What is a .PST file?
PST is a Microsoft Outlook data file storing a whole mailbox. Created by Outlook.
- Did you know
- An Outlook PST can hold years of mail, contacts and calendar in a single file.
- PST stands for Personal Storage Table, the on-disc file Outlook uses to hold mail, contacts and calendar items.
- The old ANSI variant was capped at 2 GB, whereas the modern Unicode format supports far larger mailboxes.
- What Analyser reads
- Open personal-information files: iCalendar .ics/.ical and .vcs (events, times, recurrence, organiser/attendees), vCard .vcf contacts (fields + inline base64 photo), LDIF directory exports and Windows .contact - with Outlook .msg/.pst, IBM Notes .nsf, Exchange .edb and Outlook Express .dbx identified. Email messages (.eml/.emlx/.mbox) now open in a full viewer - see Email above.
- Depth of analysis
- .PST is an identification-grade format: Analyser recognises it from its bytes and decodes the header metadata it carries, rather than opening it in a full viewer. Formats that do get a full viewer are marked "Full" on the formats page.
- Open a .PST file
- Drag a .PST file onto the Analyser home page (or tap to pick one). It is identified entirely in your browser - nothing is uploaded, there is no account, and it works offline once installed.