Locate & View Outlook OST Files

OST files, offline data storage files of MS Outlook get saved on users' computer. Local data storage facilitation of this file format lets the users open emails and other details during network downtime. Emails, calendars, tasks, contacts, and all those details Outlook users save into other format can easily saved into OST files. The ease to view OST data when network is not available makes Outlook users happy.

Information You Can Store within Outlook OST

  • Emails, contacts, notes, journals, journals, calendars
  • Concealed data items those are not visible to all Exchange users
  • Favourites of Exchange Public folders
  • Data or mailboxes shared among Exchange users over a network

Facilities With Offline Storage Tables

  • Like PST files, Outlook users can compact the size of offline OST files by deletion of unused or non-crucial emails. One can say OST file keeps entire data of Exchange at local data store drives.
  • This mirror data store file for Exchange used to conjunct with Exchange Server. When Exchange Server synchronization gets executed then, entire offline data from OST files updated to the Server as it is.

Where OST Files Get Stored?

Automatically Outlook directs offline storage folders (.ost) file to the given location:


C:\ Documents and Settings\ username\ Local Settings\ Application Data\ Microsoft\ Outlook\Outlook.ost

outlook ost file location

According to personal need settings for OST data storage can easily altered that further explores changed behavior of cached data salvage.

Permitted OST File Size

  • ANSI OST : Old editions (Outlook 2000/2002) of MS Outlook permit to store data within an OST having 2 GB data storage. OST files capable to store data up-to 2 GB are called as ANSI OST
  • Unicode OST : Moreover, new editions of MS Outlook like Outlook 2007, Outlook 2010 will assist to store data up-to 20 GB and such Outlook offline files are named as Unicode OST. The latest edition of MS Outlook i.e. Outlook 2013 has 50 GB area to store emails, contacts etc within OST file

How To View OST Data ?

The first step that approaches you for OST file viewing is locating OST files. After locating OST files, you can open the OST file to have a look on data within. Say you have Outlook 2007, steps to locate Outlook OST files are given as:

Find tool menu within MS Outlook interface

Go with "Account Settings" option

file-info-account-settings

Account Settings -> Email -> Microsoft Exchange -> Click on Change Tab

email-account-outlook

"Change Email Account", this option will explore Server name and more options, click on "More Settings"

more-settings

Within General tab you will get info when "Server connects or disconnects"
Move to Advanced tab -> Click on "Offline Folder File Settings"


offline-folder-file-settings

Within File Field Outlook user will see the location of OST file
The location of OST will be
C:\ Documents and Settings\ username\ Local Settings\ Application Data\ Microsoft\ Outlook\ outlook.ost

default-ost-file

Steps For OST File Locating When Outlook 2003 Is Running


Tools Menu -> Email Accounts -> View/Change existing email account detail s-> Go with Next tab -> Click on Microsoft Exchange Server -> Follow "Change" tab -> More Settings -> Advanced Tab -> Offline Folder File Settings

Locate OST Files For Outlook 2010


File tab -> Info tab -> Account Settings tab -> Microsoft Exchange Server -> Go with Change tab -> More Settings -> Advanced Tab -> Get Offline Folder File Settings