Ways To Convert OLM File Into PST Format (Recommended by Professionals)

 

Although Outlook for both of the Operating Systems is very much similar in terms of functionality, the main reason that has caused the difference between the two variants is their different data storage formats. Outlook For Mac uses OLM file format for storing data while MS Windows Outlook uses PST and OST formats. This particular issue has made data migration among both of these ‘same’ clients difficult as one needs a particular format pertaining to that specific client to access the data. In this article, we are going to learn and understand methods to convert OLM file into PST format as well as discuss advantages and limitations.

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The Need For OLM to PST Conversion

It is now clear that OLM and PST files are the data storage files of Outlook for Mac and Outlook for Windows respectively. Since there are a number of users who use Outlook as their preferred email client some specific part of this demographic use Outlook on a Mac and the rest of them use it on a Windows PC. The basic need for OLM to PST Conversion remains the same – When a user migrates from Outlook for Mac to Outlook for Windows. The reason for this can be many:

• Changing company or organization.
• Changing or Upgrading to a new computer.
• Temporarily accessing Outlook via a different computer.
• Using Multiple computers.

Conversion Techniques:

There are various ways to convert an OLM file into PST format, but here we are going to learn two of the most commonly used methods to convert an OLM file into a PST file. The methods are:

Manual Method: This method is used as a temporary fix to convert OLM files into PST format. The method works fine, but the procedure for this method is complicated and becomes very tedious.

Using File Conversion Tool: This method employs the use of a conversion tool thus making the process of conversion much simple and effortless.
Now that we have a basic idea regarding these methods, let us discuss these methods in detail and understand their very procedure.

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Manual Method for OLM Conversion

Manual conversion is a bit tricky and should not be used until and unless you completely understand the procedure. This procedure, if done improperly, might even corrupt your OLM file. (Users are advised to keep a backup of the OLM file before proceeding with the manual method of converting the OLM file into PST format)
This procedure can be done in the following steps:

• Setting up an IMAP account.
• Set up Outlook for Mac with your IMAP account.
• Transferring your emails from your Outlook account to your IMAP account.
• Synchronize the IMAP account with Windows MS Outlook and copy the emails.

Setting up an IMAP account

To set up an IMAP Gmail account, follow the procedure:

1. Create a new Gmail account.
2. Go to Settings, i.e. click on the “Gears” icon and select “Settings”.
3. Click on Forwarding and POP/IMAP.
4. Enable IMAP Access.
   

   

5. Google may block by default third-party mail clients like e.g. Outlook. To Enable Third-Party Mail Clients, you may enable “Less secure apps” (third-party mail clients) from My Account > Sign-in & security > Connected apps & sites > “Allow less secure apps”.
6. Enter the following information in the IMAP account settings of your email client:

• Server: imap.gmail.com
• Encryption/Authentication: SSL
• Port: 993
• Username: Your Gmail email address
• Password: Your account password

Set up Outlook for Mac with your IMAP mail account

Follow the procedure mentioned below to Set up Outlook for Mac with the IMAP mail account you created.

1. Open Outlook for Mac.
2. If this is the first account you’re adding, follow the prompts. Otherwise, go to step 3.
3. Select Tools > Accounts.
4. Click the plus (+) sign > New Account.
5. Enter the email address of the account.
6. Follow the prompts to complete the account setup.
   

   

Transferring your emails from your Outlook for Mac account to your IMAP account.

Now that you have set up Outlook for Mac with the IMAP account, you now need to transfer your emails from your Outlook account to the IMAP account. Follow the steps mentioned below for the same:

1. Open Outlook for Mac.
2. Right-click any mailbox item that you want to move. Click Move > Copy to Folder.
3. Now type the name of your IMAP folder and click Copy.
4. After copying the selected mailbox data to the IMAP mailbox, you need to click Send/Receive button to update your Outlook for Mac IMAP folder.
   

   

Synchronize the IMAP account with Windows MS Outlook and copy the emails.

The final step of the procedure is to synchronize your Outlook client on Windows PC with the same IMAP account you created in Gmail.

1. Set up the same Gmail IMAP account you created on your Windows Outlook client.
2. Move the emails from the IMAP account to your Windows Outlook Inbox Folder by dragging and dropping.
   

   

Limitations Of Manual Method:

• Though if performed carefully, the manual method can convert OLM file into PST format quite well, but this method does have some limitations of its own.
• Since the manual method is very complicated and is dependent upon internet speed and server reliability of the IMAP email client, it makes the conversion procedure very slow.
• Conversion of entire databases is not recommended as an OLM file size can be very large and this tedious conversion procedure renders the entire method impractical.
• To perform the manual procedure correctly the user needs to have a sound knowledge of both the email clients and a working knowledge of IMAP accounts. Hence is not recommended for novice users.
• If the procedure is performed incorrectly, the OLM file might even get corrupt which may cause data loss.

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Using File Conversion Tool:

Another method for conversion of OLM files into PST format is to use a conversion tool. This method eliminates the human effort factor thereby eradicating the chances of any human errors as well. For this method, “SysInfo OLM to PST Converter“ is the perfect tool that has been designed to overcome all the limitations of the Manual method.

Download Now For Mac                Download Now For Windows

Hence to cover all bases of OLM to PST Conversion, this tool has an added capability of recovering corrupt OLM files as well. In order to convert the OLM file into PST format, follow the procedure mentioned as follows:

1. Launch SysInfotools OLM to PST Converter on your system. Click on the Open button.
   

2. Now click on the Browse button to select an OLM file from your system directory and select the OLM file and then click on the Open button, the selected OLM file will be shown.
   

3. Click on OK to start the scanning process. Once the scanning process is completed, click OK.
   

4. Expand the file items one by one. Double-click any email to see its preview in the preview pane.
   

5. Now select all the folders on the left-hand side pane which you want to convert and save into a new file and then Click Save.
   

6. Click on the Browse button and select any location to save the data of an OLM file into a new file, select the file format in which you want to save the recovered data (PST in this case) and select other saving options. Click on OK to start the saving process.
   

7. The tool starts saving data into the selected file format at the specified location. It will take hardly a few seconds to be completed. Once the saving process is completed, click OK.

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Conclusion

In this article we have learned about OLM and PST files, we have learned how to convert OLM files into PST format, discussed the advantages and limitations of these processes, and also discussed the very need to convert OLM files into PST format. Apart from other methods of conversion, these two methods are the most used procedures for OLM to PST conversion, and also among these methods, the Manual method is surpassed by using the Conversion Tools method in various criteria. Professionals recommend using conversion tools for such procedures as the Manual Method has many drawbacks which have been discussed already.