In the offline mode, Microsoft Outlook saves all the Exchange mailbox data in an OST file format. The alterations finished by the user in the Offline mode are advancedand updated to the server mailbox when the Exchange connection is re-generated. As the OST file is located on the user’s machine, it is unaffected by Exchange Server smashes and disasters, Exchange mailbox deletions, etc. So, Exchange administrators and end users can make use of OST files to restore user mailbox data in the cases of such possibilities.
Reasons to Import Outlook Data File .ost to .pst Format
A small number of Exchange mailboxes get removed or deleted from the server
Need to back up a few numbers of Exchange mailboxes
An Exchange user needs to restore his OST file, but the user has few unsaved data in the offline Outlook data file
EDB files are unapproachable due to Exchange corruption, Server crashes, etc. and users need their emails instantly
There are different methods to export any OST file into PST file given you can log in to MS Outlook by the same Exchange profile. A few built-in methods to convert OST to PST are available here:
Method 1: Import the mailbox as a PST file
First of all, log in to MS Outlook with the Exchange account that was used to generate the OST files. To move the OST mailboxes in PST, follow the simple and easy procedure:
Go to Files >Open & Export and click Import & Export.
Click Export to a file; then click on Next.
Then, choose the second option—Outlook Data File (.pst)—and click on Next.
Choose the folder which you need to export and click on Next.
Browse the location where you wish to save the new PST file and select the options about the duplicate items
Note: There is an optional or non-compulsory choice to offer a password to the PST file, but you can simply move ahead without selecting it.
Method 2: Use ‘Archiving’ to change OST emails into PST
When you enable archiving, Outlook emails from OST file are saved to an individual PST file. Also, it helps in preserving the size of the mailbox at the finest level by storing the older mailbox items in the archive folder. Follow the few steps to create a mailbox archive and store it in the required location:
Open the Outlook application, go to File, and click Options.
Go to Advanced and click Auto Archive Settings.
Now select the number of days in which you need to run auto archiving. Now, select the folder to save the archived file; also, deliver the archiving options and lastly click OK.
With help of this, all the mailbox items from OST file will be stored to the Outlook PST file as per your archiving settings.
Method 3. Convert OST Data into PST file with OST to PST Converter
OST to PST Converter is a professional approach that supports freely extracting the first 25 items from OST file to PST without any charges. It is a very beneficial tool to convert offline storage files to Outlook PST without an Exchange profile or server connectivity. It has a greatly user-friendly interface that is simple to utilize by even novice users to know how to move Outlook OST data file into PST file format. Using the software a user can import all data from Offline OST file in PST file format including emails, address books, calendars, tasks, notes, images, hyperlinks, formatting, and attachments exactly with no one alteration.
Using the highly suggested – OST to PST Converter software, you can also perform batch OST data migration into Outlook PST at once without facing any problem with its license edition. It maintains folder hierarchy of OST data during the whole conversion process and retains exact folder structure of PST file after completed the process. With help of the software, you can execute the conversion of OST to PST, even without having Outlook configured in the system. For moving Offline Data file from Outlook to PST files, users can easily extract OST files of any Outlook i.e. Outlook 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013 & 2016, when using the OST Data to PST Conversion Tool and it is a Windows-based software that supports to run on Windows OS versions such as Win 10, 8.1, 8, 7, XP, Vista, etc.
How to Import Outlook Data File .ost in .pst with OST to PST Software?
Step 1. Download and launch OST Converter software on your Windows system
Step 2. Browse OST files by clicking on Add Files or Add Folders or Load Outlook Profiles button and get the preview of chosen OST files. Then, Click on Export to continue.
Step3. Now select the output format as PST to move OST files and choose the desired location path to save the output files.
Step 4. Then, click on Convert to start the conversion of OST files to PST and after that, you will see the live migration progress.
Step 5. Within a few minutes, a new Window will immediately open, showing the message “Conversion Done Successfully”. Then, click OK to complete the process.
Final Words
You can manually import Offline Outlook data file to PST file format only when you are using Outlook with a real Exchange account. But the software moves OST file in PST format even without the Original Exchange profile and Exchange Server connectivity. Also, it delivers so many advanced filtering and saving options. Also, you can save the first 25 items from OST data folder to PST file for free.
