Switch from old to new Outlook ... I need to handle my local archives + automated rules

Question

In my old Outlook I had a number of large local archives as well as a number of "move to folder" rules to properly manage my mail box.

How can I reconnect my OLD archives and

reset or recover "move to folder" rules ?

I have a regular 365 Family account, but it seems like many features are disabled, and switching back to the local version doesn't work at all.

My local Outlook keeps crashing.

Answer 1

Hi Paolo Cortese,

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A.

Based on your description, you’re dealing with local PST archives and rules that move mail into folders, plus classic Outlook crashing.

1) Reconnect your old archives (PST)

• Classic Outlook (best for PST archives): File > Open & Export > Open Outlook Data File and select the .pst.
• New Outlook: New Outlook has very limited PST support compared to Classic Outlook, and PST‑based workflows (such as rules or long‑term archives) are not fully supported.

2) Avoid the “sync trap”

If your PSTs are stored in OneDrive/Dropbox/any cloud-synced folder (including Documents/Desktop when OneDrive backup is on), move them to a local, non-synced path first. Cloud sync tools can try to sync the PST while Outlook needs it locked, which can lead to instability/corruption symptoms. Microsoft also recommends avoiding PST usage over network locations for reliability reasons.

3) Rules: “Move to folder” limitation in New Outlook

If your rules were moving mail into PST folders, those rules cannot function in New Outlook (the rule actions only target cloud mailbox folders, not local PSTs). You’ll need classic Outlook to keep using PST-target rules, or recreate your rules to move mail into mailbox folders instead.

4) If classic Outlook keeps crashing

Try:

1. Start Safe Mode: Win + R > outlook /safe
2. Disable add-ins (File > Options > Add-ins > COM Add-ins)
3. Repair your PST (SCANPST) and/or create a new Outlook profile (Control Panel > Mail > Show Profiles > Add)

Disclaimer: Feature availability differs between New Outlook and Classic Outlook. PST-based workflows (especially rules moving into PST folders) are primarily supported in Classic Outlook.

Please let me know if this proves useful to you, or if you would like further assistance.

I'm looking forward to your reply.

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Answer 2

To reconnect your old archives in the new Outlook, you can follow these steps:

1. Locate your old .pst files (these are your local archives).
2. In the new Outlook, go to the File tab and select Open & Export.
3. Choose Open Outlook Data File and navigate to where your .pst files are stored. Select the file and click Open.

For resetting or recovering your "move to folder" rules:

1. Open the File tab and select Info.
2. Click on Manage Rules and Alerts.
3. Here, you can review your existing rules. If you need to recreate them, you can use the New Rule option to set up similar rules as you had in the old Outlook.

If you encounter issues with features being disabled or if your local Outlook keeps crashing, consider running Outlook in Recovery mode. This can be done by using the command olk.exe --recovery to restore functionalities. If problems persist, contacting Microsoft Support may be necessary.

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References:

• Some rules are disabled, and you receive an error message when you try to create or enable rules in Outlook
• Architecture changes in new Outlook