Move OST File to Another Drive: Step-by-Step Instructions

If your C: drive runs out of storage or you have a short SSD, you might need to move the offline cache file (*.ost) used by your Exchange account to a different folder. Normally, there’s no need to move this file, but doing so can help free up space on your primary drive. In short, users want a solution to move OST file to another drive. The following blog will discuss the same.

Moving the offline cache file (*OST) to make backups easier is not useful because it’s just a copy of your Exchange mailbox that only the account that created it can open. Using an old cache file won’t work because it won’t match the server mailbox. If the server fails without backup, the current *OST file can help restore the server. Export it to a *PST file instead of including the *OST in a backup to have a usable mailbox backup.

Also Read: Rebuild OST File in Outlook

Reasons Users Want to Move Outlook OST Data Files to Another Drive

The Outlook email client connects your computer to email services. It includes elements like Outlook OST files, which store synchronized data from the Exchange server. Changes made in your Outlook account are recorded in the OST file, and it allows offline editing that syncs up when connected. Moving OST files to another location is advantageous for several reasons:

• If you switch jobs or organizations, you should move your Outlook data to the new profile since you can’t take the complete profile. As a result, users want to move OST File to Another Drive.
• Storage issues on a particular drive can prompt the need to move OST files to another location with more space.
• To protect against data loss, moving the OST file from a server that experiences issues can be a great idea.
• If you have access to email data even without internet access, it is possible with saved OST files.
• When migrating from a Windows device to a Mac, moving your OST file ensures the continuity of your email data.

How to Move OST Files to Another Drive: Top Solutions

Here, we will define several ways to shift the Outlook OST files to another location.

#1. Using ForceOSTPath

The simplest way to change the location of Outlook OST files is by setting the ForceOST registry key. However, you should do this before adding the account to your profile, or remove and re-add the account after setting the key. Administrators can also set the key using Group Policy (GPO) or a log-on script.

The ForceOSTPath key is supported in current versions of Outlook. In Outlook 2010 and newer, it affects new accounts in a profile. In Outlook 2003 and 2007, it only applies to new profiles.

• First, press the Windows key + R to open the Run command.
• After that, type regedit in the Open field and press Enter to open the registry editor.
• Then, navigate to the Outlook key based on your version (listed below).
• Next, create a new string value named ForceOSTPath.
• Right-click on ForceOSTPath and choose Modify.
• At last, paste the desired path into the field and press Enter. (You can use variables if deploying via group policy.)

For Outlook 2016:

• Path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook
• Value Name: ForceOSTPath
• Value Data: Full path you want to use

For Outlook 2013:

• Path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\15.0\Outlook
• Value Name: ForceOSTPath
• Value Data: Full path you want to use

For Outlook 2010:

• Path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Outlook
• Value Name: ForceOSTPath
• Value Data: Full path you want to use

For Outlook 2007:

• Path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Outlook
• Value Name: ForceOSTPath
• Value Data: Full path you want to use

For Outlook 2003:

• Path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Outlook
• Value Name: ForceOSTPath
• Value Data: Full path you want to use

Make sure to replace “Full path you want to use” with the exact path where you want to store the OST files.

#2. Using Symbolic Links or Junction Points

You can use Symbolic Links or Junction Points to redirect the location of the .ost file or folder. Follow these steps to move OST file to another drive:

• First, close the Outlook application.
• After that, move the ost file or pst file to its new location. The default location is %localappdata%\Microsoft\Outlook.
• Then, open Command Prompt as Administrator (right-click Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator).
• Use the mklink command: mklink “C:\old-path” “D:\New path”. Replace “C:\old-path” with the original path and “D:\New path” with the new path. Include the data filename if moving just the data file. Quotes are necessary for paths with spaces.

#3. Move OST File to Another Location and Recreate the Account

To move your OST file and recreate the account, follow these steps:

• Move your existing .ost file to the new location (you can skip this step if you want to create a new .ost file).
• Afterwards, open the Control Panel and go to Mail or use the Account Settings option in Outlook.
• Then, remove the account from your profile.
• Subsequently, click on New to add the account again.
• Now, enter your username and password to let Outlook find your account information.
• Select Change account settings and then click Next.
• Here, click More Settings, then go to the Advanced tab and click Outlook Data File Settings.
• Further, click Browse to find the .ost file you moved in Step 1, and click Open.
• If you’re creating a new .ost file, browse to the new location, enter a filename, and click Open. Outlook will create the new .ost file.
• At last, click OK to save your settings, then restart Outlook.

Changing the location of an OST file can be tricky. If you make a mistake, the file might become orphaned or inaccessible. An OST file can also become orphaned if you can’t access your live mailbox.

When an OST file is orphaned, you can’t open it in Outlook. If you can’t access your live mailbox, you won’t be able to recreate the file either. In this scenario, users are required to use Cigati OST Recovery Tool. It can repair the damage in your OST file without losing any data. Once your OST file is repaired, if you want to change it to a different format, you can use the Cigati OST to PST Converter. This tool can transfer your data without any loss.

Concluding Words!

This article has shown you how to move OST files to another drive. You can easily follow these steps on your device. If your data file gets damaged during the process, you can use Cigati OST Recovery to fix it perfectly.

You May Also Read: Import OST File to Thunderbird

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