Best Methods to Convert PST to EML: Detailed Guide

Summary: Microsoft Outlook saves emails, contacts, calendars, and tasks in PST files. Alternatively, EML is a standard format used by email clients, including Thunderbird, to save single email messages. To maintain access to the historical and important emails in Thunderbird, users often need to convert PST to EML. The process of conversion is often complex and involves technical skills when performed manually. To simplify the conversion, this guide also offers step-by-step procedures for easily converting PST files to EML using a reliable PST Converter.

Reasons to Convert PST File to EML

There are many reasons why an individual would need to convert a PST file to EML format:

  1. Multiple email clients support EML files, making conversion necessary for users.
  2. PST conversion to EML enables simple archiving and storage of single emails so that efficient retrieval is possible.
  3. Users switching from Outlook to other email platforms need to convert their PST files to EML to ensure all data is transferred.
  4. EML files are lightweight and easy to share or transfer to other systems or email providers.
  5. Conversion to EML provides an easily accessible format for backup of emails to keep them safe.

Manual Method to Convert PST to EML

Users can convert PST files into EML format using various methods. In the following section, we will explain each method in detail to assist you:

Convert MS Outlook PST File to EML Using Outlook

Here are the steps to convert PST files to EML format using MS Outlook:

  1. First, launch the Microsoft Outlook application on your system.
  2. After that, select the File tab and select the Open & Export option.
  3. Under the Open & Export, choose the Import/Export option.
  4. Next, choose the Import from another file option and tap Next.
  5. After that, select the Outlook Data File (.pst) option.
  6. After that, browse and choose the PST file you expect to import.
  7. Now, pick the desired mailbox location to save your PST file in your Outlook folder.
  8. After delivering the location, click Finish.
  9. Next, browse any desired location and create a blank folder.
  10. Here, drag and drop the PST file into the earlier created folder.
  11. Now, your file is saved in the .msg file format.
  12. After that, rename your file name and extension in the form of .eml.
  13. In the end, verify that your data is accessible.

Convert Outlook PST to EML Using Thunderbird

Since the direct importing of PST files into Thunderbird is not provided, PST file migration manually is a multi-step process. One can also export PST files to EML using the IMAP setting in Outlook. Follow the steps:

  1. Open a web browser and log in to your Thunderbird account with your valid username and password.
  2. Now, go to the Account Settings (three lines) option in Thunderbird and click on Server Settings options.
  3. After that, enable the “IMAP Access” checkbox under the IMAP section.
  4. Lastly, scroll down and click on the save button to save the changes.
  5. After that, download, install, and run Outlook on your system.
  6. Then, go to the File > Add Account option and select Manual Setup.
  7. Use the below for the incoming mail server of Thunderbird to configure:
    1. Incoming Mail Server (IMAP): imap.[your-email-provider].com
    2. Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP): smtp.[your-email-provider].com
  8. For IMAP, use the ports as follows:
    1. IMAP Port: 993 (SSL/TLS required)
    2. SMTP Port: 465 or 587 (SSL/TLS required)
  9. Now again, open Outlook and go to File > Import/Export.
  10. Then, choose Import from another program or file and click Next.
  11. Then, select Outlook Data File (.pst) and browse to locate the PST file you wish to import.
  12. Finally, click Finish to import the data from the PST file into Outlook.
  13. Now, choose the email or data that you want to migrate.
  14. Drag and drop that data into the corresponding folder in Thunderbird
  15. After that, verify its functionality to reduce the chance of error and corruption.

Limitations of the Manual Method

To export PST to EML manually through Outlook and simple file handling may seem easy, but it comes with several drawbacks.

  • Converting PST to EML manually is extremely slow and inefficient.
  • This approach is impractical for PST files that are too large.
  • Email folders and subfolders are frequently lost in the course of conversion.
  • Manual conversion can lead to attachment concerns.
  • There is more likelihood of missing mail, misnaming, or file corruption.
  • There isn’t any direct option available in Outlook to convert it into EML.

For huge conversions, utilizing software tools such as Aryson PST Converter is recommended for effectiveness and precision.

Instant Method to Convert PST to EML

The Outlook PST Converter is a safe and effective software aimed at PST file conversion. This software allows users to convert PST to MBOX, EML, MSG, and many more formats. Also, the software has several built-in features for the secure conversion process. It is robust enough to perform the conversion of large numbers of PST files simultaneously. Let’s now walk through the step-by-step instructions for using this software.

Steps to Export PST to EML Easily

  1. Launch the PST Converter Tool on the system as an administrator.
  2. Now, tap on the Select File or Select Folder button to upload the required PST file.
  3. Preview the emails and data with attachments from the tree structure. Click Next.
  4. Pick the EML as a file format from the option Save/Backup/Migrate.
  5. Next, apply the additional built-in feature that fits your needs.
  6. Browse a specific destination to keep the resultant output file.
  7. Lastly, click on the Convert button to initiate PST to EML conversion

Conclusion

The entire write-up illustrates how to convert PST to EML through manual and automated processes. For some shortcomings of the manual process, this process is not recommended as a suitable solution. In contrast, an automatic solution is the most desirable conversion solution. It gives a 100% secure and guaranteed solution. Also, it maintains data integrity throughout the conversion process, saving time and minimizing the risk of data loss.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Why do I need to convert PST to EML?

Ans- Converting PST files to EML enables you to transfer Outlook data to other email clients supporting EML formats, like Thunderbird, Apple Mail, or Windows Mail. It also makes it easier to archive, back up, and share emails.

Q. Can I manually convert a PST file to EML?

Ans- Yes, you can convert a PST file to EML manually by exporting emails from Outlook and renaming them to EML. However, this is a time-consuming process, particularly for large files, and can lead to the loss of folder structure and attachments.

Q. How can I convert a PST file to EML efficiently?

Ans- Utilizing specialized Aryson PST Converter Software is the most effective approach. The software enables you to easily convert PST to EML, retaining folder hierarchy, attachments, and metadata in the process.

About The Author:

Eva Shirley is a skilled technical content writer with expertise in creating engaging and informative content. With over 5 years of experience and a passion for writing, she has solved many users' queries by providing quality content.

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