Save Outlook Emails on Windows and Mac Hard Drive

4 minutes read
Written By
Updated On

Using Microsoft Outlook is an excellent experience for every person. All the emails you receive are stored in a cloud storage for Outlook. Every time you launch Outlook, it loads your locally stored emails. Keeping in mind the security of your emails in terms of failure to reach the emails, it is a best practice to save Outlook emails on your hard drive. Some of the most important things to take care of include the safety of your important emails.

Using Outlook on a Mac or PC, you can permanently save the emails on your hard drive. Outlook keeps all the emails in a container file called Personal Storage or PST file in Windows. If you are using a Mac, this file is called OLM or Outlook for Mac. The interface, however, is almost similar in both operating systems.

You can always take MS Outlook data file Backup on your hard drive. This decreases the chances of losing your precious emails. Here are some simple steps you can take to make sure your Outlook emails are secure on the hard drive of your computer.

Backup Outlook Emails: Mac

If you are using an Apple computer, here is how to quickly recover your Outlook emails. Ensure there is connectivity in your computer, and try to avoid using other programs during the backup.

1 – Launch the Outlook application from the Outlook icon and update all the emails.

2 – Go to File > Export on your Mac computer

3 – Select objects to backup from the Export Window – You can select contacts, calendars, Notes, etc. Make sure the Outlook for Mac data file or OLM file is checked. You can select all the fields to back up if you intend a full backup. If you do not want to get a contact and other backups, you can uncheck and proceed with just the .olm file.

4 – Click Export

5 -  The system prompts for a place to save the .olm file backup. You can select a convenient location and secure the emails from Outlook.

You can take the backup anywhere on your computer memory or an external memory unit. It is crucial to keep track of your emails. Also, regularly backing up your emails is one of the most essential practices.

Note: If you are using an older version of Mac. Refer to this article to learn how to upgrade to Mac Ventura for free.

Bonus Tip: If you have accidentally deleted or lost Outlook emails and don't have a backup of them, check out how you can recover deleted Outlook emails here.

Outlook Emails Backup: Windows

If you are using Windows and want to take a backup of Outlook emails on your computer, follow the instructions mentioned here.

1 – Launch Microsoft Outlook on Windows and update your mailbox.

2 – Go to File > Account Information – this will open an account information tab.

3 – Go to the “Open and Export” tab on account information.

4 – Click on Export – select the PST file to export

5 – Select your desired location to save the files on your computer hard drive.

Once you are done with saving your .pst file, you can opt to go out of the application. You can always make such backups of emails on your computer. Just make sure to update your emails and avoid missing important messages.

Important Note: If you have accidentally deleted or lost your Outlook PST file, check out how you can recover deleted Outlook PST file here.

This practice helps people avoid the deletion or corruption of Outlook data files. Regularly backing up your contacts, notes, etc., can help you recall important events and contacts.

About the Author: Tony Landry

Tony Landry is a Web Content Editor at Remo Software. He loves to write, edit, and manage content for users trying to troubleshoot and fix problems on Windows, Outlook, storage drives, and Cloud storage networks. With an aptitude that transcends writing, Tony is recognized as a Microsoft Outlook, Word, and PowerPoint expert. His comprehensive solutions…