For a heavy Outlook User, Backing up the data, i.e., PST file or the OST file every day is mandatory. It is crucial when you are using POP instead of IMAP, which many corporate. Emails from those serves once downloaded are removed from the server, until specified or configured to keep it there forever. In this post, we will share a set of free tools that can take automatic backup of Outlook PST and OST files.
List of Tools to Automatic Backup Outlook PST and OST Files
Below are the few methods which you can use to automatically backup your Outlook Data.
- Relocate PST to Dropbox or OneDrive
- Personal Folders Backup Tool
- Safe PST Backup
- Backup My Mail
Make sure to check on the compatibility
1] Relocate PST and OST files to Dropbox
If you use Dropbox or OneDrive, I suggest you move the PST file of your Outlook Profile to one of your DropBox Folders, which you do not share with anybody. On top, you can use the same folder with any other computer, ensuring you have the same data access when you go from Office to Home or switch between computers.
- Once Outlook is launched, first find out the location of the PST or OST file of the profile you want to move to Dropbox.
- Go to File > Account Settings
- Select the Data Files Tab; you should see all PST or OST file locations.
- Now make a list of the emails and their PST file.
- Close Outlook.
- Next, Go to Dropbox, Create a Folder named Outlook Data, and Move All those PST and OST files. Notice I said move, so make sure you do not have a copyleft on that folder.
- Next, Launch Outlook will prompt for missing PST files which you can browse and locate.
- That’s it; you are done. All your files are on Dropbox, which automatically Syncs.
Also, remember that it is possible that the files on Dropbox will not sync as it is used unless you close them. So wait a few minutes before you shut down your computer or close Outlook while on break. Make sure Syncing is not Paused on Dropbox.
The best part of this method is that it works with all versions of Office, including Office 2019 and Office 365. If you want to manually backup PST file, it’s rather easy:
- Click on File > Open and Export
- Export to a file > Outlook Data file (.PST)
- Save it somewhere.
You can also use the same settings to import back the PST file or even open a PST file shared by someone else.
2] Personal Folders Backup Tool
It is an official backup tool from Microsoft in the form of an add-on and backs your PST file either when you start it or when the reminder to backup goes off. Either way, it makes sure you have all the emails, etc., stored. Read more on How to use it, but it works on Office 2002-2010. In that post, we have also shared an old-fashioned way to back up Office 2012 to Office 365.
4] Safe PST Backup
It is another free tool that allows you to back up all your PST file. One thing that is nice about this application is that it can back up even when you are using Outlook, but if you have a download in progress, it waits for it. It works till Office version 2012. Read More
2] Backup My Mail
This tool can back up your PST file on any scheduled date and time to a location of your choice, and then you can make it repeat the same every few days. There are three things right about it :
- You don’t have to tell this app the location of our PST file.
- If your profile is password protected, you can provide it before running the backup, and it will take care of it.
- It can delete all the PST files which is backed up before if you want to save some space.
