Outlook Address Book File Location and Storage

Outlook address book is a collection of address books and mailing lists such as "Contacts" folder; Personal Address Book file (.pab), Internet LDAP-directories; Global Address List (GAL) of Microsoft Exchange Server; and others.

It must be remembered that Outlook program has many options, depending on operation system, so there are many files responsible for the various Outlook settings are stored in different locations (for example, fonts are stored separately).

Outlook address book file

The main data file for Outlook is PST – it contains an e-mails, calendars, contacts, tasks and notes. You need Outlook to work with such items in the PST-files. By default, the PST file is located in the following path:C:\Documents and Settings\User\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook

The address book path on a PC for Outlook 2021 typically refers to where your Outlook data files are stored, which include your contacts. Usually, these are stored in a PST file located within your user directory under Documents\Outlook Files in newer versions of Windows. However, the actual path can vary based on your installation and configuration.

Outlook 2010 address book location

If you are going to do Outlook 2010 address book backup, look for .PST files stored on your computer in:Documents\Outlook Files or My Documents\Outlook Files

But, if you upgrade Outlook to version 2010, data files created in previous versions of Outlook will be saved in a different location in a hidden folder:

Windows 7 and Windows Vista: Users\User\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook
Win XP: Documents and Settings\User\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook

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Copying Outlook address book

How to copy Outlook address book? Since PST is a simple file, you can copy PST-file from folder where Outlook address book is stored. It′s also possible to download address book for Outlook 2010 (.pst file) and open it in Outlook.

Learn more about PST file backup

Export Outlook address book

You can export your contacts using the built-in Import and Export Outlook option.

In the File menu, click Import and Export, Export to file and click Next.
In the list, select Personal Folder File (.pst) and click Next, in the list of folders, select Export Contacts.
If you need to copy subfolders, select Include subfolders, click Next.
Click Browse, select the location for the file (for example, "D:/Backups"), and then enter the backup file name, for example, OutlookContactsBackup.pst, click OK.

Outlook Address Book Location