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April 8th, 2026 01:27
How to import outlook pst file from old outlook email
Have this old email inbox saved on a dvd
the original organization outlook mail server is long gone
how to read archived old email?
I got Windows 11 fresh install which includes new outlook app. But it requires an organization MS 365 account logged in before it can accept pst file import. It doesn’t accept personal outlook account logged in period. Don’t want to mix up new organization outlook with old one. Solution is to use classic outlook app (2016).
but downloaded classic outlook app still asks for MS365 product key before you can use it. In contrast to new outlook, classic outlook can accept personal hotmail credentials.
I find an old product key for Microsoft office 2016 which activates a clean install of 2016 Office Pro. After that is done I can use personal hotmail to log in classic outlook app and import pst from old organization outlook.
MS certainly makes this a circuitous task.
Tesla1856
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17.4K Posts
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April 8th, 2026 05:25
Thanks. I captured that for use if I'm ever forced to mess-with Windows-Mail, Outlook-Lite, or whatever they are calling-it this year.
The way I would have done it (if I had an old outlook.pst file to read):
- Install Outlook-2016 or Outlook-2021 (64 bit) on a spare Windows computer.
- - But installing another "Data File" in your existing (real) Outlook install is not out of the question
- - IIRC, It should just show-up as another set of folders
- - - But for this purpose, I wouldn't
- Copy the folder.pst you want to explore on the local computer, and migrate it into Outlook as a new data file.
- - If it makes you setup a pop email account (and you don't want to) just use fake credentials.
- For the serial-key for the Outlook 2016-2021 you installed, check your Microsoft Account.
- - They should all be there.
- - - So you don't accidentally use one already in use, record the dates and track them that way.
(edited)