How to Import OST Files into Microsoft Outlook

Tips to Import OST Files to Microsoft Outlook versions 2010,2013,2016,and 2019

OST Files are encrypted Microsoft Outlook data files. These files get created once a user sets up a Microsoft Outlook account. All these files are connected to a MS Outlook profile that is created on a device. An OST file is an offline table of mailbox data,user work when internet or server connection drops,an OST file is guaranteed to the Outlook profile and local system where it was created. It cannot be opened into a different Outlook profile or a new computer system. To access disconnected OST data,user must safely convert these files into PST format.

Understanding PST Files

A Personal Storage Table,or a PST file is a personal folder file that can be created in Microsoft Outlook. This folder can be used for storing the copies of messages,texts,emails,calendar,file attachments,and other related documents in Outlook. Files in the PST format are also used by the users for exporting different items from any email account. Users can also import all the items from other Outlook Data files using this file format.

The user can convert an OST file into a PST file format,in that case,user will be able to access these files in MS Outlook without any problem. In this blog,we have come up with ways that will help you convert OST files onto PST format for different versions of MS Outlook including 2010,2013,2016,and 2019. In this article,you will also get to know about an amazing professional tool that is the most effective and hassle-free way to converting the files into the desired file format.

Before that,here are some of the free solutions that can be used to Import OST file in Outlook 2010,2013,2016,2019. The methods are:

Free Methods to Import OST Files

Method 1:Use the Archive Feature of Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Outlook has a built-in feature that allows its users to archive the data. By converting all the required files in the mailbox to a PST file format,one of the major disadvantages of this method is it does not allow the users to archive the contacts in the Outlook Account.

Here are the steps of a free method that will help you to import OST files into Microsoft Outlook:

• Launch the Microsoft Outlook application on your computers and head towards the OST file where you wish to export the Outlook Data.
• Go to the File menu,select Info,click on Tools and choose Clean up Old Items or Archive.
• You will now see a dialog box in your screens where you have to make sure that the Archive this folder and all subfolders checkbox is checked,if not,do it.
• Now select the folder of your choice that you want to export to a PST file format
• If the items you are looking for are older than the mailbox,give a date. This will show all the files that were received before the date of the archive.
• Now select a destination of your choice where you to store the new PST file.
• Once you are done with the process,click on the OK tab to end the process.

Method 2:By Using the Import or Exporting the Wizard

In the second method,log in to the Microsoft Outlook account. Now follow the steps mentioned below to convert these OST files to PST file format.

• Click the Files tab and then Open or Export button. Once done,hit the Import or Export tab to process further.
• In the wizard window,click Export to a file and hit Next. Then,select Outlook Data File and click Next. Choose the specific folder user wish to export,and check the box for Include subfolders.
• Select the folder that you to export. Once done,hit the Next button
• Search the destination on your computer where you want to save the newly created PST file and click on the particular option considering the duplicate items.

The method mentioned here is a free tool that helps in converting the OST files. However,this method only works if you are connected to MS Exchange Server.

Method 3:Drag the items in Mailbox and Drop them

Now we have mentioned steps that will help you to relocate the OST files and convert them into PST format.

• Start the Microsoft Outlook application on your computer
• Once done,open a PST file on the Outlook
• Drag the entire mailbox that you want to export in the blank PST file.

Now,this method is not as easy as it seems. It is very time consuming and complicated,particularly for those who are not much comfortable with technical things. You have to follow the above-mentioned steps every time for every single OST file that you want to convert into PST file format. The drawback of manual drag-and-drop is it is not effective with bulk data. To drag large folder,it causes Microsoft Outlook to lag,freeze,or completely crash,leads to incomplete item migration and data corruption.

Professional Method to Import OST files into MS Outlook

The users have reached this section of the article,then user must have understood the complexity of the above-mentioned methods. These methods are not just complicated but also not effective. Any wrong step could either result in data loss or related problems. Hence,it becomes important for you to use a professional method that is both effective and easy to use. We are talking about Softaken OST Converter tool.

This tool can be used to convert all the OST files to PST file format and supports all kinds of emails,contacts,notes,and attachments that can be operated without any difficulty. Users also get a preview option with this software that helps them to get a detailed view of the OST mailbox before saving the files to a new PST file format. This tool has been designed in such a way that it keeps all the original OST files intact during the complete process. Even the user is using this tool for the first time,there is zero difficulties to face.

Steps to Convert OST to PST via Softaken

1. Install and Run:Start the OST to PST Converter on the Windows system.
2. Add Data Source:Press the Browse option to select the OST file or an entire folder using File or Folder selection modes.
3. Scan and Structural Preview:The software pledges a scan,compiling a structure of emails,items,attachments,calendars,and contacts for complete verification.
4. Pick Export Target:Choose Export to PST from the multiple file conversion configuration options.
5. Apply Data Filtering:specific date-ranges or properties to isolate selective folders for conversion.
6. Select Destination and Convert:Set a safe folder directory path on PC to store the file,then press the Convert Now button to finish the export process cleanly.

Why You Should Import OST File to Outlook 2016 and below versions?

Now you must be clear with the fact that an OST file cannot be directly imported to MS Outlook. We have to first convert it into PST file format and then only it can be imported. Here are the reasons that will make it clearer to you as to why the OST file has to be converted into PST file format.

• There are times when MS Exchange Server crashes. It results in many inconveniences and troubles for the users. Although an active OST file lets user work offline,it requires a live server profile handshake to sync and open. Exchange profile is deleted from the server,or user shift to an external email client platform,the left OST file becomes fully locked down. Converting it to a PST format extracts that data so it can be handled.
• If you happen to see an error message,i.e. OST File Cannot Be Opened in MS Outlook,you would have to convert and import these files into PST Format
• The MS Exchange Server goes into maintenance after a certain period. In that case,users are unable to access the content of the mailbox. However,users have the files in the PST format,user can operate them anywhere and on any device.
• The users wish to migrate the mailbox content to a different place,user must convert these files OST files into PST file format. By doing this,users would be able to migrate all the content of the mailbox without any difficulty.
• If you have to switch to a new business that does not require MS Exchange Server,but you do not want to lose the data,in that case,you would have to convert the OST files into PST file format to access all the old content of your mailbox.