How to Move OST File to Another Drive? Quick Ways
My laptop’s SSD is almost full, and my 35GB Outlook OST file is taking up most of the space. I need to move it to my external hard drive to free up storage, but I’m worried about breaking the connection with my Exchange server. Every time I try to change the location in Outlook settings, it creates a new OST file instead of moving the existing one, and I lose access to all my offline emails. How do I properly move OST file to another Drive while keeping all my cached emails and folder structure intact?”
– Ennis Richardson, Insurance Broker
Summary: Have you ever noticed your C: drive running out of space and wondered what’s taking up so much storage? Only to discover that your Outlook data file (OST) is one of the culprits.
For many professionals, Outlook is the nerve center of daily communication. It stores thousands of emails, attachments, and calendar entries. Over time, these items accumulate, and the OST file quietly grows in size. Moreover, it covers precious disk space on your system drive. Before you know it, your PC slows down, Windows starts showing Low Disk Space warnings, and Outlook performance drops.
However, the best part is that you don’t have to delete emails or reinstall Outlook to fix it.
Instead, you can move your OST file to another drive, keeping your mailbox intact while freeing up space on your system partition.
Here, we’ll guide you through safe, practical, and proven methods to move OST file to another drive without losing a single email.
Turnkey Solution
To restore original emails and recover all data from a crashed Exchange server. Try the automated MacSonik OST to PST Converter.
OST File Location: A Quick Guide
Now, you want to move your OST data file to another drive or system. So, you need to locate your locally stored OST file first. However, you can identify OST files in the Account Settings of different Outlook versions.
If you want to locate the .ost file without Outlook. Follow the given path below for the same.
C:\Users\<YourUsername>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook\
Why Move OST File to Another Drive?
Apart from keeping your data safe, there are multiple reasons why MS Outlook users move OST file to another location.
- It saves space on your system drive.
- Plus, this protects data in case of a system crash.
- Moving OST file to another drive simplifies backups and file management.
- Moreover, it safeguards data during OS upgrades or reinstallation.
- Additionally, this process improves performance when moved to a faster drive.
The Best Ways to Move OST File to Another Drive
As you have located your OST files by the upper method. You can easily transfer your Offline Storage Table files to another drive:
1. Change OST File to Another Drive with Outlook Settings
It is a simple and direct approach with MS Outlook’s built-in feature to move your OST files. It is best for users who want to relocate their data file without making system-level changes.
- Close Outlook completely.
- Then, open Control Panel > Mail > Data Files on your system.
- Thereafter, select your account and click Open File Location.
- Next, move the OST file to your new drive (e.g., D:\OutlookData).
- Return to Mail Setup, remove the old account.
- Click Add, and create a new Outlook Data File (.ost) in the new location.
- Lastly, restart Outlook to generate a new OST file.
2. Use Registry Editor to Move OST File to Another Drive
If you are an advanced user or an IT professional & you are comfortable with modifying system settings. Thus, this method is for you. This method allows you to control your default OST file saving path in the Windows Registry.
- Press Windows Key + R, & type regedit, and press Enter.
- Then, navigate to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\<version>\Outlook
Replace <version> with your Outlook version (e.g., 16.0 for Outlook 2016, 2019, or 365).
- After that, Right-click the Outlook folder, select New > Expandable String Value.
- Next, name the new value ForceOSTPath.
- Double-click ForceOSTPath, enter your desired path (e.g., D:\OutlookData).
- Close the Registry Editor and restart Outlook.
A new OST file will be created in the specified location.
Caution: Modifying the registry can be risky. Proceed with caution and consider backing up your registry first.
However, these methods are free & you can move your OST file to another drive with this. But in case you want to move your OST files in bulk, that will be very difficult with these methods. Therefore, the next method is best suitable when you need to migrate your .ost file to another location.
3. Move Outlook OST Data File to Another Drive in Bulk
The best way to import your OST files to another drive is with the advanced OST to PST Converter. This tool allows you to select your desired path with other advanced features. This software saved your. ost files to a more secure PST format. Plus, this user-friendly tool provides a duplicate removal feature. So that you can save a more clear and concise data.
How to Move OST File to Another Drive in PST Format?
- Launch the OST to PST Converter Tool on your System.
- Then, upload the desired OST file(s) for conversion by clicking select files or folders.
- Then, preview the file contents (emails, contacts, calendar, etc.) and click Next.
- After that, select PST as your output format from the saving options.
- Thereafter, configure any additional filters.
- Lastly, choose the Destination Path & click Convert to begin the process.
Now, you have saved all your OST files as PST in another location. Apart from this, the converter provides a lot more options to choose from.
Why is MacSonik OST to PST Unique?
- Converts all data with 100% integrity.
- Keeps original folder structure intact.
- Batch conversion for multiple files.
- Preview items before exporting.
- Export to PST, MBOX, PDF, etc.
- Filter by date and use custom names.
- Compatible with Windows and Mac.
- Standalone – no Outlook needed.
Prerequisites Before Moving OST File to Another Drive
You need to ensure the following points are covered to avoid errors or data loss during the process, before applying any above methods.
|
Prerequisite |
Description & Purpose |
|
Close Outlook Completely |
Ensure Outlook and all its background processes are fully closed to allow the file to be moved. |
|
Create a Data Backup |
Keep a copy of the original OST file in a safe location to restore from if the process fails. |
|
Stable Internet Connection |
Required for Outlook to successfully resync and download your mailbox data to the new OST file. |
|
Verify Folder Permissions |
Ensure you have ‘Read/Write’ access to the destination folder where the OST file will be stored. |
|
Backup Registry (If Applicable) |
If using the Registry Method, export the key first to easily revert changes in case of an error. |
Author’s Note
It is an effective solution to move OST file to another drive to free up space and improve Outlook performance. While manual methods exist, they carry a risk of errors.
For a safe, fast, and automated process, the MacSonik OST to PST Converter Tool is the recommended choice. It ensures your data, folder structure, and email properties are perfectly preserved during the move.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ans. You can move your OST file by changing its location through Outlook settings or the Windows Registry. Close Outlook, then move the OST file to your desired drive and set the new path. For bulk or error-free migration, use the MacSonik OST to PST Converter tool.
Ans. The MacSonik OST to PST Converter is the best tool to move OST files from one drive to another. It allows bulk migration, preserves folder hierarchy, and maintains 100% data integrity without requiring Outlook installation.
Ans. No, Outlook doesn’t allow you to move the existing OST file directly. You must either recreate it in a new location or convert it to PST format using a reliable tool like MacSonik OST to PST Converter to retain your cached emails and structure.
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