Learn to View Archive PST Files in Windows – Efficient Tips

There are number of email applications for both the business and individual users, and Microsoft Outlook is one of them. It is capable to manage multiple accounts by a single panel. All the data items of Outlook including mails, contacts, etc. are stored in the PST file on the personal system. Any user who wants to view Archive PST files needs to have Outlook installed on the system. Like every other file format, PST file also has a file size limitation which, if exceeded creates a hassle.

To overcome from this file size issue, most of the Outlook users either use Archive or Autoarchive Outlook feature.

It also helps users in removing the old messages from Outlook PST file. However, the Outlook archived messages are saved in PST file named as archive.pst file on the personal system. After all this, if any user ever needs to access the data of the archive Outlook PST file, then they simply required to open Outlook Archive PST files. This blog describes the complete possible solution to open Outlook PST file in an effortless manner that too without any hassle.

Before learning the process to open archive.pst file, a user is firstly required to know the location of the Archive PST file on the local machine. The below section describes the complete procedure to find and view the file.

How to Find & View Archive PST Files?

Location of Archive PST of Outlook 2016/2013/2010/2007/2003

If Outlook Archived PST file is not there in your profile, then to open Archive PST, follow the steps discussed-below:

Open Microsoft Outlook application on the system.
Then, click on File >> Open and open Outlook Data File to view archive PST files.

In most of the cases, the above steps will open the folder where the Outlook archive.pst file is stored.

Another probability is that the archived Outlook file is not in the folder where all data files are stored. In this case, you can find out the location of file from the AutoArchive settings. To perform this, follow the commands given below:

Navigate and click on Tools >> Options >> Other >> AutoArchive dialog and then copy the path of Outlook file.

If you are using Outlook 2010 or 2007, then you can open *.pst file from the Account Settings >> click Data Files tab. And, in Outlook 2003 click on File >> Data File Management command.

Now, click on Add >> OK the PST file format in order to open the Create or Open Outlook Data File option. After that, select the archive Outlook PST file and click on OK option in order to add it in your profile.

Note: Import and Export command is not advised to use to import the archive data in Microsoft Outlook. However, if a user will perform so, then they are required to archive all data again that might result in duplicates.

How to Restore the Archived Outlook Messages?

In order to restore and view archive PST files, a user is required to transfer the data stored in the archived file to Outlook. However, as suggested never use Import and export command for the same. First of all, open the archive.pst file in MS Outlook and then select the folder that you want to transfer. Then, either run Move to foldercommand or simply drag it to the selected folder/ file.

However, if any user uses Import or Copy command, then it will change the modification date. On the other hand, move to folder command will not do anything with the last modified date. This is really mandatory because whenever a user archive emails again, Microsoft Outlook uses the last modified date by default.

Alternative Solution to View Archive PST Files

The above discussed manual technique will work only if any user has Microsoft Outlook installed on the machine. But, if Microsoft Outlook is not installed, then the user is required to look for any other alternative technique which can be performed without Outlook. One such solution is SysTools PST Viewer Tool which can be used by any user to open and view archive PST files without Outlook installation. Moreover, it is a free utility with some unique features that allow users to view both active and archive PST file of Outlook in an effortless manner.

Conclusion

Sometimes, users search for a solution to open Outlook 2016/2013/2010/2007/2003 Archive file. Keeping this user’s need in mind, we have described all the best possible techniques to view Archive PST file. Now, a user can easily select any of the above-described solutions as per their needs and requirements.