This article describes how to restore your Outlook PST backup file to recover your email messages, address book entries, and other data in Outlook 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007, and 2003 and Outlook for Microsoft 365.

What to Know

  • Go to Import/Export > Import from another program or file in the File menu.Browse to the PST file and choose the appropriate option.

Restore an Outlook PST File for Mail, Contacts, and Data

Here’s how to use your backup PST file to restore the Outlook data to the same computer, to a different computer, or to a different email account.

  • Go to File > Open & Export > Import/Export. In Outlook 2007 and 2003, go to File > Import and Export.
  • Choose Import from another program or file, then select Next.
  • Choose either Outlook Data File (.pst) or Personal Folder File (PST) depending on the version of Outlook you use, then select Next.
  • Select Browse to find and select the PST file that you want to import data from.
  • Outlook may check for a backup.pst file in the \Document\Outlook Files\ folder. Select Browse to change where it searches.
  • Choose one of the following:
  • Replace duplicates with items imported: Imports all data and replaces data in the existing PST file that is the same.Allow duplicates to be created: Imports all data and creates a duplicate of items that are the same. Every email and contact is imported even if these items are in the existing PST file.Do not import duplicates: Data that matches the existing file is not imported.
  • Choose Next.
  • Select the folder to import from (optional), whether to Include subfolders, and where to import. Select Filter to filter certain emails to import.
  • Once you set the import settings, select Finish.

How to Add a New PST Data File to Outlook

If you want to restore a PST file into Outlook and use it as another data file, add the PST file as a second account along with the default one.

Go to File > Open & Export > Import/Export. In Outlook 2007 and 2003, go to File > Import and Export.

Choose Import from another program or file, then select Next.

Choose either Outlook Data File (.pst) or Personal Folder File (PST) depending on the version of Outlook you use, then select Next.

Select Browse to find and select the PST file that you want to import data from.

Outlook may check for a backup.pst file in the \Document\Outlook Files\ folder. Select Browse to change where it searches.

Choose one of the following:

  • Replace duplicates with items imported: Imports all data and replaces data in the existing PST file that is the same.Allow duplicates to be created: Imports all data and creates a duplicate of items that are the same. Every email and contact is imported even if these items are in the existing PST file.Do not import duplicates: Data that matches the existing file is not imported.

Choose Next.

Select the folder to import from (optional), whether to Include subfolders, and where to import. Select Filter to filter certain emails to import.

Once you set the import settings, select Finish.

If you do not have a backup copy of your Outlook data and want to recover the PST file, use a file recovery program and search for .PST as the file extension.

  • Go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings.
  • In the Account Settings dialog box, go to Data Files.
  • Select Add to add another PST file to Outlook.
  • Choose Outlook data file (.pst) and select OK.
  • Select the location of the PST, choose the file name, then select OK.
  • Highlight the PST file and select Set as Default to make it the new default data file.
  • Select Close.

Go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings.

In the Account Settings dialog box, go to Data Files.

Select Add to add another PST file to Outlook.

Choose Outlook data file (.pst) and select OK.

Select the location of the PST, choose the file name, then select OK.

Highlight the PST file and select Set as Default to make it the new default data file.

Select Close.

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