How to convert OST to PST – A complete guide for secure and safe conversion

Summary

Microsoft Outlook’s mailbox data items are stored in two main formats- OST & PST. But businesses often aim to convert OST to Outlook PST to secure data accessibility during a server crash, OST corruption, or rebuilding OST. In this blog, we will help you to convert the OST file into Outlook PST along with an automated solution. So, we highly recommend using Goldytools OST to PST Converter that easily converts entire mailbox data to PST.

Introduction

Organizations have shifted their businesses to Office 365 productive cloud platforms globally to enhance their workflow. It provides you with incredible features & applications such as Exchange Online, SharePoint, OneDrive, Outlook, etc. It has become easier for you to manage your collaboration and projects online.
Offline Storage Table (OST) and Personal Storage Table (PST) are the two main email file formats in Outlook that store the entire data of a mailbox. Even Though both fulfill different aspects for the user, you have to manage data within both formats. There are several practices that require you to convert your OST to a PST file, as both offer different capabilities.

So, this blog below will explain the process of exporting your OST file to Outlook PST and what are the circumstances that led to this action.

Understanding the difference between OST to PST files

Offline Storage Table (OST) file stores the synchronized copy of your mailbox data on the Exchange Server with the feasibility to access it offline. It allows you to edit your data while being disconnected from the Exchange Server and updates it automatically on the server after the connection gets restored.

Contrariwise, the Personal Storage Table (PST) file format is mainly used to backup your Office 365 data locally as it stores mailbox’s data items such as email, contacts, notes, calendar, etc. It is the most compatible email format which allows you to transfer data from one system and Outlook tenant to another.

Why do you need to convert an OST file to PST?

Businesses indulged with Office 365 tend to perform various tasks to manage their operation and collaborations. OST & PST both contain PST file data but they fulfill different responsibilities, so you often need to export OST data to a PST file. Let’s find out the key reasons behind converting OST to PST below:

• Migration: When one business is shifting from one tenant to another then it is very crucial to migrate entire mailbox data to the destination tenant, which is not possible with OST. So, you need to export your OST file to Outlook PST so it can be configured to the destination easily.
• Data backup & restore: The major advantage of converting OST file PST is to create data backup of your sensitive business data. PST files are portable in nature and can be easily configured again if the online server crashes. You can share the useful data in PST files during business collaborations, or migration as it is very compatible to restore the data at the desired tenant.
• Data security: There are many instances where the OST files get damaged or orphaned if the Exchange Server crashes due to any technical reason. It is a very common thing in Office 365, so exporting your OST data to PST will keep your data intact & secure.
• Storage management: Due to the excessive flow of emails on a daily basis, the storage space is overstuffed and throws different types of errors in Outlook or Exchange Server. So, it is better to archive your data in PST file format and save it locally

Manual methods to convert OST file to PST

Microsoft Outlook enables several features that allows you to export your OST file to PST using its in-house features. But to perform these transitions you need to understand the entire process properly otherwise it can fail miserably. There several ways that let you to export OST to PST mentioned below:

Method 1 – Utilize Outlook’s Import/export feature

• Launch the Outlook application.
• Now, go to theFiles and from the side pane chooseOpen & Export option and then click on Import/Export.



• In the Import and Export Wizard, select the Export to a file and click Next.



• Now, on the Export to a file page, choose Outlook Data FIle (.pst) and click Next.



• In the Export Outlook Data File page, choose the folder you want to export. Also, you can check the Include subfolders box, to add all the subfolders inside the main folder. Then, click on Next.



• At the end, choose the location where you want to save your PST file in the system and click on Finish.

Method 2 – Setup auto archive in Outlook

• Open Outlook and go to Files>Options.
• From the side pane, choose the Advanced option.
• Now, under the Option for working with Outlook page’s >AutoArchive tab, click on the AutoArchive Setting… option.



• On the AutoArchive page, check the box of Run AutoArchive every and choose the number of days you want. Then, click on Browse to select the location where you want to save these archives and click OK.

Method 3- Use drag & drop option

• Launch the Outlook application.
• Now, click on New Email>More items>Outlook Data File.
• On the New Outlook Data File page, choose Outlook data file (.pst) and click OK.
• Name your new PST file and select the location you want to save in your system.
• After that, open the old OST file and new PST file simultaneously, then drag the file from the OST file & drop it in the PST file.

Automated solution to convert OST to PST

Executing the manual methods to export OST to PST is useful but is not reliable enough for businesses. If the OST file is damaged with corruption or is inaccessible, then the above methods might fail and can become very time-consuming. The organization often looks to convert multiple files in quick time with no failures & data loss, which is not possible through manual ways. So, businesses actively aim to indulge with an ultimate third-party solution that enables smooth and easy OST to PST conversion.

Goldytools OST to PST Converter is advanced and feature-loaded software that allows you to export OST files to PST without any data loss. It is capable enough to convert multiple OST files along with the entire data items of the mailbox, such as emails, contacts, notes, calendars, etc. So, this tool is the perfect solution for your OST to PST conversion process with high accuracy & easy-to-use interface.

Conclusion

Enabling a successful transfer of an OST file to a PST file is a common practice for businesses but not as easy to execute. In the above blog, we have discussed various aspects of the OST to PST export and what are the effective ways to perform it manually. However, we have highlighted the fact that manual methods are not trustworthy & viable options, as the automated solution is far more convenient and result-oriented.