New Microsoft Outlook for Windows: Read-only support for .pst files

The new Microsoft Outlook for Windows has announced that it will be providing read-only support for .pst files, allowing users to access, open, read, and search emails in .pst format. This feature rollout is scheduled to begin late November 2024 for Targeted Release and mid-January 2025 for General Availability. While the new Outlook version will provide support for all mail items in .pst files, Contacts, Tasks, and Calendar data will not be accessible in this phase. Currently, Outlook Data File support is enabled by default, but it can be managed through the OutlookDataFile mailbox policy.

Outlook Data Files, or Personal Storage Tables (.pst) files, are a form of file storage for Microsoft Outlook user messages and other Outlook items such as contacts, appointments, tasks, and notes, saved locally on a user's computer. With this rollout, users will be able to read their emails in .pst files and swiftly search them. However, this preview phase does not allow for the viewing of Calendar, Contacts, and Tasks within the .pst files.

Future releases will include more exclusive PST support capabilities beyond the current read-only access. By downloading Microsoft 365, you get access to the Outlook Data Files, and the support will begin its global rollout commencing mid-January 2025 and is expected to complete towards the end of that month. The ARM version of new Outlook for Windows will not have Outlook Data File support.

All in all, this new feature promises to make it easier for users to navigate their .pst files, access their email, perform quick searches, without the risk of engaging with any data that is not explicitly read-only in this phase.

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