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New Outlook for Windows normally keeps its user configuration in %LocalAppData%MicrosoftOlkUserSettings.json. The expanded path is usually C:Users<username>AppDataLocalMicrosoftOlkUserSettings.json. PCWorld identified that filename in an October 8, 2026 report. Microsoft documents the parent Microsoftolk folder as one of New Outlook’s settings locations, but does not name UserSettings.json specifically.
Use the file as a configuration backup, not as a complete mailbox backup. New Outlook can also use account-specific folders, package data, caches, and organization policies. The distinctions below help you locate the right data without confusing it with the app’s installation directory or Classic Outlook files.
What the hidden New Outlook file is
New Outlook for Windows stores a reported settings file named UserSettings.json below the current Windows user’s local application-data directory:
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%LocalAppData%MicrosoftOlkUserSettings.json
On a typical Windows installation, Windows expands that variable to:
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C:Users<username>AppDataLocalMicrosoftOlkUserSettings.json
The AppData directory is hidden by default, which is why the file is easy to miss in ordinary folder browsing. Typing the environment-variable path directly into File Explorer is usually faster than enabling hidden items first. The variable also avoids mistakes when the Windows profile is stored on a different drive or uses a nonstandard user-folder name.
PCWorld’s October 8, 2026 report identifies the filename and describes copying it out for backup or copying it back to restore configuration. Microsoft independently lists C:Users<username>AppDataLocalMicrosoftolk as a New Outlook location for user settings and configuration. Microsoft does not state that every preference is held in one JSON file, so do not treat UserSettings.json as a guaranteed complete export of accounts, mail, credentials, or every policy-controlled option.
How to find UserSettings.json
Open the documented folder directly
- Close New Outlook. Waiting for the window to close before copying configuration reduces the chance of saving a file while it is being updated.
- Open File Explorer.
- Click the address bar and enter
%LocalAppData%MicrosoftOlk. - Press Enter. Look for
UserSettings.json. - If the file is not in the top-level folder, inspect the individual user folders under the location. PCWorld reports that separate configuration files can appear in account-specific folders when multiple accounts are configured.
Entering the path with %LocalAppData% automatically targets the signed-in Windows profile. Do not substitute another user’s name unless you have permission to access that profile and understand which account owns the configuration.
If Windows hides extensions, turn on View > Show > File name extensions temporarily so you can distinguish the actual JSON file from a similarly named shortcut or text copy. Do not rename a file merely to make it easier to recognize; keep the original name and extension.
If File Explorer says the folder does not exist
A missing Olk directory can mean New Outlook has not yet created its local configuration, the profile is different from the one you expected, or the application is using another documented data location. Confirm that New Outlook has been launched under the same Windows account, then check the package-specific directory described in the next section. PCWorld’s reported recovery procedure is to create the Olk folder manually and start Outlook so the configuration can be applied; that is a practical report, not a Microsoft-published universal guarantee.
Creating the folder should not be confused with manufacturing a settings file. Make only the directory if you are following that reported procedure, then let Outlook create its own contents. Do not download a replacement JSON file or paste guessed keys into a blank document.
Use Windows search only as a fallback
Searching the entire drive for UserSettings.json can return stale copies, temporary files, or files belonging to another profile. The path-based method is safer. If you must search, limit the search to C:Users<username>AppDataLocal and verify that the result is inside MicrosoftOlk before copying it. Check the file’s modified date and parent folder as well; an old backup beside the live file is not necessarily the configuration New Outlook currently uses.
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Back up the file safely
A JSON copy is useful before troubleshooting a reset preference or moving a profile, but it should be treated as a configuration snapshot rather than a mailbox archive.
- Exit New Outlook and, if necessary, verify in Task Manager that no Outlook process is still running.
- Open
%LocalAppData%MicrosoftOlk. - Copy
UserSettings.jsonand any relevant account-specific copies to a separate, secure location. A protected folder on another drive, an approved organizational backup location, or a secure cloud destination is preferable to leaving the only copy beside the live file. - Give the backup a date-based name such as
UserSettings-2026-10-16.json, while retaining the original extension. - Keep the original file in place until the backup has been confirmed. Open the copy only as text if you need to inspect it; do not edit it casually.
A USB flash drive is another possible destination if it is encrypted or otherwise protected and handled according to your organization’s rules. The file is small, so capacity or transfer speed is not the deciding factor; security and the ability to identify the correct dated copy matter more. Eject removable media after copying and avoid leaving the only backup in the same Windows profile that could be damaged or reset.
On a managed computer, follow your organization’s retention and data-handling rules. A settings file may contain identifiers or configuration details even though the available documentation does not establish that it contains passwords or complete account data. Do not email the file to yourself or upload it to an unapproved service simply because it is convenient.
Restore the reported JSON configuration
PCWorld describes restoration as copying the backed-up JSON file back to its original location. Because Microsoft documents the folder but not a universal JSON restore guarantee, use this as a cautious troubleshooting procedure rather than a promise that every setting will return.
- Close New Outlook completely.
- Make a second copy of the current
UserSettings.json, if one exists. This gives you a rollback if the restored file causes a problem. - Navigate to
%LocalAppData%MicrosoftOlk, including the matching account-specific folder when the original backup came from one. - Copy the backup file into that location and approve the replace prompt only after checking the filename and date.
- Start New Outlook and verify the affected preferences. If the app recreates the file, ignores it, or behaves unexpectedly, restore the current file you saved in step 2 and contact your administrator or Microsoft support.
If the Olk directory is absent, PCWorld’s report says to create it and then start Outlook. Do not delete the entire folder as a first response to a reset or sign-in problem; deleting caches or configuration can remove useful diagnostic evidence and may not solve an account- or policy-level issue.
Restore only on the same Windows profile and, where applicable, the same account-specific subfolder from which the backup came. A file copied into the top-level directory may not affect a preference stored under another account folder. If the backup is older than a recent app update, preserve the current file before testing it so you can reverse the change.
Three New Outlook locations that are easy to confuse
Microsoft documents more than one local location for New Outlook. They serve different purposes, so the correct path depends on whether you need user configuration, package data, or the installed program.
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| Location | Purpose | What to know |
|---|---|---|
C:Users<username>AppDataLocalMicrosoftolk |
New Outlook user settings and configuration | Microsoft lists this folder and its subfolders for items such as caches, logs, web storage, IndexedDB/local storage, and attachments. The reported UserSettings.json file is associated with this location by PCWorld. |
C:Users<username>AppDataLocalPackagesMicrosoft.OutlookForWindows_8wekyb3d8bbwe |
Package-specific New Outlook data | Microsoft lists this package directory as another location holding New Outlook user settings and configurations. The exact contents can vary with the app and Windows build. |
| WindowsApps package directory | Application installation files | This is not the same as the user’s settings folder. Microsoft says the package folder name changes with each version update. Find the current install location with (get-appxpackage Microsoft.OutlookForWindows).InstallLocation in PowerShell. |
Microsoft’s documentation lists both configuration roots in its virtualized-desktop guidance, updated April 14, 2026: Microsoft Learn: New Outlook locations and configuration. The page’s statement that “All user settings and configurations are stored in” is followed by both paths; it should not be read as saying that one file contains every kind of Outlook data.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallThe WindowsApps path is especially easy to misidentify because it is protected and its folder name changes with package versions. It is useful when diagnosing installation or deployment issues, not when making a routine copy of personal preferences. Avoid changing files there unless your administrator or Microsoft’s support instructions specifically require it.
Do not substitute Classic Outlook files
Classic Outlook has a different settings and data model. Its cloud-roaming settings are cached under:
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftOfficeOutlookSettingsData
Classic Outlook can also use PST and OST data files, profile XML, signatures, and other files. Microsoft describes those locations and transfer considerations in its data-file guide: Find and transfer Outlook data files from one computer to another.
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Classic Outlook’s cloud settings are covered separately by Microsoft here: Information about “Store my Outlook settings in the cloud”. The registry path on that page belongs to the Classic client and should not be used to locate the New Outlook JSON file.
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Why a preference may reset even when the file exists
Account-scoped settings
Some preferences follow a particular mailbox or account. If you configure several accounts, the setting may be represented in an account-specific folder rather than in the file you first find at the top level. Check the folders associated with the affected account before replacing anything.
Organization policy
Administrators can control which New Outlook features are available. Microsoft says many mailbox policies apply to both Outlook on the web and New Outlook for Windows, while other features are scoped to an individual account or controlled at the organization level. A preference that disappears after sign-in, device enrollment, or policy refresh may therefore be governed by the service rather than damaged local JSON.
Review your organization’s instructions before changing files on a work computer. Microsoft documents the policy model at Policy management in New Outlook for Windows. If the setting is locked or repeatedly overwritten, give your administrator the account, device, and approximate time of the change instead of repeatedly deleting local data.
Different Windows profile
%LocalAppData% resolves to the profile of the user currently signed in. A file copied under one Windows account will not automatically affect another account, even if both users open the same mailbox. Verify the Windows username and the profile in which New Outlook was configured.
Application update or package migration
The installation package and its versioned directory can change during updates. That does not make the WindowsApps location a reliable place to hunt for user settings. Use the documented LocalAppData paths, and use the PowerShell command only when you need to identify the current executable package location.
Practical troubleshooting branches
The folder opens but UserSettings.json is missing
- Confirm New Outlook, rather than Classic Outlook, is running.
- Close and reopen New Outlook once, then check the folder again.
- Inspect account-specific subfolders reported by PCWorld.
- Check the package-specific LocalAppData path documented by Microsoft.
- Do not create a made-up JSON file with guessed settings; an invalid structure can create a new troubleshooting problem.
The file exists but a setting is still absent
- Determine whether the setting belongs to a different account.
- Check whether the mailbox or organization policy controls it.
- Compare the behavior in Outlook on the web if your organization permits that test; a matching restriction points toward an account or policy setting rather than a local file.
- Preserve the existing file before attempting a restore.
New Outlook will not start after a restore
- Close Outlook and restore the pre-restore copy you made.
- Start Outlook again without editing the JSON manually.
- If the problem persists, stop replacing files and use your organization’s support process. A sign-in, package, or policy problem may be unrelated to the backup.
You need mail, contacts, or calendar data on another computer
UserSettings.json is not established as a mailbox export. Add the account through the supported New Outlook sign-in flow and use Microsoft’s transfer guidance for Classic Outlook data when the source is the Classic client. Copying a local settings file alone should not be your migration plan for message content.
What the file can and cannot be used for
| Goal | Is UserSettings.json the right object? | Safer approach |
|---|---|---|
| Keep a snapshot before troubleshooting | Yes, as a local configuration copy when the file is present. | Close Outlook, copy the file to a secure location, and retain the original. |
| Restore a reported New Outlook preference set | Possibly; PCWorld reports copying it back to the original location. | Back up the current file first and verify the result after restarting Outlook. |
| Move an entire mailbox to another computer | No, not established. | Set up the account on the destination and use the appropriate Microsoft data-transfer method for the client in use. |
| Recover a password | Not established. | Use the account provider’s supported password-reset or sign-in recovery process. |
| Repair an organization-controlled feature | Usually not by itself. | Ask the administrator to review mailbox and organizational policy. |
Key points to remember
- The reported hidden filename is
UserSettings.json. - The primary path to check is
%LocalAppData%MicrosoftOlkUserSettings.json. - Microsoft confirms
Microsoftolkas a New Outlook configuration location and also documents the package-specificMicrosoft.OutlookForWindows_8wekyb3d8bbwedirectory. - The WindowsApps installation directory is version-dependent and is not the user settings folder.
- Classic Outlook’s registry settings, PST files, and OST files belong to a separate client and should not be substituted for New Outlook configuration.
- Account scope and organization policy can explain a missing or returning preference even when the local file is present.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I open UserSettings.json in Notepad?
You can open a copy as text to inspect it, but editing values manually is unsupported by the documentation cited here. Keep the original untouched and use a backup before any restore attempt.
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Will copying UserSettings.json transfer my saved passwords?
The available Microsoft and PCWorld material does not establish that the file contains passwords or complete account credentials. Do not rely on it as a credential backup.
Why do I see both an Olk folder and a Packages folder?
Microsoft documents both as New Outlook locations for user settings and configuration. They are separate from the versioned WindowsApps installation directory, which contains the application package rather than being the normal place to back up user preferences.
Should I copy the whole Olk folder instead of one file?
You may preserve additional folders for troubleshooting, but the reported backup procedure identifies UserSettings.json. Copying the whole directory can include caches, logs, web storage, IndexedDB or local storage, and attachments, so follow organizational storage rules and retain the original folder structure.
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What if several accounts use New Outlook?
Inspect the account-specific folders under MicrosoftOlk as well as the top-level directory. PCWorld reports that separate configuration files can appear there when multiple accounts are configured; restore a file to the matching location rather than guessing.
Can I use the WindowsApps folder to find my settings?
No. Microsoft identifies WindowsApps as the changing application-package location. Use the LocalAppData configuration paths for user settings, and run (get-appxpackage Microsoft.OutlookForWindows).InstallLocation only when you need the current installation path.
Why did restoring the file not bring back a preference?
The preference may belong to another account, be stored in another documented location, or be controlled by mailbox or organization policy. Preserve the current file, compare behavior in Outlook on the web when appropriate, and ask your administrator before deleting more data.
The Bottom Line
Start with %LocalAppData%MicrosoftOlkUserSettings.json. Back up the file only after closing New Outlook, restore it cautiously to the matching folder, and remember that Microsoft documents additional package data while account policies and Classic Outlook files follow separate systems.
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