OneDrive File Issues

How to Move Outlook PST Files Out of OneDrive Sync

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to stop OneDrive from syncing Outlook PST files, move the data to a local drive, and fix issues with duplicated profiles or missing email contacts.

Product: Microsoft Outlook and OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Trying to keep Outlook data local and stop OneDrive from interfering or creating duplicate large data files.
Observed behavior: OneDrive continuously syncs large PST files, causing duplicate Outlook instances, missing contacts, and synchronization errors. Users struggle to restore local data after pausing or removing OneDrive.

Before you start

Before attempting to move your PST files, ensure that Microsoft Outlook is completely closed to prevent file corruption or lock errors during the copy process.

Solution 1Recommended

Relocate Your PST File and Update Outlook Settings

The most reliable method to stop OneDrive from syncing your emails is to physically move the PST file to a non-syncing local directory and point Outlook to the new location.

OneDrive is designed for file synchronization and backup, but syncing active, multi-gigabyte PST files often leads to duplication, lock errors, and performance drops. Moving the file outside the synced 'Documents' folder resolves these issues safely.

Close Outlook and Pause OneDrive

Exit Microsoft Outlook completely. Click the OneDrive cloud icon in your system tray, click the Settings (gear) icon, and select 'Pause syncing' for 2 hours to prevent interruptions.

Copy the PST File to a Local Drive

Navigate to the current OneDrive folder containing your PST files (often C:\Users\[Username]\OneDrive\Documents\Outlook Files). Copy the PST file and paste it into a new folder outside of OneDrive's reach, such as C:\My Outlook Files.

Add the Local PST to Outlook

Open Microsoft Outlook. Go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings, and click on the 'Data Files' tab. Click 'Add' to browse and select the newly moved PST file in your local C:\My Outlook Files folder.

Remove the OneDrive PST Profile

Still in the 'Data Files' tab, select the old OneDrive-based PST file from the list and click 'Remove'. Set the new local PST as your default data file if prompted.

Verify OneDrive Backup Settings

Open OneDrive Settings, navigate to the 'Sync and back up' tab, and click 'Manage back up'. Ensure you understand which folders (like Documents) are being backed up, as re-enabling this may pull new Outlook files back into the cloud if saved there in the future.

Avoid Data Loss: Do not delete the original PST file from your OneDrive folder until you have confirmed that Outlook is successfully loading all your emails, contacts, and calendar events from the new local file.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does OneDrive automatically sync my Outlook PST files?

By default, OneDrive backs up your PC's standard 'Documents' folder. Since legacy versions of Outlook traditionally store PST data files in the 'Documents\Outlook Files' directory, OneDrive automatically uploads them to the cloud unless configured otherwise.

Can I simply delete the PST file from my OneDrive folder?

No. If you delete the PST file while Outlook is still configured to look for it in the OneDrive folder, Outlook will fail to open, and you risk losing your emails, contacts, and calendar data. Always copy the file to a new local location and update your Outlook Account Settings first.

How do I stop OneDrive from backing up my entire Documents folder?

Click the OneDrive icon in your taskbar, select the gear icon to open Settings, navigate to 'Sync and back up', and click 'Manage back up'. From there, you can toggle off the backup for the Documents folder to keep all future files stored strictly on your local hard drive.

Why do I see duplicate Outlook instances after moving my PST file?

This happens if you add the new local PST file but forget to remove the old OneDrive-linked PST file in Outlook's Account Settings. Go to File > Account Settings > Data Files, and remove the redundant entry pointing to the OneDrive path.

Document & File Issues