How to Restore Outlook Mail, Contacts and Other Data from a Backup

If you have created backup copies of your Outlook .pst files, you're well prepared for disaster. Restoring lost mail, contacts, calendar or other data from the backup copy is easy in Outlook.

Restore Outlook Mail, Contacts and Other Data from a Backup

To restore your mail, contacts and other data from a backup copy of an Outlook PST file:

• Select File | Import and Export... from the menu in Outlook.
• Select Import from another program or file.
• Click Next.
• Highlight Personal Folder File (PST).
• Click Next again.
• Now use the Browse button to select the backup copy of the PST file you want to recover from your backup location.
• Make sure Replace duplicates with items imported is selected.
• Click Next.
• Finish the import process with Finish.

Usually, the default import settings work fine, but you may want to tweak them to suit your needs.