Have you ever wondered where the PST file is located in Outlook 2010? In this article we'll describes where Outlook 2010 stores this data file, how to easily find this location and should you need to, how to add additional PST files.

The PST Outlook data file is used where Outlook is used solely on your computer rather than connected to an Exchange Server. If you are using Exchange server, Outlook stores your messages on the server and creates an OST data file on your computer which it synchronises with the server.

However if you don't connect to an exchange server, but work with Outlook solely on your computer, for example working at home or in a small business, Outlook creates a PST data file on your computer to store all the Outlook data. (The PST file is used with POP3, IMAP and web based email accounts). The PST file stores all your messages, calendars, tasks and other Outlook items in this single data file. You can copy this file to create a backup or add additional PST files to create additional sets of Outlook folder systems within Outlook.

If you've installed Outlook 2010 as a clean installation rather than upgrading from an earlier Outlook version, the PST data file is stored in a location you can access easily.

In Windows7 the location is your Documents folder, and in Windows XP it's your My Documents folder. You can verify this by opening Windows Explorer. In Windows 7 under Libraries choose Documents or in Windows XP choose the My Documents folder. There you'll see a folder called Outlook Folders. Open this folder and you'll see your pst file.

If you've installed Outlook 2010 as an upgrade from a previous version of Outlook and not a clean install, the PST location is different because Outlook uses the same PST used by the previous version and this is stored in your user profile rather than your Documents or My Documents folder. We'll cover this location shortly.

You can find the PST file location from within Outlook, or from the Windows Control Panel. We'll look first at finding the location from within Outlook 2010. So with Outlook launched, Choose the File tab, then Info, Account Settings, Account Settings. The Account Settings panel opens. You'll see your Outlook account name in the panel. Click it once to select it, choose the Data File tab in the upper part of the panel and you see the PST data file location shown, usually under the name Personal Folders.

You can open the ACTUAL location by choosing the Open File Location just under the tab names. Windows Explorer opens at this location showing you the PST file. You can then close Explorer to return to the Account Settings panel. If your main computer drive is C, the location will be shown something like C:UsersYour NameDocumentsOutlook FilesOutlook.pst where Outlook.pst is the actual pst file.

If you've upgraded Outlook from an earlier version, Outlook 2010 will use the earlier version PST location in your profile settings rather than creating a new PST file under your Documents folder. So the location will be shown something like C:UsersYour NameApp DataLocalMicrosoftOutlookOutlook.pst. This location is normally hidden, but you can view and then open the location as described above.

You can also locate your PST file without Outlook being open through the Windows Control Panel. In Windows 7 open the Control panel and under "User Accounts and Family Safety" click once on the Mail icon. In Windows XP open the Control panel and double click the Mail icon. The "Mail Setup-Outlook" panel opens. Choose the Data Files button and the Accounts Settings panel described above opens.

If you want to create additional PST data files to contain extra folders within Outlook 2010, you can do this very easily. With Outlook 2010 open, showing Inbox, in the Home tab choose New Items, More Items, Outlook Data File. Notice that you're taken to your Documents or My Documents folder. Give the file a suitable name and click OK to save.

The new pst file is created. Then in the left hand navigation pane scroll down and you'll see your newly named file as a heading. You can then add sub folders if you wish by right clicking the heading, choose New Folder. Then you can drag and drop items from, for example Inbox, into one of your new sub folders within the new heading to move items, or right click drag and drop, then choose copy, to copy items.

Hopefully this short article will have given you a brief insight into how Outlook 2010 organises data within its PST files. And because the location is now easily accessible you can create copies add new files. If you're interested in learning more about Outlook 2010 you might like to consider attending a training course. There are many you can choose from and the best ones give you lots of practical examples to work on under expert guidance.