How to Disable OST File in Outlook- Step by Step Guide

OST is an Outlook data file that stores mailbox data offline. It allows you to access your mailbox even when there is no Internet connectivity. This file is typically created when you configure Outlook with MAPI and IMAP accounts.

Sometimes, situations arise when Outlook users want to disable or turn off OST file. For instance, some users don’t want the OST file to get bigger and take valuable hard drive space. Some users want to disable OST file for certain systems such as guest or shared systems. Then there are some users who simply don’t require offline Outlook access and find it unnecessary to useCached Exchange Mode.

Connectivity Issues in Microsoft Exchange Server or Microsoft 365 Account

If you are facing Internet or Exchange connectivity issues, you can enable offline mode instead of disabling OST file in Outlook. You can do that by going toSend/Receiveand selectingWork Offline.

work offline mode Outlook

You will notice WORKING OFFLINE message on the status bar of Outlook when offline mode is active.

Steps to Disable OST File in Outlook 2007

Step 1:Synchronize offline folders to server folders.

For this, you can perform any of the following:

To synchronize a specific folder, go toTools > Send/Receiveand then select the folder.
To synchronize all folders, go toTools > Send/Receive > Send/ReceiveAll.
To synchronize a group of folders, go toTools > Send/Receiveand select thegroup (Send/Receive).

Step 2:Once you have synchronized the mailbox items, go toTools>Email Accounts > VieworChange existing email account. Then clickNext.

Step 3:In theAccount Settingswindow, select the email account and clickChange.

Step 4:In theChange Email Account, clickMore Settings.

Step 5:OpenAdvancedtab and clickOffline Folder File Settings.

offline folder file settings Outlook

Step 6:ClickDisable Offline Usebutton.

Steps to Disable OST file in Outlook 2010 and Later Versions

Step 1:Synchronize offline folders to server folders.

For this, you can perform any of the following:

To synchronize a specific folder, go toSend/Receive, select the folder, and clickUpdate Folder.
To synchronize all folders, go toSend/Receive > Send/ReceiveAll Folders.
To synchronize a group of folders, go toSend/Receive, click(Send/Receive) Groupsand then select the group.

Step 2:Go toFile > Account Settings > Account Settings.

Step 3:点击你的Exchange account and clickChange.

Step 4:UnderOffline Settings, unselectUse Cached Exchange Modecheckbox.

Step 5:RestartOutlook.

This will disable OST in Outlook. However, if the offline mode is enabled in Outlook or the Outlook settings ask you if you want to work in offline or online mode when you launch the application, then you should change the settings.

To do so, follow these steps:

OpenToolsand clickEmail Accounts.
SelectVieworChange existing email accountsand then clickNext > Microsoft Exchange Server. Then clickChange
ClickMore Settingsand open theGeneral
UnderWhen Starting, selectAutomatically detect connection state.

Need to Convert OST to PST?

In case the OST file becomes inaccessible, you can use an OST to PST converter tool to open such OST files.Stellar Converter for OSTis one such utility that you can use to convert OST to PST in a few easy steps. Once you have the PST file, you can import it into Outlook to access your emails and other items.

To convert OST to PST by using the software, follow these steps:

Launch the software and clickBrowseto provide the location of the OST file on your system. If you don’t know the location, clickFind.
Next, clickConvert. The software will start converting the file. Once it’s done, you can preview the mailbox items.

OST preview in Stellar Converter for OST

Select the folders you want to convert to PST and clickSave Converted FileunderHome
在弹出窗口打开时,选择PST和clickBrowseto provide the desired location for saving the converted PST file. Then clickOK.

File format options for saving OST in Stellar Converter for OST

The converted file will be saved at the specified location.

Here are some top features of Stellar Converter for OST:

Converts large OST files to PST in a few simple steps
Previews complete mailbox and offers selective conversion
Converts OST file in different formats (other than PST) such as HTML, PDF, RTF, MSG, and EML
Converts multiple OST files in batches
Splits and compacts large PST files
Exports OST data to Office 365or a live Exchange account or batch conversion (Technician edition)

Conclusion

Offline Storage Table (OST) is an Outlook data file that allows you to access your mailbox offline. However, if you don’t need to use it, then you can disable the OST file by following the steps mentioned in this post.

If the OST file becomes inaccessible, you can use an advancedOST to PST convertersoftware to convert the OST file into PST and then import the PST into Outlook.