Deleting an OST (Offline Outlook Data File) involves locating the file on your computer and then deleting it. Here's how:
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Locate the OST file: The instructions you provided aren't quite complete, here's a more detailed method to locate the OST file. The location depends on your version of Outlook and your operating system. However, a common method is through the Outlook Account Settings:
- In Outlook, go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings.
- Select the Data Files tab.
- Highlight the account associated with the OST file you want to delete.
- Click Open File Location. This will open a File Explorer window showing the location of the OST file.
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Delete the OST file:
- In the File Explorer window, select the OST file you want to delete.
- Press the Delete key on your keyboard, or right-click the file and select Delete.
- Confirm the deletion when prompted by clicking Yes.
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OST file moves to Recycle Bin: The deleted OST file will now be in your Recycle Bin. You can optionally empty the Recycle Bin to permanently delete it.
Important Considerations:
- Account Setup: Deleting the OST file doesn't remove the email account from Outlook. It simply removes the offline copy of your data.
- Exchange/Microsoft 365: OST files are primarily used with Exchange and Microsoft 365 accounts. Deleting the OST file will cause Outlook to recreate it the next time it connects to the Exchange server. This will download a fresh copy of your mailbox data.
- IMAP Accounts: While IMAP accounts primarily use PST files, sometimes an OST file may be created. The same deletion process applies.
- POP Accounts: POP accounts primarily use PST files and don't typically have an associated OST file.
- Caution: Be very sure you are deleting the correct OST file, especially if you have multiple Outlook accounts configured. Deleting the wrong file could disrupt your access to the correct data. Consider backing up the OST file before deleting it, just in case.
- Outlook Closed: Ensure Outlook is closed before attempting to delete the OST file. Otherwise, you may encounter errors because the file is in use.
