Outlook is one of the best and most widely used email client for both the professional and regular users. It allows users to manage their multiple and different email accounts with the help of single panel. These PST files stores all the mailbox data items including contacts, calendars, tasks, etc. of MS Outlook. In order to read Archive.pst file, users are required to have Outlook installed on their system. Like all other formats, there is file size limitation associated with PST files as well. If this size limitation is exceeded, then it creates an issue. To overcome from this issue, there are number of issues which use Archive or AutoArchive Outlook feature. These help users to remove old messages from Outlook personal folders. These archived messages are stored in Archive.pst file on the local machine. So, in the case, if any user wants to view Outlook data file contents which are archived, then they simply need to open archive PST files first. This blog describes the best possible solution to perform the same task in a simple and less time-consuming manner.
“I am using MS Outlook from a quite long time, but now my PST file is about to reach its maximum size limit. So, I had to archive some of my old mails. But now, I want to access some of those files but not having any idea about how to read Archive.pst file? As these files contain some of my important emails. So, if anyone out there is having any idea about the same know any solution for the same, then please suggest. I will be highly obliged for the same.”
Before knowing the process to open an archive.pst file, a user is first required to know the location of the archive PST files on the local machine. Thus, in the below-discussed section of this blog, a complete solution to find and open Outlook Archive PST file.
Locate & Read Archive.pst File of MS Outlook
This Manual Approach will be performed in two steps. In the first step, the users will be able to locate the Archive PST file whereas the second step will help the users to restore the archive Outlook messages.
Locate Archive PST File of Microsoft Outlook 2016 & Below Versions
If archive Outlook Data file is not there in your profile, then to read it, follow the steps discussed below:
- Firstly, open Outlook application on the system.
- Now, click on the File >> Open and then open Outlook Data File (in each version of MS Outlook)
Mostly, the above step will directly open the particular folder where the MS Outlook 2010 archive file is stored in order to read archive.pst file.
Another possible case is the archive.pst file is not stored in the folder where all Outlook PST files are stored. In that case, you can get the location of Archive file from the AutoArchive settings. To do this, follow the below-discussed command:
- Click Tools >> Options >> Other >> AutoArchive dialog and then copy the path of Archive PST file in order to read archive.pst file.
- If you are using Outlook 2010 or 2007, then you can open *.pst file by navigating to Account Settings >> Data Files tab. And, in Outlook 2003 click on File >> Data File Management command.
- Now, click on Add >> OK the PST file format in order to select the Create or Open Outlook Data File option. After that, select the archive Outlook PST file and click on OK option in order to add the file in your profile.
Note: Users are always suggested not to use Import and Export command to import the archive data in Microsoft Outlook. However, if a user will perform this, then he or she is required to archive all data again that which may result in duplicates.
How to Restore Archived Email Messages?
If any user wants to restore or read archive.pst file, then a user requires to move the data stored in the archive PST file to Microsoft Outlook. However, never use Import and export command for the same. Firstly, open archive.pst file in Microsoft Outlook and then simply select the folder which you want to migrate. Then, either run Move to the folder command or simply drag it to the particular folder.
However, if a user opts the Import or Copy command, then the last modification date will be changed. On the other hand, move to folder command will not change the last modified date because it is really important because whenever a user archive mails again, Outlook opts the last modified date by default.
Alternative Solution to Read Archive.pst File
The above discussed manual approach will not work if any user is not having Microsoft Outlook application installed on the machine. In this case, a user needs to opt any alternative solution. One such technique is free SysTools PST Viewer Tool that a user can be simply used to open and read PST files in the absence MS Outlook installation. This utility is available free of cost that allows users to view both active and archive Outlook PST files without any hassle and extra efforts.
Conclusion
At times, users look for a solution to read archive.pst file of Outlook 2016/2013/2010/2007/2003 archive.pst file. Keeping this user’s requirement in mind, we have already discussed the different possible solutions for this approach. Now, users can easily select any of the above-discussed approach and can easily answer these question about how to open archive PST file of MS Outlook in an effortless manner.