Windows 10: Using MKLINK on Outlook 2013 data files in a User subfolder

Outlook 2013 stores the .PST file for POP3 accounts in the C:\Documents\Outlook Files folder making it very convent to back up email, calendars, contact and rules. Unfortunately .OST files for any IMAP account(s) are stored in another folder C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook making it a little less convenient to make a quick backup. I believe that Outlook 2016 will allow you to keep the .OST and the .PST together in the Outlook Files folder in Documents.

Since I don’t plan to upgrade to Office 2016 just for this feature, I found an article that suggest using a symbolic like to relocate .OST files in Outlook 2013. The articles is at:
https://www.howto-outlook.com/howto/...ookcomimap.htm

However, I recall reading somewhere, maybe it was regarding Win 8.1, that using a soft symbolic link (MKLINK) would interfere with future upgrades. Does anyone know or have any observations this is true? I’d like to hear as many opinions as possible since we have a major update coming on August 2. Thanks for your input.

:)

 

After Win 10 Update logs me in as a Temporary User and will not let me sign into my user where my files/etc are housed

Outlook Data Files (.pst) created by using Outlook 2013 or Outlook 2016 are typically saved on your computer in the Documents\Outlook Files folder. If you upgraded to Outlook on a computer that already had data files that were created in Microsoft Office
Outlook 2007 or earlier, these files are saved in a different location in a hidden folder at drive:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook.

The offline Outlook Data File (.ost) is also saved at drive:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook. Most data remains on the server; however, any items that are saved locally should be backed up. For example, Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, and any folders
marked Local only.

 

Outlook 2013 is not syncing custom folders, only the default folders

Hi,

Since upgrading to Windows 10, my install of Outlook 2013 fails to sync subfolders from my work mail server.

Inbox, Sent and Trash (default folders) all sync just fine and I'm able to send/receive emails.

The issue is that when I drag an email to a subfolder, out of the inbox, it gets transferred to the folder but I'm unable to see it.

I've confirmed using other devices that the email is indeed in the subfolder but it doesn't show up on this specific Outlook install.

The emails that do show up in the subfolders are emails that had synced prior to updating to Windows 10. Post Windows 10 emails no longer show up in the folders.

Additionally, I've tested my Outlook 2013 instance on my Windows 8.1 laptop and that works fine. It's just the Windows 10 install of Outlook 2013 that's failing to display new emails in subfolders.

Any ideas?

 

One never knows what an upgrade will do. Each upgrade is like a new OS install. You could always just write a small script to execute after every upgrade to re-set it.

 

Hi Mystere,
Good point.
Outlook gets really cranky when you mess with its data files. Since I move all of the important emails from my IMAP accounts inboxes to my POP3 folders, the worst thing that could happen is that I would need to recreate the IMAP accounts and import the email rules. BTW, I've learned the hard way the restoring a drive with Outlook data files does not always restore the email rules correctly. Most of the time the IMAP rules just completely disappear. Hugh disaster if you have a lot of IMAP rules!