Overview
An integral part of Outlook from Microsoft is the Offline Storage Table (OST), where an account's mailbox is stored. The standard data file type for each account is an OST file, particularly when you connect an Exchange, Microsoft 365, or IMAP account to Outlook.
Essential attributes of an OST file
• An OST file is more than just a data storage format. It has several attributes, including the following:
• Emails, contacts, calendars, tasks, notes, and other information are all saved.
• After being locally stored, the modifications are then synced with the server's data.
• An OST file's contents can be archived in PST format.
• Extra mailboxes can be shared in the OST file by
connecting extra mailboxes to an Exchange account.
Outlook has established the Offline Folder files (.ost) default location on the machine. There may be times when you need to modify the default location in order to control disk space on a computer or handle messages in Outlook. You can use the following techniques to move an OST file without compromising its integrity.
O5 sophisticated ways to modify the OST file's location
solution 1 - Find the registry entry for ForcePSTPath.
You can modify the location of the OST file in any version of Outlook by using "ForcePSTPath." Without destroying or erasing your data, this approach is applicable and easily accessible.
• To start Run, press Windows + R.
• Type Regedit and press the OK button.
• Select the Software by clicking on HKEY_CURRENT_USER.
• Select Office after locating Microsoft in that list.
• Select Outlook and then the edition that was set up on your system.
• In Registry Editor, select New by clicking Left in the region of white space. On Expendable String Value, hit.
• Assign the ForceOSTPath value to a newly created variable. Save the document and move the issue to the name section.
• Restart Outlook after quitting the Registry Editor.
Note: An OST file is created whenever a new Exchange email account is opened.
Solution 2 -Modify Mail settings to change the location of the OST file
To modify the location of the OST file, follow these steps:
• Open your device's Control Panel.
Select "Mail."
• Select Email Accounts under the Mail Section.
• In the Email Account Settings window, choose Microsoft Exchange. Next, click on the Change button.
• Select More Settings after unchecking the Use Cached Exchange Mode box.
• Select the Offline Folder File Settings at this point.
• For connecting your Outlook to the Internet, disable the offline use feature.
• Select "OK" to bring up the Exchange by Microsoft window again. Once more, navigate to the
• Offline Folder File Settings, enter the destination, and click OK.
• Select "Use Cached Exchange Mode" and click OK after returning to the "Change Email Account" window.
• To modify the location of your OST file, click the Finish tab.
Solution 3 - To modify the OST location
Another way to modify an OST file's default location is to use symbolic links. The MKLINK command makes it simple to modify the location of the OST file.
• Open the Command Prompt Window by using your administrator login information.
• Type the following yklink command: yklink"D:\New path" "C:\old-path".
• An example would be to yklink "D:\Outlook Data Files\" to "%localappdata%\Microsoft\Outlook\".
• Press Enter to run the code. Causal connection creation has occurred.
Also Read :- Fix OST files Errors
Solution 4 - Use the email software Outlook
The locations in which Windows stores OST files vary depending on the version. However, use these easy methods according to your appropriate Windows version to modify the OST file location.
In Windows Vista, 7, 8, and 10, the OST file's path is as follows -
%username%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook in C:\Users
The location of the OST file in Windows XP is –
Microsoft Office Outlook is located at C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Local Settings\Application Data
To modify the OST file, take the following actions:
• Select Data Files from the Account Settings menu in Outlook.
• Select Settings by going to the Exchange Server account.
• Select the Advanced option, disable the option to use Cached Exchange mode, and click OK after navigating to the Exchange server account.
Solution 5 - Converting the OST file to PST file
Although OST files are often immobile parts of Outlook mail, you can move your OST file using the aforementioned techniques. Some users claim that their data is corrupted when using these methods. To convert the OST file, use the sophisticated DataVare OST to PST Converter program.
In summary
Although moving an OST file from its default place in Outlook is difficult, you may achieve it by following all of the instructions in this blog. If you're not sure whether you can move the OST file within Outlook, use a third-party program to switch the file from OST to PST.
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