Outlook -- Storing all data on local PC not in Cloud ???

To migrate contacts without hitting the cloud, look for import/export functions in Thunderbird and Outlook. There's many formats, but .csv may be the simplest, and could also work from your Access DB.

wnjj wrote:
For a number of years and for some programs, contacts were stored in a .wab file (Windows address book).

For the record, my 2007 version of MS Outlook stores Contacts locally. And also, MS Outlook has a separate Address Book and a Contacts List, according to my menu.

For a number of years and for some programs, contacts were stored in a .wab file (Windows address book).

TenOC wrote:
Thanks GordonThree.

I understand about the POP3 email. My question is about the CONTACTS. Are they also stored locally or are they stored on the server?

Are my contacts part of the email file or are they a in a different file?

Your contacts are stored "somewhere" on the computer, they're not being stored with AOL.

I'm not sure where the default storage is... It used to be in the PST file with the POP mail and according to Microsoft, it still is... but I'm not 100% on that. What stinks and makes things confusing is Outlook can have more than one address book.

This website might have some answers for you:
Locating the Outlook data files

On thunderbird the contacts storage is local. Do not knwo about Outlook but I believe with ALL clients it is local,, May be mirrored to the cloud but it is local.

I use Web Mail exclusively.. That way mal-ware never gets to visit my hard drive cause the host takes it out first (well most of it) with Web mail the contacts are stored on the host.. But not with client mail..

One advantage of Web Mail.. If I use this computer.. It's there
If I use the other comptuer It's there
If I use the 3rd computer, It's there
I've used a computer at Enterprise to access my E-mail to prove something to them I needed to prove.
I can use my Smart phone
My Tablet
All I have to remember is my ID and password... And every computer connectred to the web has the ability to retrive my E-mail.. And if you do not know my password.. Then you can not for it is encryped.. Then you have to go to my password manager to get it.. That would be Helen Wait.


One thing about storing DATA (not E-mail contacts) "in the cloud" I have several "Cloud" accounts, (I mentioned having 3 computers a tablet and a smart phone, each came with "Free Cloud storage" and it's raining,, as you knwo when it rains.. Clouds get smaller. One of them is history.. The rest have shrunk, the most recente went from 15 Gigs to 5.. none of this affects me cause.... I use them only for file transfer from computer to comptuer.

Thanks GordonThree.

I understand about the POP3 email. My question is about the CONTACTS. Are they also stored locally or are they stored on the server?

Are my contacts part of the email file or are they a in a different file?

If you're using POP3, all your email is being stored locally. Only if you select the option "leave mail on server" will it be stored in the cloud.

Contacts are also stored locally, the only way it's in the cloud is if you're using IMAP or another enterprise level protocol.

OST is a new file format meant to frustrate users and IT workers. It's called the online cache file, when you use IMAP or Exchange protocols, but Outlook also uses it with offline services like POP.

In your mail profile settings (from control panel->mail->email accounts, not from outlook), you should be able to set your "delivery destination" to a PST file of your choosing. The OST file will still exist, but is mostly useless.

This is the screen you're looking for:


I can't change my destination because my work email is an Exchange account, but you will be able to.