email archived to one drive

Move the PST out of the OneDrive folder while both Outlook and OneDrive are closed, then open the local PST in classic Outlook.

Recover the PST safely

Since copying has remained blocked for a week, do not wait for the existing sync operation or delete the file.

1. Close classic Outlook completely.
   • Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc.
   • If Microsoft Outlook is still listed, select it and choose End task.
   Outlook data files cannot synchronize while an application is using them.[^1^](https://support.microsoft.com/onedrive/troubleshoot-onedrive-error-this-file-can-t-be-synced "Troubleshoot OneDrive error: "This file can’t be synced" | Microsoft Support")
2. Close OneDrive.
   • Right-click the OneDrive cloud icon near the clock.
   • Select Help & Settings → Quit OneDrive or Close OneDrive.
3. Create a local folder outside OneDrive, for example:
   • Open File Explorer → This PC → Local Disk (C:).
   • Create a folder named My Outlook Files.
4. Move—not delete—the PST into that folder.
   • Its likely current location is: C:\Users\<your-name>\OneDrive\Documents\Outlook Files
   • Move the file ending in .pst to: C:\My Outlook Files
   If it is not in the expected folder, open Outlook briefly, right-click the archive in the folder pane, and select Data File Properties → Advanced to see its full filename and location. Then close Outlook again before moving it.^2^
5. After the move succeeds, create a safety copy locally.
   • Copy it within C:\My Outlook Files.
   • Rename the copy—for example, Archive-backup.pst.
   • Leave this backup untouched while working with the first file.
6. Open the local PST in classic Outlook.
   • Start Outlook.
   • Select File → Open & Export → Open Outlook Data File.
   • Select the PST under C:\My Outlook Files.
   The archive should appear as another mailbox or folder tree in Outlook’s left pane.

Stop Outlook using the OneDrive copy

If Outlook still references the old OneDrive location:

1. Go to File → Account Settings → Account Settings → Data Files.
2. Select the entry whose location contains OneDrive.
3. Select Remove, then Yes.

This disconnects the PST from Outlook; it does not erase its email. A default data file cannot be removed until another data file is selected and Set as Default.^2^

Restart OneDrive afterward. Large PST files can leave OneDrive stuck on Processing changes or Sync pending, so keep the working PST outside OneDrive.[^3^](https://support.microsoft.com/onedrive/troubleshoot-onedrive-sync-issues-stuck-on-processing-changes#how-to-fix-onedrive-sync-stuck-on-processing-changes "Troubleshoot OneDrive Sync Issues: Stuck on "Processing Changes" | Microsoft Support")

If Outlook cannot open the local PST

Run SCANPST.EXE against the working local copy—not the untouched backup:

1. Close Outlook.
2. In File Explorer, search the Microsoft Office installation folder for SCANPST.EXE.
3. Open it and select Browse.
4. Choose the PST in C:\My Outlook Files.
5. Select Start, enable the backup option, and then select Repair.
6. Reopen the repaired PST in Outlook.

The Inbox Repair Tool may need to run more than once, and it cannot recover every severely corrupted item.^4^

If repair fails, check the PST’s OneDrive Version history and download an earlier version into a different local folder without replacing the current file.^5^

References

1. Troubleshoot OneDrive error: "This file can’t be synced" | Microsoft Support
2. How to remove an Outlook .pst data file from OneDrive | Microsoft Support
3. Troubleshoot OneDrive Sync Issues: Stuck on "Processing Changes" | Microsoft Support
4. How to repair your Outlook personal folder file (.pst)
5. How can I recover emails from a corrupted Outlook PST file when Outlook cannot open it? - Microsoft Q&A