How to Convert OST to PST from All Outlook Versions

Written By Eva Shirley
Approved By Mithilesh Tata
Publish on February 22nd, 2025
Reading Time: 5 minutes

Summary: Outlook is an email client and information manager application developed by Microsoft. It is primarily used for managing emails but also provides some additional features. Users convert OST to PST to back up their emails, calendars, contacts, and other mailbox data. Additionally, it allows users to archive their email accounts for future reference. The following blog shares a complete guide for converting an OST file into PST. Here we will also discuss the professional OST to PST Converter Software to make the process hassle-free.

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When Will You Need to Export OST to PST?

There are a variety of occasions on which you will need to migrate an OST (Offline Storage Table) file into a PST (Personal Storage Table) file. Some typical cases are mentioned here:

Ensure that the employee retains their contacts, calendar, and emails once their account becomes inactive.
After losing access to your organization’s server, you will need to convert OST to PST to retain a record of all email communications and calendars.
Make a copy of all your email information, which is handy in the event of system crashes, loss of data, or changing to a new computer.
Ensure that you retain and can access all data stored in the OST file on the new account after migration.
OST files are tied to the server and can’t be accessed without it. You will need to export the OST file to access your data without relying on the server.

How to Convert Outlook OST File to PST

To convert an OST file to PST, there are various approaches available. In this guide, we will describe both manual and professional methods.

Method 01: Change OST to PST via Import/Export

To manually modify or convert an OST file into a PST file in Microsoft Outlook, you may use the following steps. This is done by exporting data from the OST file to a new PST file using the Outlook program.

Step-by-Step Process to Convert OST to PST Manually

First, download and install MS Outlook on your system.
After that, log in to MS Outlook with valid credentials.

Note: Ensure you are connected to your Exchange server account if your OST file is tied to an Exchange server.

Next, go to the File tab at the top-left corner of MS Outlook software.
Then, under Open & Export, click on Import and Export to open the wizard.
Here, under the Import and Export option, choose the Export to a file option.
In the next screen, choose the option Outlook Data File (.pst) and then click Next.
Next, choose the desired OST data that you want to export, it’s either a file or a full folder.

Note: Be careful when selecting folders, as only the chosen data will be exported to the PST file.

After that, browse the desired location to save your resultant PST file on your local system.
Next, provide the name of the file as a familiar one.
In the end, click on the Save button to save the OST file into PST.
After waiting for a moment to sync, verify that every data is exported precisely.

Method 02: Export OST to PST via AutoArchive Feature

Outlook email client provides archiving data features to transfer the OST mailbox folders into PST file format. It can convert all the contents of the monthly OST mailbox into PST format. Follow the procedure properly:

Step to Convert OST into PST

First, download and install MS Outlook on your system.
After that, log in to MS Outlook with valid credentials.

Note: Ensure you are connected to your Exchange server account if your OST file is tied to an Exchange server.

Next, go to the File tab at the top-left corner of MS Outlook software.
Then, under Options open the panel and click on the Advanced tab.
Here, under the Advanced option, choose the AutoArchiveSettings option.
In the next screen, modify the details according to your needs
After that, browse the desired location to save your resultant PST file on your local system.
In the end, click on the Ok button to save the OST file into PST.
After waiting for a moment to sync, verify that every data is exported precisely.

Issues While Using the Manual Method

To manually convert orphaned OST to PST using Microsoft Outlook, users may face various challenges. These challenges affect the process and make the conversion harder to achieve. Below are some of the issues, their causes, and solutions:

If there is a huge amount of data in your OST file, the export will take time.
If you lose the Exchange server connection, you might experience errors.
When the OST file becomes corrupted, you may lose access to the data.
If the system suspends your email account, you might no longer be able to use it.
Outlook could crash or become stuck during exporting.
Sometimes, you might find that data is missing after completing the process.
You may face compatibility problems, particularly with older versions of PST formats.

Method 03: Convert OST to PST Without Outlook

The Aryson OST to PST Converter is a robust and best solution for businesses and individuals who want to convert orphaned OST into PST without Outlook. It makes the process of backup, archiving, and data analysis easier, offering an organized, easily accessible format for data. One of the most important features of this tool is its ability to ensure data integrity. You don’t have to worry about losing email formatting, metadata, or attachments during the transition. This application, in addition to that, also easily imports OST files to Gmail.

Simple Steps to Convert Outlook OST File to PST

Download, install, and run the OST to PST Converter as an administrator.
Tap on Select File or Select Folder > Choose the OST file from your local storage > Click Next.
Then, preview your data from a tree-like structure to reduce the chance of error.
Choose the specific folder & data from the preview that you want to convert.
After that, select PST as a resultant file format. Add on the built-in additional feature that fits your needs.
Next, provide a desired location on your local system to save your resultant file format.
In the last, click on the Convert button to save your OST file into a PST file.

Conclusion

Once you have read this entire blog post, you will be able to understand how to convert OST to PST. We have shown you a different way to accomplish the task. The manual method may look a little cumbersome, but with the suggested automated solution, you can effortlessly convert OST files. If you have a lot of emails to manage, it may be challenging to handle them manually. In that case, using an automated solution would be the best option. You will also be given the free demo version of the application to practice and get it right.

About The Author:

Eva Shirley

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.