How to Move OST File to Another Location?

In this guide, we will walk you through the process to move OST file to another location safely and effectively using both manual and OST to PST Converter. Whether you are managing a single user interface or handling multiple systems in an enterprise environment, this article provides actionable steps that help you to change OST file location.

Overtime users may find the need to move OST file to a new location for several reasons such as disk limit exceeded, system optimization, or for any personal purpose. However, a simple copy and paste method will not work and can lead to issues with Outlook functionality.

Microsoft Outlook uses OST(Offline Storage Table) files to store a synchronized copy of mailbox data from Exchange Server on your local system. These files enable users to access their emails, calendar, events and other data when they are offline. By default, Outlook uses an OST file in a specific location on your system drive, which may be always ideal.

Reasons to Move OST File to Another Location

• One of the most common reasons is that system drives get full. C drive can usually grow significantly, especially in an environment with large mailboxes or frequent email usage. Moving the OST file location to another drive like D or E can free up drive and also increase system and Outlook performance.
• Moving OST file to SSD storage can improve Outlook responsiveness especially during send/receive emails, search indexing when opening large size emails. Moving OST files to optimize storage helps to maintain Outlook functionality and its performance.
• In corporate or managed IT environments, organizations may enforce data storage policies requiring user data including OST file to change to another drive or directories. Additionally, individual users may prefer storing Outlook data on a separate drive for better organization, backup management, or partition optimization.
• When performing OS upgrades, disk replacement or system migration, if often necessary to move or backup OST files to another location. Doing so ensures that Outlook profiles can re-established more efficiently and data integrity preserved during transition.

Pre-Move Preparations

• Even though OST files are typically recreatable from the server. It’s still a good idea to create a backup before making any changes. This is too crucial to maintain mailbox local changes or if you’re working in an environment with limited server sync capabilities.
• If an OST file moves to any location when Outlook is running then it’s too close to file corruption or access errors.
• Before moving the OST file, check all data synchronized with Exchange or IMAP Server. Moving an out of sync OST file can lead to missing emails or outdated data in your new location.

How to Change OST File to New Location Manually?

Once you have done all preparation then now you are ready to change OST file to new location by following methods as we have stated below:

Method 1. Using ForceOST Path Registry Key

• Close Outlook completely.
• Press Win+R and type regedit and hit the Enter button.
  
• Navigate to OST path:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\PST

• According to Outlook version such as
  
• Outlook 365 / 2019 / 2016

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook

• Outlook 2013

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\15.0\Outlook

• Outlook 2010

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Outlook

• Outlook 2007

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Outlook

• Right-click on Outlook and click on New and choose String Value.
• Double-click on OSTforcepath and set its value to the desired folder path.

• Create a new Outlook profile and configure your email account. It will create an OST file to a new location.

Method 2. Create a Symbolic Link

1. Exit Outlook and delete the original OST file.
2. Open Command Prompt and run as Administrator.
   
3. Follow the running command: mklink “C:\Users\\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook\Outlook.ost” “D:\NewFolder\Outlook.ost“
4. Outlook will use the OST file from a new location.

Method 3. Changing OST File Location During Profile Creation

1. Configure Registry as appears in method 1.
2. Open the Control Panel and click on Mail(Microsoft Outlook).
   
3. Click on Show Profiles and press on Add to create a new Profile.
   
4. Outlook will save the OST file at your selected directory.

Steps to Move OST to Another Location

1. Download and run Suggested Software on your system.
   
2. Click on Convert Configured Outlook mailbox data and press Next button.
3. Browse OST mailbox folders as you want to access from another location.
   
4. Choose the PST file in the list of Saving features.
5. Browse filter options and select PST filers as per needed.
   
6. Choose the destination path and press Convert to easily move OST file to another location.

Useful Features of Automated Approach

• This software can easily convert OST to PDF, PST, EML, MBOX, and 37+ Saving options.
• It specially designed with easy to navigate interface by all types of professional and individual users
• You can also import OST to Outlook, Microsoft 365, Gmail, Yahoo and all IMAP supported servers.
• With this wizard, you can also use filter features such as date range, from, to, subject, exclude folders, organizer, root folder, exclude empty folder, mails, calendars, contacts, create Exception log etc.
• This software can also extract emails, calendars, tasks, notes and extract contacts from OST file.

Best Practices and Recommendations

• OST can be created automatically with other such data such as archives, POP3 mail or manually exported folders stored in PST files. It should be protected when OST is recovered.
• Don’t use unsupported approaches like manually or copying OST files between locations. These actions can corrupt OST files, synchronization errors or even cause Outlook to stop working. Only see recommended approaches such as modifying registry and creating a new Outlook profile with specific OST path.
• Especially for Enterprise, its strong contact expert before making changes with Outlook profiles and registry changes. Enterprise-level changes often involve additional considerations like user policy management, compliance, and server configurations that should be handled carefully.

Helpful Questions

How do I Move Outlook OST from C drive to D drive?

To move your OST files from C to D Drive, set the ForceOST path registry key before creating a new Outlook profile. After configuration, Outlook will create an OST file at your chosen location. Directly moving the OST file is not supported and may cause issues.

How to Change Default Outlook OST File location?

You can change default Outlook OST location by adding ForceOST registry path under the Outlook registry key. Set its value to the desired folder path then create Outlook will create a new Outlook profile and reflect changes.

Can we Copy an OST File?

You can copy an OST file but Outlook doesn’t allow importing directly on another profile. OST files are encrypted with the original account and need to be exported in a PST file if you need to access another profile.

How do I Move OST files from One Computer to Another?

You cannot move OST files from one computer to another as Outlook does not allow you to reuse OST files. Export Outlook data in PST file then import on another computer. Outlook will regenerate a new OST file that contains all imported and previous Outlook data on the second system.

Wrap Up

In this guide, we have shared everything about moving the OST file to another location. As the following described methods you can easily change the OST file to a new location by both manual and automated method. If you have an encrypted OST file then you can go manually. But when OST gets dismounted from the server then no manual approach works. So, in this situation, you must need automated software as it offers fully maintained results and no risk of losing any information.