How to Rename OST File in Outlook? Verified Solution

In technical terms, users resolve synchronization bottlenecks and data corruption by renaming the OST file. As soon as the Outlook starts acting up, the user rename OST file in Outlook. After changing the OST filename, one can hide the problematic file and download an uncorrupted copy of the mailbox. Users improve the organization and enhance security by renaming the OST file. This blog post walks you through several methods for renaming the OST file in Outlook.

Why Change the OST File Name?

One of the reasons to change the OST file name is to prevent the confusion caused by Outlook’s default naming system. There are other reasons too that are listed below:

• If the user handles many email accounts, renaming the OST file helps better organize them and locate them easily.
• A custom file name reduces the confusion of selecting the wrong OST file while transferring the data.
• Often, users change the OST file name during profile migration to help avoid duplication issues.
• By updating the OST file name, users can repair the damaged or unsynced data files as a troubleshooting step.
• Businesses rename the OST files to match them with their company’s internal naming standards. 

Learn How to Rename OST File in Microsoft Outlook

Now, after understanding the reasons behind renaming the OST file in Outlook, let’s move ahead. In this section, we will implement various solutions to rename the Outlook OST file. 

Solution 01: Using File Explorer

It is a simple manual solution to rename the OST file in MS Outlook. Users need to first locate the OST file and then change its file name. 

The following are the steps to start renaming the OST file:

1. First, ensure that Outlook is completely closed. Check through Task Manager also.
2. Now, press Windows+R, type: %localappdata%\Microsoft\Outlook and hit Enter.
3. Next, locate the OST file that is named after your email address.
4. Right-click on it, select Rename, and change the file name. Then, press Enter.
5. Re-open MS Outlook.

Limitations: This approach will generate a new OST file of the same renamed one. If your OST file is corrupted, users will not be able to rename it. 

Solution 02: Create a New Outlook Profile

By setting up a new Outlook profile, Outlook will recreate Outlook OST file that is linked to your profile. This approach corrects issues related to file corruption, sync errors, and file conflicts. 

Use the following instructions to initiate creating a new Outlook profile:

1. Close the MS Outlook application.
2. Then, press Windows+R, type: control and hit Enter.
3. After that, go to Mail and choose Show Profiles.
4. Next, click on Add, enter the profile name, and press Ok.
5. Now, enter the account credentials and complete the on-screen setup.
6. In the Always use this profile, choose the new profile and click Apply > Ok.
7. In the end, restart Outlook. 

Limitations: Users need to set up the customized settings again. This method does not rename the OST file but creates a new OST file. 

Solution 03: Via Account Settings 

This solution involves users first finding the exact location of their OST file in the Account Settings and then renaming it. It is suitable for those users having multiple OST files on their system. 

Look at the steps to rebuild OST file:

1. Open Microsoft Outlook on your system.
2. Then, locate the OST file that you want to rename.
3. Next, navigate to File > Account Settings > Account Settings.
4. In the Data Files tab, select the email ID, and click Open File Location.
5. Now, exit Outlook and in the opened folder, right-click on the OST file.
6. Choose Rename, type in the new name, and press Enter.
7. Close and re-open Outlook. 

Limitations: This process will not rename the corrupted OST file. If the new OST file is created, the syncing process will take a considerable amount of time.

Sometimes, renaming the OST file doesn’t help. It can be due to several reasons. In such a situation, it is best to recover the OST file first and then rename it. In the next section, we will look at a solution that recovers the damaged OST file.

Renamed OST File Doesn’t Help? Use a Specialized Tool to Recover the OST File

Although renaming an OST file is a simple process, it may not address the existing file problems. It is recommended to resolve the issue and then rename OST file in Outlook. A specialized software, the Cigati OST File Recovery, is used to recover all the OST data safely. This tool recovers the data and allows users to save it in different formats. Moreover, it offers different modes of corruption: Standard, Advanced, and Deep. Also, the tool can target emails from specific time periods.

Simple steps to recreate Outlook OST file:

1. Download and install the recovery tool on your PC.
2. Then, click on the Open button to browse and add the OST file.
3. Now, select the recovery mode: Standard, Advanced, and Deep.
4. After that, check and select the OST file details.
5. Finally, tap on the Ok button to start the recovery process.

Conclusion

The synchronization error can be rectified by renaming the OST file in Outlook. In this technical article, we have shared multiple solutions to rename OST file in Outlook. The manual solutions do not guarantee data integrity, but work well. On the other hand, if the OST file is corrupted, first recover it using the Cigati OST File Recovery Tool. This tool recovers the damaged OST file data while preserving all the email data.

You May Also Read: Change Outlook OST File Location

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