OST and PST files are the two file formats of Microsoft Outlook that store all the data of Outlook ranging from emails to other mailbox data. OST files are copies of your Exchange, Outlook or Office 365 mailbox that are stored locally on your desktop. Having a local copy allows users to access their emails, attachments, contacts, etc. even when they’re offline and any changes made are synchronized with the Exchange server when the device is connected to internet.
However, OST files are really vulnerable to corruption because of plenty of reasons leading to the loss of crucial data. Hence it is advised to convert OST files to PST format, considering the associated benefits of PST files over OST. Read ahead to know more about the ways to convert OST files to PST without the need for Outlook.
What’s the need to convert OST to PST without Outlook?
There are numerous reasons why users consider converting their OST files to PST format. Some of the most plausible reasons are:
- If by chance the Exchange server becomes inaccessible due to any reason, be it server failure or malware attack then accessing your Outlook profile can get difficult. Hence it becomes necessary to convert OST files to PST.
- PST files can be accessed without installing Outlook on your system using some advanced PST viewers available on the internet.
- PST files are easier to migrate as compared to OST files which benefits the user if they wish to migrate their data to another email client or another system.
- Users often consider converting their OST files to PST to back up their data at a safe location.
- OST files are susceptible to corruption and easily corrupt due to synchronization errors with the Exchange server or some other reason.
Thus, we suggest users convert OST to PST to safeguard their data considering PST files have better security features than OST files.
Methods to convert OST to PST
It becomes necessary for users to convert their OST files to PST in certain scenarios to ensure smooth workflow and avoid data loss. Let’s learn about some effective methods to convert OST files to PST format.
Method 1: Using the Import/Export feature
One of the easiest ways by which you can convert OST to PST is by using Import/Export feature offered by Microsoft Outlook. Follow the steps below to use this feature:
- Launch Outlook and click on File.
- In the Open & Export section, click on Import/Export.
- In the newly opened dialogue box, select the Export to a file option from the given list and hit Next.
- Choose Outlook Data File (.pst) and click Next.
- Select the folder where all the OST files are saved and click on Next.
- Choose the destination folder and hit Finish.
This will convert your data file to PST within minutes. However, if the given method doesn’t work for you, move to the next sections.
Method 2: Using AutoArchive feature of Outlook
AutoArchive feature of Outlook automatically moves folder items from your inbox to the archive folder to free up space in the primary mailbox, create a backup and improve performance. You can schedule how frequently you want to archive your data and which folders to archive. Follow the steps to use this feature below:
- Click on the File tab in Outlook.
- Choose Options and select Advanced from the left pane.
- Click on the AutoArchive Settings option. A new dialogue box will open on your screen.
- Set the filters as per your requirements and click OK.
This method can help you convert OST files to PST, however, if there’s an issue in your OST file, the given steps might not help you out.
Limitations of manual methods
Manual methods don’t always turn out to be accurate and carry certain limitations. Most common drawbacks of using manual methods are:
- Time-consuming: Converting multiple OST files individually is a very lengthy procedure which consumes a lot of time for the users.
- Chances of error: Repeating the same step over and over again can result in some kind of mishap at the user’s end. Experiencing any kind of technical error while converting OST files to PST can cause data loss.
- Expert technical knowledge needed: Manual methods are generally technical in nature which can be quite difficult for users with little to no technical knowledge.
- Chances of file corruption: Any mistakes while attempting these procedures can cause serious damage to user’s data files, due to which OST file becomes inaccessible and can cause data loss.
How to convert OST to PST without Outlook?
There’s no workaround available to convert OST to PST without Outlook since OST files can’t be accessed if there’s no Outlook application installed on your system. Users can try converting their OST files to PST with the methods discussed above but they also have some risks associated with them. This is why we advise you to use a professional OST to PST Converter to streamline the conversion process. Recoveryfix for OST to PST Converter can recover entire data from the OST mailbox and convert it to multiple formats like PST, MSG, DBX, EML, TXT, etc.
Conclusion
PST files are a far better choice than OST files considering they’re much more secure and better in functionality as compared to OST files. Users can convert OST to PST for free with the built-in tools present in Outlook but they’re not a feasible choice for large mailboxes and carry the risk of data loss. Since OST files can only be accessed with Outlook, it’s not possible to convert them to PST format without Outlook. We suggest you to convert your OST files to PST format using a trusted OST to PST converter such as Recoveryfix for OST to PST Converter.
