New Outlook for Windows keeps its settings in a local file named UserSettings.json. If you plan to reinstall Outlook or move to another PC, copy that file somewhere safe first. The location and restore steps below come from a PCWorld article published October 8, 2026, by contributor Roland Freist. Microsoft’s support documentation does not confirm the exact filename or folder, so treat these steps as reported guidance rather than an officially supported backup procedure.
Where the settings file is
According to PCWorld, the file sits in the following folder for each Windows user account:
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C:Users[username]AppDataLocalMicrosoftOlk
The AppData folder is hidden by default in File Explorer, which is why the file is easy to overlook. The quickest way in is to type %LocalAppData%MicrosoftOlk into the File Explorer address bar and press Enter. The folder path may differ on machines with unusual profile or redirection setups, so if the path above does not match what you see, look for UserSettings.json inside the Microsoft folder of your own profile.
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- Close New Outlook completely so the file is not in use while you copy it.
- Press Windows key + R, type
%LocalAppData%MicrosoftOlk, and press Enter. - Copy
UserSettings.jsonto a separate location. PCWorld suggests keeping it in another secure place; an external drive is one option, not a requirement. - If you already run a backup program, add the
Olkfolder or the individual file to its backup set instead of copying it by hand.
Keep the copy dated or labelled so you can tell it apart from later backups.
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How to restore the file
- Install New Outlook and start it once, then close it again so the
Olkfolder is created if it does not already exist. - Close New Outlook and open
%LocalAppData%MicrosoftOlkas described above. - Copy your saved
UserSettings.jsonback into that folder, replacing the file that is there. - Start New Outlook and check your accounts and preferences.
PCWorld’s version of the restore is simpler: copy the JSON file back to its original location, and if the Olk folder is missing, recreate it before starting Outlook. The steps above add a first launch so the app generates the folder itself, which avoids creating a folder the app may not expect. Keep your original backup until you have confirmed that the restored settings work, because the article does not promise that the app will accept a restored file.
Two ways to carry settings to a new install
Restoring the local file is not the only documented route. Microsoft also describes an import from classic Outlook. The two methods differ in what they rely on and what they can do.
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| Method | Source and authority | What it requires | What the sources document |
|---|---|---|---|
Manual copy of UserSettings.json |
PCWorld, October 8, 2026 (secondary, independently reported) | Access to the Olk folder and a saved copy of the file |
Reported as the location of New Outlook’s settings; the article does not list which settings the file contains |
| Importing settings from classic Outlook | Microsoft support documentation | Classic Outlook with the “Store my Outlook settings in the cloud” option selected; the import is offered when you start New Outlook | Documented as a settings import from classic Outlook; not documented as a restore of the local JSON file |
If the classic Outlook option was never enabled on your old PC, the Microsoft import route may not be available, and the manual copy becomes the only documented path you have.
What the settings file does not cover
A settings file is not a mail archive, and nothing in the reported guidance says that copying it preserves your full Outlook profile. Keep these limits in mind:
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- The article makes no claim that the file preserves mail, calendar items, contacts, or saved credentials.
- Microsoft’s data-file guidance treats mail and related data separately, and it varies by account type. Some mailbox data is stored on the server and returns when you sign in again, while some local data files cannot be transferred.
- Restoring the JSON file does not replace a backup of your mailbox or other data files.
If you use more than one account
PCWorld reports that users with multiple accounts may find separate configuration files in individual user folders. The article does not describe a supported workflow for restoring one account at a time, so the safest approach is to find and copy every configuration file you can locate, label each copy with its account, and then test one restore on a non-critical setup before relying on it.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When the restore does not work
- New Outlook does not accept the file: remove the restored copy, put your original file back, and set up the account manually or use the classic Outlook import if it is available.
- The
Olkfolder is missing after reinstalling: start New Outlook once, close it, and check again. If the folder still does not appear, createOlkunder%LocalAppData%Microsoftas PCWorld describes. - The file is in a different location on your PC: search your user profile for
UserSettings.json. Restore it only to the folder where New Outlook actually created it.
Confirm the restored settings before deleting any backup or uninstalling the old copy of Outlook.
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