Public Folders are stored in a separate mailbox called Public Folder Mailbox. Microsoft Exchange Public Folder Mailbox Hierarchy Outlook 2010, 2013, 2016, and 2019 on Windows (Exchange Server 2019 supports Outlook 2013 and later versions).

Outlook on the Web for Exchange Server 2016 and later or Outlook Web App (OWA) for Exchange Server 20.However, this could increase the Public Folders size.Ĭurrently, Public Folders are available and supported by the following Outlook clients: Users can archive their emails and other mailbox items in Public Folders instead of their mailboxes. Public Folders in Exchange are also designed for data archiving. Users can access these Public Folders through their Outlook profile and share content or information with everyone who has access to those Public Folders. The Public Folders are now stored in the regular database and coexists with other user mailboxes.Įxchange administrators can create Public Folders in a Public Folder mailbox and control user access. Earlier, Public Folders were stored in a Public Folder database, which was then moved to Public Folder mailboxes. Modern Public Folders were introduced with the release of Exchange Server 2013, which replaced the Public Folder architecture. This gave the ability to Public Folders to send or receive emails. However, it was only after the release of Exchange Server 5.5 that the Public Folders were made mail-enabled. Public Folders are used for sharing information, such as messages, contacts, calendars, documents, etc. Public Folders in Exchange Server were first introduced with the release of Exchange Server 4.0 back in 1996 to create a collaborative space for sharing and accessing information effectively within the workgroup or organization through a messaging client, such as Outlook.

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