Microsoft Outlook stores a synchronized copy of your mailbox data in an OST (Offline Storage Table) file on your local system.
This offline data file allows you to access your mailbox items, including emails, contacts, calendar, notes, events, etc., even when you are offline or have weak internet connectivity.
However, the OST file is linked to the user profile in which it was created. This means you cannot access or import the OST file into another profile or account.
Therefore, you must export the emails and other elements of the OST file to PST format if you wish to access them or migrate them to another profile or account.
In this article, we will discuss three ways to export emails from an OST file: the import/export function, the archiving function, and OST to PST conversion . Let's look at each one individually.
Method 1 – Use Outlook's Import/Export function
Outlook offers an import/export function that allows users to export emails and other items from the OST file to the PST format.
You can use this function to export emails from an OST file to a PST file. Follow the steps below:
Note: This method will work if Outlook is working and if the OST file is accessible.
Open Microsoft Outlook on your system.
Go to "File" and click on "Open and Export".
Click on the "Import/Export" option.
In the import and export wizard, under "Choose an action to perform", select "Export to a file", and then click "Next".
In the "Export to File" dialog box, select "Outlook Data File (.pst)" and click "Next".
Select the emails or folder you want to export, check the "Include subfolders" box, and then click "Next".
Now, click "Browse" to select the location where you want to save the PST file, click the "Replace duplicates with exported items" radio button, and then click "Finish".
The application will export the selected emails from the OST file to the PST file.
Method 2 – Use Outlook's archiving function
You can also use Microsoft Outlook's archiving feature to export emails from an OST file to a PST file. Follow the steps below:
- In Outlook, go to File > Info > Tools, then select Clean up old items.
- Next, select the option to archive this folder and all subfolders.
- Choose the folder you want to export from the OST to the PST.
- Enter a date in the "Archive older items" field.
- Select the "Include items where the 'Do not automatically archive' box is checked" option.
- Next, click OK.
Limitations and disadvantages of the above methods
You can export emails from an OST file to a PST file using the manual methods described above. However, these methods have some limitations and drawbacks. Some of these are listed below:
- The methods above require a lot of time and effort because they involve several steps.
- Run the process, Outlook will work and the OST file will be healthy.
- The above methods will not work if the OST file is orphaned or inaccessible.
Method 3 – Use advanced OST to PST conversion software
To easily and quickly export emails from an OST file to a PST file, you can use third-party OST to PST conversion software, such as Stellar Converter for OST.
This is an advanced OST to PST conversion software that can export emails from an encrypted, inaccessible, or orphaned OST file to a PST file and various other file formats without risk of data loss.
After analyzing the OST file, the software provides a detailed overview of all mailbox elements within the file. It also features a search function that allows users to search for emails based on various parameters, such as To, From, Subject, Message Text, etc.
The software can easily convert large or oversized OST files to PST files with ease and complete data integrity. Besides PST format, it can save OST file elements in formats such as HTML, RTF, EML, MSG, etc.
It can also export items from the OST file directly to an existing Outlook profile, a live Exchange server, and Office 365. The software supports all versions of Outlook, including the latest Outlook 2021.
Conclusion
We explained above different methods for exporting emails from an OST file to a PST file. Manual methods are time-consuming and require a lot of effort.
Furthermore, you cannot export emails from an encrypted, orphaned, or inaccessible OST file using manual methods.
To overcome the limitations of manual methods, you can use advanced OST to PST conversion software, such as Stellar Converter for OST .
The software can export emails and other items from an encrypted, orphaned, or inaccessible OST file of any size to PST and various other file formats.
