PST vs. MSG: What's the Difference and When to Use Each File Format?
Last Updated: 10 Nov, 2025
If you’ve ever needed to save or back up your Microsoft Outlook data, you’ve likely encountered two key file formats: PST and MSG. While they might seem similar at first glance—both are created by Outlook and store email data—they serve fundamentally different purposes.
Choosing the wrong one can lead to cluttered digital storage, inefficient backups, or difficulty finding important information later. So, what’s the real difference between a PST and an MSG file?