Where are OST File Stored on Windows 11? Get All Effective Method

  

Mark Regan
Published: June 19th, 2025 • 9 Min Read

If you are using Microsoft Outlook in Cached Exchange Mode, your emails, contacts, calendars and other mailbox data are stored in an OST(Offline Storage table) files. Knowing how to find OST location is crucial to backup Outlook data, fix synchronization issues, convert OST to PST, or move data to another system.

Why You Might Want to Find OST File Location?

• Users often need to backup Outlook data to access during migration and access OST files on another drive. To access an OST file it’s crucial to convert OST to PST to make it portable and easily accessible on any Outlook account or version.
• OST files can become corrupted due to synchronized errors, unexpected shutdowns or software failure. If you are facing missing emails or Outlook crash issues, accessing the OST file allows you to run the repair utility or replace it safely.
• OST files can grow large over time, especially in corporate or enterprise environments as they send and receive emails in bulk. Finding an OST file enables the user to delete, move or archive to an external drive or another drive to free up valuable storage.

Understanding OST vs. PST Files

Before knowing OST file location, it’s crucial to know benefits of OST files and how it’s different from PST files. Both are Outlook data files, but both are used for different purposes.

OST(offline storage table) is a local copy of Exchange or Outlook 365 mailbox data that allows you to access emails and other items when you’re not connected to the internet. The OST file automatically created when you configured Microsoft 365, Exchange Server or IMAP Account.

Key Differences with PST File

• While both OST and PST files store the same Outlook data, so how are they different from each other?
• OST is used for offline access with Exchange, IMAP or Microsoft 365 accounts and syncs automatically with the email server.
• PST(Personal Storage Table) is used for POP3 accounts, manual archiving and doesn’t sync with any server.
• OST files are typically not portable between systems where PST files can be imported/exported easily.

Default OST File Location Across Outlook Version

How to Locate OST File via Outlook Settings?

1. Open Microsoft Outlook.
2. Go to file and click on Account Settings and again press on Account Settings.
3. In Data files, select your email account and click on open OST file location.

Version Specific Navigation

While the general steps are mostly similar but it can be slightly different due to interface.

Outlook 2003/2007

1. Click on Tools and press on Account Settings.
2. Hit on Data files and select account and choose open folder or settings.
3. Click on Advanced and choose Offline Folder File Settings.

Outlook2010

1. Click on file and press on Account Settings.
2. Again click on Account Settings and under data files navigate to OST file location.

Outlook 2013/2016/2019, 2021 and Microsoft 365

1. Click on File and press on Account Settings.
2. Hit on Account Settings and choose Account Settings in the drop down menu.
3. Now, open the OST file location.

Alternative Method to Find OST File Location

If you can’t access Outlook or want to confirm OST file location manually, there are several alternative ways to find it without opening Outlook application:

Method 1. Browse Default Directories Manually

1. Press Windows+R and type %localappdata%\Microsoft\Outlook and hit Enter to locate the OST file.
2. Manually locate OST file path in C Drive: C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook

Method 2. Use ForceOSTPath Registry Key(Advanced User)

1. Press Windows+R and type Regedit and hit Enter.
2. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\\Outlook.
3. Locate forceOST String value.

Method 3. Use Command Line or PowerShell Script

1. You can also run simple PowerShell Command to locate OST file:
2. Enter PowerShell Command: Get-ChildItem “$env:LOCALAPPDATA\Microsoft\Outlook” -Filter *ost.
3. Find all OST files: Get-ChildItem -Path C:\ -Include *.ost -Recurse -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

How to Change or Move OST File Location?

If your OST file too much storage on your C:Drive and you want to move OST to another drive then you can use ForceOST path, Symbolic Links and Recreate Outlook profile method as we have shared below:

Technique 1. Use ForceOSTPath in Registry

1. Press Win+R and type Regedit and hit on Enter button.
2. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\\Outlook.
3. Right-click on Outlook and select New and hit on String Value.
4. Name it: ForceOSTPath and double-click on it and enter the full folder path where the OST file store.
5. Close Registry Editor and create a new Outlook profile.

Technique 2. Using Symbolic Links

1. Close Outlook completely.
2. Move the existing OST files to your desired path.
3. Open CMD as Administrator.
4. Use the following command to create a Symbolic Links.
5. mklink “C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook\YourProfile.ost” “D:\OSTFiles\YourProfile.ost”

Technique 3. Recreate Outlook Profile with New Location

1. Backup or note account settings.
2. Go to the Control Panel and click on Mail.
3. Press on Show Profiles and hit on Add to create a new Profile.
   
4. If using ForceOSTPath, set the registry value before creating this profile.
5. Configure a new Outlook account, Outlook will create an OST file at a specified location.

What to Do if You Can’t Find the OST File

Solution 1. Confirm Outlook Version and Cached Exchange Mode Settings

1. Open Outlook and navigate to the file.
2. Click on Account Settings and choose Account Settings in the list of dropdown menu.
3. Double click to choose your email account and use Cached Exchange Mode.

Solution 2. Check for Hidden Folders or Redirected App Data

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to the View tab.
2. Check on Hidden Items.

Solution 3. Use Inbuilt Scan/Repair PST Tools

1. Navigate to the Outlook installation folder: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\OfficeXX\.
2. Open ScanPST.exe and browse for any related OST data files or profiles as you want to repair.

1. Run the repair and relaunch Outlook.

Useful Features of Recommended Software

• This software is specially designed to meet modern user requirement by convert OST to PDF for forensic use, MBOX to open in Thunderbird, and 39+ Saving features.
• It allows you to restore and convert damaged, dismounted, corrupted, encrypted, and oversize OST files.
• You can also use advanced filters such as date range, subject, sender, recipients, create PST year wise, exclude folders, skip empty folders, and many more.
• With this wizard, you can also import OST to Microsoft 365, Thunderbird, Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook.com and all IMAP Supported email servers.
• It also offers you to convert individual or batch number of OST files at single process and also offers to preview mailbox folder to avoid unnecessary data and maintain OST file.
• This software offers an easy to navigate interface to make it reliable for professional and individual users.

Tips to Maintain OST File

• Microsoft recommends OST file size below 50 GB to avoid sync delays, crashes, file corruption.
• Use Outlook Auto Archive feature to move items older than a certain date into an archive PST file.

Closing Remarks

As users often need access to OST files, we have explained all effective methods to find the OST file location. However, as OST files can’t be opened directly and are commonly needed for backup purposes, we’ve also provided the easiest way to make them healthy and portable—ensuring they can be accessed across all Outlook versions or accounts without the risk of data loss.