How to back up emails from Outlook

The easiest way to back up your emails is to copy the contents of your message folder to a Personal Folder file (.pst) using the Import and Export functions. You can then copy this .pst file to a different location for safekeeping.

Most popular email software lets you back up emails in this way. Here’s how to back up emails in Outlook. You’ll need to set up an Outlook account first.

How to back up emails in Outlook 2013 and 2016

1. Select File
2. Under Outlook Options, select Advanced
3. Choose Export (or in the Windows option window select Open/export).
4. In the Import and Export Wizard, click Export to a file, then Next
5. Select Outlook Data File (.pst), and then Next
6. Select the folder to export, and then click Next
7. Select Browse and choose where you want to save the new .pst file
8. Name the new .pst file in the File Name box, then OK
9. Select Finish

How to back up emails in Outlook 2010

1. Select the File menu and choose Import and Export
2. Select Export to a file, and then click Next
3. Choose Personal Folder File (.pst), from the list and then Next
4. Select the folder that you want to back up. To include subfolders, select the Include Subfolders checkbox. Select Next
5. Under Save exported file as, select Browse, and choose a name and location for your backup file.
6. If you’ve previously backed up your .pst file, three options will appear. Pick one:
   • Replace duplicates with items exported: Existing data will be overwritten with the information in the file being exported.
   • Allow duplicate items to be created: Existing data will not be overwritten, and duplicate information will be added to the backup file
   • Do not export duplicate items: Existing data will be kept, and the duplicate information in the folder will not be copied to the backup file.
7. Select Finish