How-To

How To Password Protect an Outlook PST File

By Brian Burgess

Updated August 26, 2021

If you’re on a shared computer without separate user accounts, you don’t want the other user(s) looking at your private email. You can password-protect the PST file.

If you’re on a shared computer without separate user accounts, you don’t want the other user(s) looking at your private email. Here’s how to password protect your Personal Folder (.pst) file in Outlook 2003, 2007, and 2010.

Password Protect an Outlook PST File

In Outlook 2010, click the File tab then Account Settings.

Next, click the Data Files tab. Then highlight the account you want to protect—click Settings.

The Outlook Data File screen opens. Click Change Password.

Now type in a strong password twice. The password can be up to 15 characters in length and contain symbols and numbers. Since this is a shared computer, don’t check the option to save the password. Click OK and close out of the remaining open screens.

Restart Outlook, and you’ll need to enter the password you just created to use that account.

If a user clicks Cancel, Outlook will open, but they can’t access the protected account without the password.

You can do this in Outlook 2003 and 2007 too. To get to the Outlook Data File, go to File > Data File Management.

Then set or change the password on the PST data file following the steps above.

If you don’t want someone you’re sharing a PC with snoop in your email, create a password for it. The main thing to remember is not to check to save the password.

If you really want to make sure your data is protected, create individual user accounts as a best practice.