How do I backup my Outlook mail locally?

How do I backup my Outlook mail locally?

Sometimes you may wish to backup your email locally (on your laptop or home/office Desktop PC). This can be done just to ensure you have a backup copy, or maybe you are migrating your website to another server - either way it's a good idea to do occasionally.

OUTLOOK 2003

Go here and follow the instructions

OUTLOOK 2007

  1. Click on "File" and then click "Import and Export." The Import and Export Wizard will then open.
  2. Click on "Export to a file" and then click "Next." Select "Personal Folder File (.pst)." A .pst file will back up everything that Outlook contains. Click "Next."
  3. Click the "-" next to Personal Folders to collapse its contents. Click to check the box next to "Include subfolders" and click "Next."
  4. Leave the default name in the Save Exported File As field as is or rename it anything you want like a 'Date to" for example. Click "Browse" to select the backup file location. You may want to save it in your 'My Documents' folder or on your Desktop so you can find it easily. Click "Finish."

Go here for further  information.

OUTLOOK 2010

  1. You will need go into Outlook and go to the 'File' tab, and click 'Options'' > 'Advanced'' > 'Export'':


  2. The 'Import and Export Wizard'' will start up, you select 'Export to a file', and click 'Next''.
    Export-Email-To-File

  3. Select 'Outlook Data File (.pst)', and click 'Next''.
    Backup-Email-to-Outlook-PST-file

  4. Select the email account that you want to back up, and make sure the 'Include subfolders' box is selected. This will export the contents of all folders, including mail folders (Inbox, Outbox, Drafts, etc.), Contacts, Calendar, Tasks, Notes, and Journal.

    Or, you can select a 'specific folder' to export, say 'Inbox'. It's not possible to select multiple folders, so if you want to back up a few folders, you will have to repeat the process for each one individually.
    Select Mailbox to Export

  5. The wizard will suggest saving a copy of your .pst file to the default location:
    C:\Users\<username>\Documents\Outlook Files\backup.pst


    If you are happy with that, simply click 'Finish'.

    To save your Outlook backup to an alternative place, click the 'Browse' button, select the desired location, and click 'OK'.

    If you are exporting to an existing .pst file, choose the desired option for duplicate items. The default 'Replace duplicates with items exported' works fine in most cases.

    Finish Mail PST Export

  6. Now you're done.