MC931404: New Microsoft Outlook for Windows: Read-only support for .pst files

Announcement IDMC931404Published Date11-12-2024
ServiceO365ClientLast Updated11-20-2024
CategoryPlan for changeExpiration Date03-31-2025
Roadmap ID399467Action Required by Date
TagsAdmin impact, New feature, User impact


Summary
                The new Microsoft Outlook for Windows will offer read-only support for .pst files, allowing users to open, read, and search emails in .pst files. Calendar, Contacts, and Tasks data in .pst files will not be accessible in this phase. Rollout begins late November 2024 for Targeted Release and mid-January 2025 for General Availability. Outlook Data File support is enabled by default but can be managed with the OutlookDataFile mailbox policy.


More Information

Outlook Data Files (.pst) or Personal Storage Tables files contain Microsoft Outlook user messages and other Outlook items (contacts, appointments, tasks, notes, and journal entries) saved in local files on each user's computer.

With this rollout, the first phase of support for .pst files in the new Microsoft Outlook for Windows will provide read-only access to Mail items in .pst files. Users will be able to open .pst files, read their e-mails in .pst files, and search .pst files for e-mails. All Calendar, Contacts, and Tasks data are saved in .pst files, but cannot be accessed in this preview. In future releases, we will expand the support for PST support capabilities.

When this will happen:

Targeted Release: We will begin rolling out late November 2024 and expect to complete by early December 2024.

General Availability (Worldwide): We will begin rolling out mid-January 2025 and expect to complete by late January 2025.

How this will affect your organization:

Users will be able to open .pst files, read their e-mails in .pst files, and search .pst files for e-mails.

  1. To open an Outlook Data File (.pst), go to Settings > General > Outlook Data Files
  2. Select Add file
  3. Select Continue to open
  4. Select a .pst file and then select Open

Outlook for Windows

Requirements

  • Outlook Data Files (.pst) require M365 to be installed.
  • Outlook Data Files (.pst) require M365 subscription.
  • Outlook Data File support is not available with ARM version of new Outlook for Windows.

Policy

Outlook Data File support is enabled by default in new Outlook for Windows, but you can limit and disable it with the OutlookDataFile mailbox policy. The new Outlook for Windows only enforces the OutlookDataFile policy of the primary account.

NOTE: The group policy used to control Outlook Data File (.pst) in classic Microsoft Outlook for Windows desktop does not affect new Outlook for Windows.

What you need to do to prepare:

Outlook Data File (.pst) support is enabled by default in new Outlook for Windows. If you organization wants to block or limit Outlook Data File support, set the OutlookDataFile mailbox policy.

This rollout will happen automatically by the specified date with no admin action required before the rollout. You may want to notify your users about this change and update any relevant documentation.

Before rollout, we will update this post with revised documentation.

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