You are here Staff Email and Calendar Service > How-to guides > Archive your email to an offline .pst file

Archive your email to a .pst/.olm file

The below are instructions on how to archive your email to an offline .pst (Windows) or .olm (macOS) file.

You would use this if you are closing a generic mailbox and wish to keep a copy of the information. Or wish to keep a 'point in time' archive to be stored offline.

Windows

On Windows, there are currently two desktop versions of Outlook - Classic Outlook and New Outlook.

Creating the Archive (.pst) file

The steps to 'export' an email archive (.pst) file for each version of Outlook (Classic and New) are outlined on Microsoft's support page titled - 'Export emails, contacts, and calendar items to Outlook using a .pst file'.

Export emails, contacts, and calendar items to Outlook using a .pst file

Opening the Archive (.pst) file

In New Outlook, it is not currently possible to 'import' (.pst) files. This feature is due to be rolled out at the start of 2026.

In Classic Outlook, the steps to 'import' an email archive (.pst) file are outlined on Microsoft's support page titled - 'Import email, contacts, and calendar from an Outlook .pst file'.

Import email, contacts, and calendar from an Outlook .pst file

macOS

On macOS, there are currently two desktop versions of Outlook - Legacy Outlook and New Outlook.

Importing and exporting archive (.olm) files is currently only available in the 'Legacy Outlook' version.

Creating the Archive (.olm) file

In Legacy Outlook, the steps to 'export' an email archive (.olm) file are outlined on Microsoft's support page titled - 'Export items to an archive file in Outlook for Mac'.

Export items to an archive file in Outlook for Mac

Opening the Archive file

In Legacy Outlook, the steps to 'import' an email archive (.olm) file are outlined on Microsoft's support page titled - 'Import email messages, contacts, and other items into Outlook for Mac'.

Import email messages, contacts, and other items into Outlook for Mac