-
Written By
Suman Rawat -
Approved By
Sonika Rawat -
Updated on
September 24th, 2025 -
Read Time
5 minutes
How to Convert OST to PDF With Attachments – Best Way
Business communications frequently present challenges to ensure that data is ready to use, easy to transfer, and secure. OST files created in Microsoft Outlook store cached data in your mailbox. However, an OST file cannot readily be shared or opened without Outlook. A PDF is a generally accepted format to archive data for reading and sharing across multiple platforms. This blog will guide you through the manual method and SysInfo OST to PDF Converter to convert OST to PDF with attachments.
Which Methods Will Probably Be Considered for the Conversion?
- A Free Manual Way: A built-in feature by Microsoft to secure their emails and other mailbox data in PDFs with ease.
- OST to PDF Converter: Designed for the needs of professionals searching for a fast, reliable, efficient, and secure solution for instant conversions.
Why Convert Outlook OST Files to PDF Format?
Some significant reasons for your OST to PDF conversion are mentioned here:
- Courts and regulators often require the transfer of emails in PDF.
- PDFs have readability across all systems, and the data cannot be changed.
- Organizations change OST data to PDF for recordkeeping as a tamper-proof record of communications.
- Unlike an OST file, PDFs can be opened without requiring access to Outlook and are printable.
- A PDF file has greater assurance of data retention or open use in the long term.
Real Life Scenario
During a corporate Office 365 migration, the IT team needed to preserve all important emails related to the project. But all the data was stored on old OST files. To ensure that data will not be lost and remain accessible in the future, they converted the OST files to PDFs with attachments. This made them ready for easy archiving, sharing, and retrieval.
Manual Method to Quickly Convert OST to PDF
If you have Outlook installed and the OST file is accessible/open, then utilize the Print to PDF option:
- Launch Outlook and navigate to the OST emails that you need to use.
- Then, click the email you would like to save for print.
- After that, press Ctrl + P (File → Print).
- Further, choose Microsoft Print to PDF as the printer option.
- Later, apply the settings within it (layout, orientation, size, etc.).
- Next, click Print and give the PDF file a name you can find easily.
- Finally, select a location where you would like to store and click Save.
Shortfalls of the Manual Method:
The restriction of this method is using an accessible OST file (not corrupt or orphaned). Also, emails must be exported one at a time, which isn’t suitable for bulk conversion. Moreover, there is no direct option to embed attachments or skip duplicate emails and data.
You have successfully understood the manual process and limitations to save OST files to PDF. But since this method isn’t efficient much, there’s another alternative solution. It is the expert software, but the question is who actually needs it.
Who Needs a Tool-Based Way for OST File to PDF Conversion?
| Legal Teams | For Evidence |
| Corporate Auditors | For non-editable Archives |
| IT Admins | For migration or data access when the profile gets inaccessible |
| Business Professionals | To share proposals, crucial docs, etc. |
| Educators and Researchers | To preserve data for documentation and reporting |
Professional Solution to Convert OST to PDF
When working with your bulk OST data, or inaccessible files or attachments, the manual method enables you to successfully save emails proves incapable. And this is where a dedicated time-saving tool, such as SysInfo OST to PDF Converter, has provided a solution. It enables:
- The ability to convert multiple OST files in bulk to PDF.
- Convert OST to DOC and many other formats or save in clients other than PDF.
- Maintain all attachments, metadata, and folder hierarchy across the conversion process.
- Also, email from orphaned, encrypted, or corrupt OST files can be converted.
- Plus, advanced filters can be used to select which emails to export, remove duplicates, preview, or more.
Working to Follow to Convert OST Files to PDF
- Install and start the OST to PDF Conversion Tool.
- Then, load your OST file (one or many) into the software. Tap Next.
- After that, preview attachments and data and select for print. Hit Next.
- Further, set the PDF as the export format and elect advanced filters.
- Lastly, click the conversion button to save the OST emails as PDF with attachments.
Pro Tip:
- Want a conversion without manual fuzz and software installation? Avail the One-Time Service where the experts do all the conversion for you and give you the best outcomes.
- Wondering if you can free convert Outlook OST files to PDF format without actually paying for the software? Get the Demo Version of the OST to PDF File Converter and save upto 50 files per folder free.
Conclusion
The process of converting OST files to PDF with attachments maintains future accessibility, regulatory compliance, and long-term data retention. While the manual process may be sufficient for only a few emails. Companies with many emails or inaccessible, repairable OST files depend on a dedicated converter to help speed up processes to convert OST to PDF and eliminate any chance of data loss. For organizations, it is a fundamental protection for continuous operations and a secure long-term archive of communications.
FAQs
Q. Can I convert orphaned OST files to PDF without Outlook?
Ans- Yes, use the OST Recovery Tool to first ensure your files are healthy. And then, with the OST to PDF converter, save them into PDF without Outlook.
Q. Does the process to convert OST file to PDF retain attachments, formatting, and metadata?
Ans- The OST Converter Tool will allow the email properties, such as to/from details, dates, subject lines, and attachments included in the email, to be maintained.
Q. Is there a file size limit to save OST files to PDF using a professional tool?
Ans- No. The OST Conversion Tool has no hard limit on file sizes for exporting. It converts email data from large OST files in bulk.
About The Author:
Suman Rawat is a technical content writer and expert in the fields of email migration, data recovery, and email backup. Her passion for helping people has led her to resolve many user queries related to data conversion and cloud backup.
Related Post
