Restore an Outlook PST Contacts and Emails File

It's simple to restore data and recover Outlook contacts and emails

By
Heinz Tschabitscher
Heinz Tschabitscher
Heinz Tschabitscher
Writer
  • University of Vienna
A former freelance contributor who has reviewed hundreds of email programs and services since 1997.
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Updated on February 21, 2021
Reviewed by
Jessica Kormos
Jessica Kormos
Reviewed by Jessica Kormos
  • Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
Jessica Kormos is a writer and editor with 15 years' experience writing articles, copy, and UX content for Tecca.com, Rosenfeld Media, and many others.
lifewire's editorial guidelines

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.

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.

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.

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

    Viewing the Open and export options within Outlook.

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

    Selecting an action to perform withing the Import and Export wizard.

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

    Selecting the type of file to import.

  4. 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.

    Searching for a PST to import.

  5. 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.
    Choosing to replace duplicates during the import of a PST.

  6. Choose Next.

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

    Finishing up importing a PST file into Outlook.

  8. 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.

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.

  1. Go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings.

    Selecting account settings within Outlook.

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

    Going to Data Files to add a new PST.

  3. Select Add to add another PST file to Outlook.

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

    Selecting the option to create a new PST in Outlook.

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

    Naming the new PST and selecting a location to save it.

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

    Setting the PST as the default.

  7. Select Close.

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