# Exporting Email Items to a PST in Outlook

<p class="callout info">**Note:** Exporting and importing a mailbox using a .pst file isn't supported in new Outlook at this time.  
If you're already using new Outlook, you'll need turn off the **New Outlook** toggle and switch back to classic Outlook.</p>

<section aria-labelledby="ID0EDL" class="ocpSection" id="bkmrk-before-you-begin-bef">## Before you begin

Before you start your export, there's a few things you should do to make sure your export goes smoothly.

- Do a mailbox cleanup: i.e delete junk email before beginning.
- <span style="text-decoration: underline;">By default, Outlook is set to download email for the past 1 year</span>. If you want to export all your emails, please ensure you open **Outlook**, select **Account settings** &gt; **Account Name and Sync Settings** and move the slider to **All**. After changing this slider, please allow an hour for all emails to be downloaded before continuing.
    
    <picture>![Move slider to All to download all Outlook email when you export email](https://cxcs.microsoft.net/static/public/microsoft-365/neutral/a13ad7d9-5518-430b-9d06-807bdb256e9c/a2673a0cd95825225bbf6251854a8cbd8f1a731b.png)</picture>

</section>A video of the below guide can be found on the [Microsoft website](https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/office/export-emails-contacts-and-calendar-items-to-outlook-using-a-pst-file-14252b52-3075-4e9b-be4e-ff9ef1068f91).

## Begin exporting email, contacts, and calendar items from Outlook to a .pst file

1. At the top of the ribbon in classic Outlook, choose **File**.
    
    <picture>![This is what the ribbon looks like in Outlook 2016.](https://cxcs.microsoft.net/static/public/microsoft-365/neutral/d7f66ed3-9861-4521-b410-e86a58ab15a7/3b094d1a4f9501abe05651e42ffb9b0305dc0c67.png)</picture>
2. Choose **Open &amp; Export** &gt; **Import/Export**.
3. Choose **Export to a file** &gt; **Next**.
4. Click **Outlook Data File (.pst)** &gt; **Next**.
5. Select the name of the email account to export, as shown in the picture below. Only information for one account can be exported at a time.
    
    Make sure that the **Include subfolders** check box is selected. This ensures that everything in the account will be exported: Inbox, Calendar, Contacts, and Tasks. Choose **Next**.
    
    <picture>![](https://cxcs.microsoft.net/static/public/cross-app/neutral/ad896257-c8c4-47df-8d95-f18471e645e5/d27f61c7820e73f1d6b43a69ce0f8275fb3a44b1.png)</picture>
6. Click **Browse** to select where to save the Outlook Data File (.pst). Enter a *file name*, and choose **OK** to continue.
    
    **Note:** If you’ve used export before, the previous folder location and file name appear. Type a *different file name* before choosing **OK**.
7. If you are exporting to an existing Outlook Data File (.pst), under **Options**, specify what to do when exporting items that already exist in the file.
8. Choose **Finish**.
9. Outlook begins the export immediately unless a new Outlook Data File (.pst) is created or a password-protected file is used.
    
    
    - If you’re creating an Outlook Data File (.pst), an optional password can help protect the file. When the **Create Outlook Data File** dialog box appears, enter the *password* in the **Password** and **Verify Password** boxes, and choose **OK**. In the **Outlook Data File Password** dialog box, enter the *password*, and choose **OK**.
    - If you’re exporting to an existing Outlook Data File (.pst) that is password protected, in the **Outlook Data File Password** dialog box, enter the *password*, then choose **OK**.