Complete OST to PST Conversion Guide for Outlook Users

In short

 OST and PST files are both data files for MS Outlook. They hold all the mailbox folders, such as email messages, contacts, calendars, journals, notes, tasks, and more. When the server crashes for no apparent reason, such as due to malware, spam emails, virus attacks, or power outages, it is necessary to convert OST data to PST format. In this article, we'll discuss how to convert OST files to PST files. You may use the Import/Export Feature, Auto Archive Settings, or other tools to convert an OST file to a PST file format. You can convert OST files to PST format by hand, or use the OST to PST Converter Tool, which lets you convert many OST files to PST format at once.

Getting Started with OST and PST Files

Offline Storage Table and Offline Outlook Data File (OST) files save a copy of the mailbox data on the server. It lets people work even when they can't connect to the server. As a user, you may simply modify, write, add attachments, save emails, and delete email messages and other mailbox objects. When you connect to the Exchange Server again, these modifications will be up-to-date.

PST, on the other hand, stands for Personal Storage Table. It is the most common Outlook data file type and works with or is produced by MS Outlook, such as EML, MSG, and OST. It saves copies of all the things in the mailbox, such as email messages, contacts, calendars, tasks, and journals, to the user's local disk from the account set up in Outlook using POP. Using the Import/Export Feature's Export to File option, you may quickly make the PST file. You may also password-protect your PST file, which means you have to input the password every time you access it.

How OST and PST Files Differ?

If you want to know why it's crucial to convert OST to PST, here's a comparison of the two formats side by side.

• If you have an online connection, OST files will automatically sync changes with the email server. PST files, on the other hand, only let you handle them in MS Outlook if you have an internet connection.
• OST files can only be used with Microsoft Exchange Server, and PST files can also be used with other services like Microsoft Exchange Client and Microsoft Outlook.
• The client saves all emails and appointments from IMAP and MAPI accounts in an offline storage table (.ost) file from Microsoft Outlook 2016. Before that, it utilized the PST file for IMAP or MAPI accounts from Outlook 2013.
• You may use the ScanOST.exe utility if there are any little problems with corruption or access in the OST. Microsoft Outlook does provide a ScanPST.exe utility to assist users in curing any Outlook PST file problems in case the PST file becomes corrupted or damaged.

What are the Benefits of Converting OST to PST?

The need to change from OST to PST format arises for a variety of reasons. Here are a few of the most typical explanations:

* Importing OST Data: Users sometimes wish to move mailbox data from one system to another, but it might be hard with an OST file.
* Avoid the Risks of Losing Data: Your Exchange OST file may have been too big, broken, or corrupted. So, you may change OST to PST to get around the mailbox size limit.
* Accidental Deletion of Exchange: Let's say your Exchange Server isn't running or the Exchange data is erased for some reason. In such a situation, it would be advisable for you to convert OST files to PST files first.
* Access the Data in Online Mode: If you want to open or change your OST file that is stored offline in Outlook PST format.
* Changing Email Clients: The OST file doesn't work with any other email clients than Exchange and Outlook. So, to move old mailbox contents to other email clients, you need to change the OST file to a PST file.

Many people choose to convert their OST files to PST for these reasons and more. Here, we will have a look at the many ways that OST files may be converted to PST format.

How to Freely Convert OST Files to PST for Microsoft Outlook

The three most effective ways for converting an OST file to a PST file format are detailed below. But before you begin, double-check that you have the correct login information and that your Outlook account is synced with your Exchange profile. Because no manual technique is completely safe, we also recommend that you take a backup of your mailbox data and store it somewhere safe.

Option 1: Use the Auto Archive Setting to Export OST to PST

One data preservation option in the Outlook email client is to change the format of the OST mailbox folders to PST. If you have an OST mailbox, it can transfer all of your messages to a PST file. If you perform the steps successfully, you may transfer additional mailbox objects. This functionality does not archive contacts:

To access the File tab in Microsoft Outlook, launch the program.
Locate the Advanced area in Outlook's Options wizard by going to the Options menu and dragging the pointer there.
Select AutoArchive Settings from this menu.
You will see an AutoArchive window appear; click the one that is necessary:
Press the Ok button when you've made your selection.
At last, your OST file's contents will be transferred to a PST file together with the archive settings that you provide.

Option 2: Use the Import/Export Function to Convert the OST File Extension to PST

Get the procedures below to export OST files to PST format. Make sure you need to utilize the Outlook credentials with the Exchange account.

1. Open Outlook and go to the File menu.
2. Click on the Import & Export option under the Open & Export section.
3. Choose Export to a File and then click Next.
4. Click on Next after choosing the Outlook data file (.pst) option.
5. Next, choose the folder you want to export and click Next. 
6. To choose the path for the output, click the Browse option.file pst.
7. Click Finish after choosing the alternate option for handling duplicates.
8. If you like, you may set a password on the PST file. Click "Ok" to end the procedure.

All of these manual ways to convert OST files to PST format in MS Outlook could work, but they take a lot of time and have some other problems, such as:

[ ] The manual procedures take a long time and are quite time-consuming.
[ ] It is hard to manually convert OST files to PST files.
[ ] Experts say that data loss is possible.
[ ] If you do the incorrect thing, the process may become stuck.
[ ] There are no assurances that all of the mailbox items will be backed up.
[ ] If the OST file is too big, the conversion from OST to PST may cease.
[ ] This process is not for OST files that are broken or corrupted.

Method 3: Use a professional tool to convert OST files to PST files

ToolsBaer for OST to PST Conversion is the best and most dependable way to convert OST files into PST files. It may convert your single or many OST files into the Outlook PST file format. The program lets people open OST files on all Windows systems and other platforms without Outlook. Moreover, You need to first test the free trial version of this software:

How Do I Convert OST to PST?

Follow these easy steps to convert OST files to PST format with the help of the OST to PST Converter Software:

Step 1: Get the tools and install the ToolsBaer for OST to PST Conversion

Step 2: Click the Run as Administrator" button and then Browse.
Step 3: Choose the file you want to change.
Step 4: After that, look at the email with attachments in the OST file.
Step 5: Check the box next to the folder in the tree structure. Click "Next."
Step 6: In the dropdown menu that appears, pick the PST saving formats.
Step 7: Choose the built-in software features.
Step 8: Click on the way to the save button and choose a place to store it.
Step 9: Finally, press the convert button to start the process.
Step 10: The conversion is done and stored in the path you choose.

Essential characteristics of professional software

* Change Exchange OST files into Outlook PST files.
* Export one or more OST files to PST format at the same time.
* Before the OST to PST conversion procedure, this shows a preview of the OST file contents.
* You may move or back up emails without attachments.
* You may also divide the PST files that you get by size.
* It works with PST files from various versions of Outlook, such as 2021, 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, and so on.
* The interface is simple to use for anyone with or without technical skills.
* The program works with all versions of Windows, including 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, XP, and more.

In conclusion

I already told you about the free ways to change OST files to PST files in Outlook 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007, etc., and it's possible that the manual methods won't work for you. This is when you should use the Converter Tool, which can change OST files to PST files. We hope this post answers your question about how to change OST files to PST files.