What is OST File?

Understanding What Is .ost File Extension!

OST file is the abridged form of Offline Storage Table. OST files are those file that get formed in an automatic fashion with Microsoft Outlook’s feature for offline folders. These OST files tend to become active whenever your MS Exchange connectivity goes in the offline mode and then works towards synchronizing all of the updated emailing info and data whenever Exchange again gets in the online mode. After this particular process, Microsoft Outlook application becomes online and all of the stored emails as well as other emailing information and data gets delivered to the respective clients right away. So, precisely, we can say that, it is due to these OST files only that you are able to work in the offline mode too and your server too gets automatically synced. In some of the cases, however, where the internet connectivity is somewhat jittery and the network goes limited, precisely with unreliable internet connection, the creation of such OST files acts as a very excellent process for the Exchange users. So, creating these OST files almost allows you, as a user to work even in your server downtime circumstances as well without the need of halting the work operations.

How Does an OST File Work?

While working offline, the Outlook email application tends to create an exact replica copy of your user mailbox on the MS Exchange Server that gets named as the OST or the offline storage table file, which are the files/ folders having OST as their file extension. This mentioned OST file format is actually stored locally on your machine and is named so as offline folders files. These OST files are the ditto data copies of your folders that you must be having in your individual user mailboxes on the Exchange Server. Each and every modification that is made when you work in the offline mode, is synched automatically whenever you get connected again to your MS Exchange Server. Now, for using the Send and Receive commands, you can surely perform these send/receive functions; and even copy any changes you wish to make while still in the offline mode of work only. During this particular process, the permanently deleted email items will get erased from your copy at the Exchange server also.

OST File Location

OST file in Windows XP, Outlook 2000/2003/2007:- C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\

OST location in Windows Vista/7/8, Outlook 2007 :- C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook\

OST file location in Windows Vista/7/8, Outlook 2010/ 2013 :- C:\Users\%username%\Documents\Outlook Files

Benefits of Using OST File

• OST file facilitate to work offline on your Outlook application. Users all across the world are using this particular method only for keeping their email work safe and secured
• OST files offer great flexibility of working in the offline mode without making it mandatory to connect to the Exchange server always, which is a great relief as you can work unremittingly without the need of any continuous requirement of internet connectivity
• With an OST file, your email data is always safe even when the server gets crashed unfortunately and even during any Exchange disaster situations