The desktop email program used by professionals or for commercial purposes is Microsoft Outlook. In addition, there have been certain modifications to the management of IMAP email accounts starting with Outlook 2013. In fact, two IMAP files, such as OST and PST, were created by earlier versions of Outlook. Within Microsoft Outlook 2010, separate files are used to manage email and store notes, calendars, contacts, and other mailbox-related data. However, starting with Outlook 2013, each IMAP email account will only create one OST file. Emails without attachments will not by default be saved in PST files.
The management of Outlook accounts is likely to be impacted by this change. However, preserving contacts, notes, or other crucial information while converting IMAP OST to PST files in Outlook 2021, 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, has grown to be a significant issue. Users may simply save an OST file in their Outlook email folder or have emails open directly in the application in earlier iterations of Microsoft Outlook. Furthermore, it is difficult to backup and recovery contacts from an OST file. It turns into a significant obstacle for each user. To back them up at this point, the folder needs to be exported. Thus, we will now go over the two best methods for converting an IMAP OST file to an Outlook PST.
Causes for Outlook IMAP OST to PST Conversion
Users are required to do conversions for the following reasons. So all you need to do is take the following actions: Important data items from the mailbox on the Exchange server can be easily recovered in the event of an inadvertent deletion thanks to the migration. Users must convert OST files to Outlook PST files if they wish to move or switch to a different platform. if software bugs, virus assaults, or any other issues cause the Exchange server to crash. When maintenance occurs, users are unable to access their mailboxes; thus, OST files must be transferred and subsequently imported into Outlook.
Manual Methods for Changing or Converting IMAP OST to PST
Examine the following methods to ensure a smooth conversion process.
Any strategy that best suits your needs can be used:
Method 1:
- Utilize Microsoft Outlook’s “Archive” function Users of Outlook can copy and move
- mailbox contents into PST file format by selecting the “Archive” option.
- You can install the email program Outlook on your local computer first.
- From the top bar, choose the File tab.
- You must select the Archive option here.
- The Archive dialog box should now show up on the screen.
- On the same screen, you’ll notice an option to “Archive items older than.”
- After that, you can use a calendar to choose the exact date.
- To select the preferred location for saving a new Outlook PST file, click “Browse.”
- This opens a newly produced PST file and shows you where it is.
- Finally, press the “OK” button to begin the next step.
Recall: Users can just move the entire OST file, independent of Outlook Contacts, using this manual method.
Method 2: IMAP OST file to PST Conversion –
Using this procedure, you must initially create an entirely new PST file in your Outlook profile, then drag the desired folders to the new location. However, using this method will show a personalized message that can be posted to the folder.
You cannot drag default folders like Inbox, Calendars, Sent Items, Contacts, etc. into an Outlook PST using this method. Consequently, all you have to do is copy a Microsoft Exchange Offline OST folder to a PST file.
Method 3: Use Outlook 2016 to move an IMAP OST File
In Outlook 2013 and later versions, an OST file is created in lieu of the.pst file if IMAP accounts fail to generate one. The OST data file must be converted into PST format in order to be moved from an existing one.ost file to an Outlook 2016 mailbox. You can import the PST file into Microsoft Outlook 2016.
- Please create a new PST file from the old IMAP OST data, then move it to another machine.
- Subsequently, in order to upload a fresh PST file, open Microsoft Outlook 2016 and pick the
- Import/Export option under the File menu. Next, pick Open and Export.
- Choose Import from another application or file from the Import and Export Wizard, then click the next option.
- After selecting the appropriate PST file, click the Next button.
- Browse to the specific folder containing the PST file, then click the OK button.
- Go ahead and click the Finish button now.
An Automatic Way to Transform IMAP OST to PST
The procedures mentioned above need a great deal of time and effort. To efficiently alter an IMAP OST file, users may thus enlist the aid of a professional solution, such as DataVare IMAP OST to PST Converter. Users can export data, including emails, calendars, contacts, tasks, diaries, and more, from offline OST files with this tool. Because of its intuitive interface, anyone with no experience can use it without any additional training.
Steps to Export OST files to PST
• Download and install the tool on your system
• Add OST files/folder to tool
• Scan OST files and show live preview
• Select Destination Path where you want to save your resultant OST files
• Click on Convert Now tab to start the process of OST files to PST files Conversion
Now let’s conclude
The most popular email program available to users worldwide is Microsoft Outlook. Users wish to convert IMAP OST to PST file because of multiple problems. We have therefore covered a few manual methods of data conversion in this article. These manual methods do have certain limitations, though. Therefore, it is also advised to use a trustworthy program to transfer offline Outlook data files without any data loss. Users can choose any one of them to carry out the data migration process more effectively.