Automatically archive or back up Outlook for Mac items

Time Machine is a backup software application included with the Apple OS X operating system. To use it, you'll need an external storage system, such as an external hard drive. Turn Time Machine on and it automatically makes copies of the files on your computer on a regular basis. If you lose or damage a file, you can use Time Machine to browse through the backups to recover a copy of the file.

Note: If you haven't set up Time Machine yet to back up your files, see Use Time Machine to back up or restore your Mac, or check the Apple website for AirPort Time Capsule.

2016 2011

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Turn Time Machine on to back up your Outlook items

1. On the Apple menu, click System Preferences, and then click Time Machine.

2. In the Time Machine dialog box, switch Time Machine to On, and then click Select Backup Disk.

3. Select the location where you want to back up your files, and then click Use Disk.

   Your files will now back up daily.

Note: The first time you open Outlook after restoring a Time Machine backup, Outlook rebuilds its database to accommodate the restored items. If you have a large database, rebuilding the database might take a while.

See also

Export items to an archive file in Outlook for Mac

Turn on Time Machine to automatically archive Outlook items

1. On the Dock, click the Time Machine button, and then click Set Up Time Machine

2. In the Time Machine dialog box, click Select Backup Disk.

3. Select the location where you want to back up your files, and then click Use for Backup.

   Your files will now back up daily.

   Note: The first time that you open Outlook after restoring a Time Machine backup, Outlook rebuilds its database to accommodate the restored items. If you have a very large database, rebuilding the database might take a long time.

Stop automatically archiving Outlook items

1. On the Apple menu, click System Preferences.

2. Click Time Machine, and then click Options.

3. Click Add, and select the /Users/ username/Documents/Microsoft User Data/Office 2011 Identities/ folder.

See also

About Time Machine backups and Outlook

About the Office database

Export or manually archive Outlook items