Documents / Outlook Files”

We also recommend assigning a filename that you can track after a longer period of time, so that you will not have to identify the file later in the explorer simply based on the creation date

See picture (click to enlarge)

Depending on the size of your e-mail inbox and the speed of your hard drive, the backup process can now take a few seconds to a few minutes.

You will then receive no further message about the successful backup, but see this only because the “hourglass” icon (instead of mouse pointer) disappears again.

Your saved file can now be found at:

C: / User / YOUR USERNAME / Documents / Outlook files

See picture (click to enlarge)

Next, you need to specify a location for your backup file, and also assign a file name (which always ends with “.pst”!).

By default, these backups are always under “Documents / Outlook Files”

We also recommend assigning a filename that you can track after a longer period of time, so that you will not have to identify the file later in the explorer simply based on the creation date

See picture (click to enlarge)

Depending on the size of your e-mail inbox and the speed of your hard drive, the backup process can now take a few seconds to a few minutes.

You will then receive no further message about the successful backup, but see this only because the “hourglass” icon (instead of mouse pointer) disappears again.

Your saved file can now be found at:

C: / User / YOUR USERNAME / Documents / Outlook files

See picture (click to enlarge)

5. Insert PST file into Outlook

Ideally, we will never need the backup, but just in case they have it ready.

And now we want to reinsert them after “for example reinstalling Outlook”.

To do this, open the Import / Export Wizard again in Outlook and select:

“Import from other programs or files”.

See picture (click to enlarge)

In the following dialog boxes, select the desired file for the backup import.

Again, this process may take some time depending on the file size.

See picture (click to enlarge)

Note:
After the backup was created, you have restored all e-mail and contacts, but not your own e-mail accounts, and Outlook settings. We will discuss this topic at a later date.

Ideally, we will never need the backup, but just in case they have it ready.

And now we want to reinsert them after “for example reinstalling Outlook”.

To do this, open the Import / Export Wizard again in Outlook and select:

“Import from other programs or files”.

See picture (click to enlarge)

In the following dialog boxes, select the desired file for the backup import.

Again, this process may take some time depending on the file size.

See picture (click to enlarge)

Note:
After the backup was created, you have restored all e-mail and contacts, but not your own e-mail accounts, and Outlook settings. We will discuss this topic at a later date.