How to Convert OST to PST Manually?

MS Exchange server application comprises an added facility of creating an offline local file comprising of complete account data like emails, contacts, journals, notes, etc. This local file is created when the Outlook cached mode is enabled while configuring the Exchange application. User is allowed to use this local OST file without any dependence in network connectivity. When user establishes the connection of Outlook application with Exchange account, this OST file gets synchronized and the email data is synched accordingly. Although this OST file has some restrictions for its usage and because of these restrictions users can demand to convert OST to PST manually.

What Demands OST to PST Conversion?

There are many scenarios which demand such conversion. For instance; the file size difference between Exchange mailbox and the local replica OST file call for archiving or storing the OST email data to another file format. This will keep a check on the size limit of OST file which is very limited as compared to Exchange database. There are many other reasons like OST file cannot be accessed in any other system by mere copying it or importing it in another system’s Outlook application. The file is bound to original MAPI Exchange profile and hence it cannot be accessed in any other system.

All such situations demand to assemble email data to another file format which can also be accessed like OST and emails can be viewed with similar interface and usage. OST being an Outlook application storage file, one can convert OST to PST manually so that the email data can be accessed in Outlook application easily. The basic factor responsible for performing manual conversion of OST file to PST file is that the OST file should not be orphan or corrupted. An active and stable file can be easily converted to PST file by following the below mentioned steps. The steps have been performed on MS Outlook 2010 application.

Steps for Manual OST to PST Conversion

Step 1: Open MS Outlook with Exchange profile.

Step 2: Go to File menu and click on Open option. Here select Import in order to export the emails to PST file.

Step 3: Another Import & Export wizard window will open where you can choose the action to be performed. Choose “Export to a file” option in order to export data from OST file and click Next.

Step 4: Here select the destination file to which you want to export the email data. Choose Outlook Data File (.pst) as an Export option and click Next.

Step 5: Select the folders from which the email data has to be exported. You can also add the filters for advanced and organized email export. Once folders are selected, click Next. 

Step 6: Here by default the exported file is saved to “C:\Users\Username\Documents\Outlook Files” folder location with name as backup.pst file. You can click on Browse and change the location. There are various sub-options which can be selected related to duplicate email items. Once done, click Finish.

Conclusion

The exported PST file will be saved to the provided path location which will carry the existing email data. In this way the space allocated for OST file can be free and new email data can be stored in this file now.