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By default, a new Outlook Data File (.pst) is created in Outlook 2010 when you add a new POP3 account

Article ID: 983131 - View products that this article applies to.

SUMMARY

Microsoft Office Outlook 2010 introduces changes to accounts that help you keep email messages better organized when those email messages come from multiple accounts. By default, Outlook 2010 automatically adds a new Outlook Data File (.pst) when you add a new POP3 account. However, earlier versions of Outlook let you select an existing Personal Folders file as the default delivery location. This could result in email messages from different accounts being delivered to the same Inbox.

MORE INFORMATION

This new functionality lets you easily determine through which account an email message was delivered. The new functionality also lets you select through which account an outgoing email message is sent. And this includes email messages that are replies or that are forwarded.

Although this new functionality is the default when you create a new account, you can manually configure a new Internet Email account that uses an existing Outlook Data File (.pst).

How to manually configure accounts to use an existing Outlook Data File

To create a new account and have that account use an existing Outlook Data File (.pst), follow these steps:

On the File tab, click Info, click Account Settings, and then click Account settings.

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In the Account Settings dialog box, on the E-mail tab, click New.
Select E-mail Account, and then click Next.
Select Internet E-mail, and then click Next.
Under Internet E-mail Settings, complete the form with the necessary information for the new account.

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Under Deliver new messages to, click Existing Outlook Data File, and then click Browse.
Locate and then select the existing Outlook Data File (.pst).
Click OK.

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Click Next, and then click Finish.

If you are starting Outlook 2010 for the first time, when you create an Internet email account, follow these steps:

When you start Outlook 2010, the Add New Account, dialog box appears.

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Click Manually configure server settings or additional server types, and then click Next.
Select Internet E-mail, and then click Next.
Under Internet E-mail Settings, complete the form with the necessary information for the new account.

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Under Deliver new messages to, click Existing Outlook Data File, and then click Browse.
Locate and then select the existing Outlook Data File (.pst).
Click OK.

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Click Next, and then click Finish.

How to change the default delivery location

If the account is already configured to use the default settings, the default delivery location can be changed. To do this, access Account Settings, and then use the Change Folder option for the POP account.

To change the Outlook Data File (.pst) that an existing account uses, follow these steps:

On the File tab, click Info, click Account Settings, and then click Account settings.
In the Account Settings dialog box, on the E-mail tab, select the existing account that you want to change.
Click Change Folder, and then select the Outlook Data File (.pst) that you want to deliver new email messages to.

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Click OK, and then click Close.