Convert OST to PST in Outlook 2019, 2016, and 2013- Expert’s Strategies

There are thousands of organizations worldwide that have made MS Outlook their first choice for email communication and running their business activities. Their Outlook accounts are usually configured to an MS Exchange server that enables them to work offline and all the data are saved on the PC or laptop’s hard drive in the form of an OST File. But you will need to convert OST to PST in Outlook because OST files are inaccessible and not easy to open.

Three Instant Steps to Migrate OST to PST

What are OST and PST Files in Outlook?

MS Outlook usually stores its cached data when you work in an offline mode on a local machine in the form of an OST file. Any amendments made in the offline files result in a change on the online MS exchange server later when an online connection is established. In case of an exchange server crash, the offline OST files remain unaffected and the data can be restored later. So for restoring Offline mailbox items, you need to convert OST to PST and upload OST files on the Outlook server.

Exchange OST Files: MS Outlook stores Offline Outlook Data File ( or OST) format for synchronization with Exchange Server. It contains the essential data that you can easily access online and offline too. You can work offline because of its top-notch synchronization provided by OST files that fluently get synchronized with the server data even if the MS Exchange Server is not connected. Ordinarily, when you utilize a Microsoft Exchange Server account, your email messages, schedule, and different items are conveyed to and saved on the server. The OST document is synchronized with the Exchange PC when a connection is accessible.

Outlook PST Files: Personal Storage Table( or PST) contains your email messages and other Outlook items and saves them on your computer system. It helps to move or copy emails, attachments, and other items from your Mail server account to your computer. Home clients normally use an Internet service provider (ISP) to get linked over the Internet. The ISP additionally offers at least one email account. The most widely recognized sorts of accounts are mentioned by their web protocol names — POP3 and IMAP. Another kind of account is an HTTP or online account that works like an IMAP email account.

Need for OST to PST Conversion

• Sudden Exchange Server Crash: You may face an Exchange server crash due to power supply failure, corrupt software, etc. Once your server crashes, you may be unable to connect to the MS Exchange server.
• Pop-ups OST Files Errors: As we all know, the mailboxes that store various data items in OST files, work after synchronization with MS Exchange Server. Unfortunately, due to some issues, OST files may get corrupt and the error message starts popping up on your screen to notify you that your OST files are not accessible. So, to open and view the corrupt OST mail items, you require to convert OST files to PST format.
• Job Switching: When users left their old employer, they try to forward all the OST files to another account. But, they forget to realize that their all files are synced with Microsoft Exchange Server and can’t be accessed from another account. To access the OST files on another account, firstly you need to export the OST file to Outlook PST format, and then only you can view it.
• Corruption of OST Files: MS Outlook offers a facility in OST files that can be viewed and edited online as well as offline. But sometimes, Offline OST files may get corrupted due to abnormal termination, server breakdown, lack of storage space, etc. Therefore OST Files have to be converted to PST.

Free Techniques to Convert OST Mailbox to PST File in Outlook

I’ll discuss the various methods of OST to PST conversion which will help you to upload all offline data of your OST File into your Outlook account. It will hardly take 5 to 10 minutes to convert OST to PST.

Extract OST File from Outlook

OST Files have copies of Exchange information that’s why it is not necessary to backup .ost files. Users can create a new copy at any time. If you don’t have an OST file and you want to extract it and then convert it to PST then you can follow the steps given below for OST File extraction.

1. Make a Right-Click on the Email Address whose OST you want to extract.
2. Click on the Open File Location Option.
   
3. Now make right-click on the OST file you want to extract and click on Copy.
4. Close the MS Outlook Application first and then Paste the OST file wherever you want to Paste it.

After having an OST file you can import it to any Outlook Account once you convert it to PST. If you have an OST file of one Outlook Account and you want to import it to another Outlook Account then the conversion of OST to PST is Mandatory. Once you have a PST file, you can import it to any Outlook Account

Convert Offline OST Mailbox to PST

First, you must log in to your Outlook account using the exchange server from where the OST files have been created and export OST to PST through the following:-

• Open Outlook and click on File Tab.

Go to the File tab click on the Open & Export option and then click on the Import/Export option.

• Click on Export to a File

Now, Click on the Export to a File option and then click on the Next Button to Continue.

• Select Outlook Data File (.pst)

Then you will see two options in which you will have to choose the Outlook Data File (.pst) option and then click on Next.

• Choose Folders to be Converted

Now Select any Folder(s) or the whole Account which you want to import to the New PST file and then click on Next

• Browse the Saving Location of PST

Now, you should Browse the Location where you have the new PST Files. Then select the appropriate option for Removing or Adding Duplicates items.

• Complete the OST to PST Comversion

Click on the Finish Button and your OST File data of the Outlook Account will be converted to the new PST file.

Now, you can apply the following steps to import the PST file to your Outlook Account.

1. Open MS Outlook App to which you want to import the PST File.
2. Click on the File tab and then click on the Open & Export Option.
3. Then click on the Open Outlook Data File option.
4. Finally, choose the PST file in which you have recently imported OST data and click on the OK button.

Now, you can view all the emails and mailbox items of the PST file in your Outlook Account. The above method will help you to convert OST to PST in Outlook 2019, 2016, and 2013. It can work for all Outlook Versions. But there are certain drawbacks of the above method and the major drawback is you can’t convert an OST file to PST if it is save separately on your local machine. You will need Professional Software to perform the conversion.

But let’s explore certain drawbacks of the manual conversion first and then find out how OST to PST Converter can be a good option for OST to PST Conversion.

Drawbacks of the Manual Method

• You will need MS Outlook to be there on your System.
• You will also have to connect your system to the MS Exchange Server.
• This is a lengthy and time taking process.
• A novice user might miss some important steps and lose his crucial data.
• You will need a lot of technical expertise to implement the manual steps.

Convert OST to PST without using MS Outlook

The only possible way to save OST as PST in Outlook 2019, 2016, and 2013 without an exchange server account is OST to PST Converter. This is a professional tool and has a lot of features that allow you to change OST files to PST within 5 minutes. It will help you to export OST to PST without losing a single data from the file. Additionally, this software will overcome all the drawbacks of the manual method and perform the OST to PST conversion with ease. Some of the multifunctional features of this tool are:-

• Converts an OST File to a PST file without Outlook
• There is no need for the same Profile and IMAP Configuration.
• There is no limitation on the file size of OST that you are converting to PST.
• Converts a separate OST file saved on your local machine, PC, Laptop, or hard drive.

Export OST Mailbox to PST without any Technical Expertise

• Download and Launch OST to PST Converter.

First, you will have to download the automated tool to convert OST to PST.

• Add OST file to Convert to PST.

Click on the Select Files button and then Browse the OST file you want to Convert.

• Preview OST Mailbox Items

The Scanning Process will start and you will be able to view all the Mailbox items of the OST file.

• Choose OST Mailboxes

Select the Mailbox Items which you want to convert to PST and then click on Save Button

• Define Converted OST Location

Choose the location where you want to save the OST files as PST.

• OST to PST Conversion Confirmation

After the completion of the saving process, you’ll receive a Confirmation Message.

• Finally, you have converted all Mailbox items of an OST file to PST.

Summary

Well, for OST to PST conversion in Outlook 2019, 2016, and 2013 you can follow the manual methods as well but they are not easy to follow for a novice user. Moreover, it is totally up to you which method of conversion you follow and save the OST offline mailbox to PST. If you are using the SysInfoTools OST to PST Converter software then you must forget the risk of data loss because this software never fails to convert an OST file to PST. Experts suggest this software for conversion because manual conversion might not be easy to apply for novice users.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

You can clear all your doubts through the questions asked by our readers in the context of this article.

Q1. How can I Move OST File Emails to PST without Outlook?

A1. If you want to move OST file emails into PST without installing Outlook, then use the Automated OST to PST Converter tool mentioned in the article.

Q2. How can I import OST to PST using MS Outlook?

A2. You can follow the steps given below to import OST to PST through MS Outlook:-

1. Start by opening the MS Outlook application.
2. Then select Import and Export from the File menu after opening it.
3. Click Export to a file and Next in the following window.
4. Select the Outlook data file (.PST) and press Next.
5. Choose the mailbox folder to export an OST file to a PST file.
6. Click Finish after browsing and selecting the folder where you wish to keep the PST file.

Q3. Why are OST Files Created?

A3. In offline mode, the OST file represents the local cache of your Exchange account. The OST files are created when users are offline or not connected to the Internet.

Q4. Can I Open an OST File in Outlook?

A4. Yes, you can open an OST file in Outlook with the help of this write-up.

Q5. What is an OST File?

A5. An offline folder file in Microsoft Outlook is an OST file (.ost). Users can work offline and synchronize changes with the Exchange server when they next connect, thanks to offline folders. Working offline is advantageous in settings with poor or unstable connectivity.

Q6. Can I Change the OST File Format to PST?

A6. Yes, you can easily change the OST file into PST format. You can either follow the manual method or use the best OST to PST Converter Tool for the conversion.

Q7. Will the above methods also convert OST to PST in Outlook 2013 and Outlook 2016?

A7. Yes, with the help of the methods mentioned above, you can easily convert OST to PST in outlook 2013 and also in Outlook 2016

Q8. How Can I Convert OST File to PST Online?

A8. Follow these methods to convert the OST file to PST:-

• Download OST to PST Converter Software.
• Add OST File and Choose the Emails which you want to convert in PST.
• Choose the Saving format as PST and click on Convert.
• Your OST file will be converted to PST.

Q9. Why should I use OST to PST Converter for converting OST Files to PST?

A9. The manual methods have certain limitations and that’s why experts have recommended using the OST to PST Converter. It is an exclusive solution to convert multiple OST files into PST format. Moreover, the tool offers multiple advanced features while performing the conversion process.

Q10. What would be the conversion accuracy in OST to PST Conversion?

A10. If you want 100% accuracy in OST to PST Conversion process then OST to PST Converter is the perfect solution for you.