Outlook for Mac 2016 on My Computer: Reinstall Without Losing Emails

Reinstalling Outlook for Mac 2016 on your computer doesn’t have to mean losing emails, contacts, or calendar events—if you take the right precautions first.

Struggling to reinstall Outlook for Mac 2016 without risking your emails or contacts? Many users panic when upgrading or troubleshooting, but the process is simpler than you think—if you follow the right steps. The key is backing up your Outlook profile before uninstalling, so you can restore everything cleanly afterward.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the exact steps to safely reinstall Outlook for Mac 2016, from locating your PST or OST files to verifying your backup works. You’ll also discover how to avoid common pitfalls that leave users staring at empty inboxes after a fresh install.

How to reinstall Outlook for Mac 2016 without losing emails or data

Reinstalling Outlook for Mac 2016 can feel risky—especially when you’ve got years of emails, contacts, and calendar events stored in your profile. But with the right approach, you can wipe and reinstall cleanly while keeping all your critical data intact.

The key lies in backing up your Outlook profile and PST/OST files before uninstalling, then restoring them after the fresh install.

As someone who’s helped recover data from corrupted Outlook profiles for small businesses and home users, I’ve seen firsthand how a few simple precautions can prevent hours of stress.

This guide walks you through the entire process—from locating hidden data files to verifying your backup—so you can reinstall Outlook for Mac 2016 with confidence.

Before diving into the steps, ensure your Mac OS version is compatible with Outlook 2016. The app officially supports macOS Sierra (10.12) through High Sierra (10.13), though some users report limited functionality on later versions.

If you’re on Catalina or later, consider upgrading to a newer Outlook version or using the web app as a temporary workaround.

Your Outlook profile stores more than just emails—it includes rules, signatures, and account settings. To avoid losing these, you’ll need to back up the entire profile folder. Navigate to ~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/Outlook/Outlook 15 Profiles in Finder (hold Command + Shift + G to access hidden folders).

Copy the entire folder to an external drive or cloud storage before proceeding.

If you’re unsure whether your data is stored in a PST or OST file, check your account settings. IMAP accounts typically sync to the server, so your local data might be minimal. Exchange or POP3 accounts, however, often rely on local OST files for offline access.

Locate these in the same Outlook 15 Profiles folder and back them up separately.

Once you’ve backed up your files, uninstall Outlook 2016 using the built-in Office Uninstaller. This tool ensures no residual files interfere with your fresh install. After uninstalling, delete any leftover Microsoft Office folders in ~/Library/Containers and ~/Library/Application Support to guarantee a clean slate.

Download the Outlook 2016 installer from Microsoft’s official site or your original installation media. During the reinstall, skip any prompts to restore your profile—you’ll do that manually after the process completes. This avoids potential conflicts with corrupted profile data that might have triggered your reinstall in the first place.

After reinstalling, launch Outlook 2016 and create a new profile. Instead of setting up accounts immediately, go to File > Import and select your backed-up PST file. If you backed up the entire profile folder, you can also copy the Outlook 15 Profiles folder back to its original location.

Restart Outlook to ensure all data syncs correctly.

Test your setup by sending a test email, checking your calendar, and verifying contacts. If anything appears missing, recheck your backup files or use Outlook’s built-in repair tool (File > Account Settings > Repair). For stubborn issues, consider exporting to a new PST and reimporting.

Pro tip: If you frequently reinstall software, automate backups by setting up a Time Machine exclusion for your Outlook data files and manually copying them to a separate drive. This way, you’ll always have a recent backup ready for emergencies. 💾

Critical backup steps before reinstalling Outlook for Mac 2016

Before reinstalling Outlook for Mac 2016, your emails, contacts, and calendar data need protection. Skipping this step risks losing years of important communications. I’ve helped clients recover lost data, but prevention is always easier.

Start by exporting your Outlook profile to a PST file, which acts as a digital safety net.

If you use iCloud or OneDrive, syncing your data ensures a cloud-based backup. This method works well if you’ve previously enabled automatic syncing in Outlook. For extra security, combine both PST export and cloud sync—this dual-layer approach minimizes risks during reinstallation.

To export your data, open Outlook for Mac 2016 and go to File > Export. Select Outlook for Mac Data File (.olb) and choose a save location.

This creates a portable backup you can restore later. For PST files, use third-party tools like Stellar Converter if needed—though Outlook 2016 natively supports .olb exports.

Next, verify your cloud sync settings. Open Outlook > Preferences > Accounts and ensure iCloud or OneDrive is enabled. If syncing fails, check your internet connection and account permissions. A quick test email to your cloud account confirms everything is synced correctly.

After backing up, locate your Outlook profile in Finder > Go > Go to Folder and enter ~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/Outlook. Copy this folder to a secure external drive or cloud storage. This ensures your profile settings, rules, and signatures are preserved during reinstallation.

Finally, test your backup by opening a temporary Outlook install (if possible) or using a third-party email client to import the PST/.olb file. Confirm all emails, contacts, and calendar events appear intact. This step catches errors before you proceed with the reinstall—saving you headaches later.