Summary:Each mailbox folder in MS Outlook, containing email messages, contacts, calendar events, journals, notes, tasks, and others, is stored in an OST or PST file. However, frequent server crashes caused by malicious software, spam emails, virus attacks, power outages, etc. creates a situation where users need to convert OST files to PST format. Therefore, we will talk about how to effortlessly convert OST to PST in this article. You can use the Import/Export Feature, Auto Archive Settings, and other options to convert OST to PST file format,. In addition to manually converting OST to PST, you may also make use of the OST to PST Converter Tool, which enables users to simultaneously convert numerous OST files to Outlook PST format.

Introducing MS Outlook

MS Outlook is a personal information management software by Microsoft and is available as a part of Microsoft Office suite. It is primarily used for sending and receiving emails, other key functions involve calendars, tasks, contacts, notes, journals.

About OST File

Offline Storage Table (OST) file stores all the Exchange data on the user’s system and make it available for users even if the Exchange Server is unavailable or Outlook is in offline mode. It contains all user mailbox’s items including emails and contacts.

What is PST File?

Personal Storage Table (PST) file is a portable database file stored on the system drive location containing entire Outlook email client data such as mailbox folder items (emails, contacts, calendars, notes, tasks, groups, etc.), structure properties, rules, etc.

Corrupt Outlook OST File Error Messages

In Microsoft Outlook 2013 or later versions, you receive the following error message:

Errors have been detected in the file C:\Users<name>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook\[email protected]

“Your offline folder file could not be configured.\\ComputerName\FolderName\Outlook.ost.”

“The operation failed due to a registry or installation problem. Restart Outlook and try again. If the problem persists, please reinstall.”

“Cannot open OST file. Access Exchange for once to open OST file.”

Symptoms that indicate issues with Outlook OST File

Few common symptoms that indicate issues with Outlook OST file:

• Outlook takes long time to load/start
• Delays in sending or receiving new emails
• Issues with mailbox synchronization
• Outlook crashes or freezes frequently

Common reasons for corruption of Outlook OST files

• Improper termination of the Outlook application
• Unintentional deletion of user account
• Add-in failure
• Presence of virus or bugs in the storage devices
• Hardware-related issues
• Bad hard drive sectors
• Sudden system shutdown or power failure
• Synchronization errors
• Header corruption
• Oversized OST file
• Network issues during mailbox synchronization
• Incompatible or faulty add-ins

Need to Convert OST to PST

Let us first of all understand what is the need for converting Outlook OST files to PST files.

What if you are facing issues like –

• Unable to access Outlook data that is connected with Microsoft Exchange Server or IMAP server
• Experiencing issues with Outlook Offline Storage Table (OST) file
• OST files become inaccessible due to various reasons such as Outlook profile lost its connection with MS Exchange Server.
• An oversized OST file leads to Outlook slowness, email delivery gets delayed, etc and is also prone to corruption.
• Exchange Server is down or is under maintenance that makes OST files inaccessible.
• An employee left the organization and you want to access his/her OST file.
• Unable to open OST files on any other system than the one on which it was configured.
• Connectivity issues with Microsoft Exchange Server for accessing offline Outlook OST file.

Locating OST Files

• Navigate to File à Account Settings à Account Settings.
• Click on Data Files tab, select OST file to be migrated to PST. Click Open File Location.

Note: Irrespective of Outlook version, OST files can be found at:

C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook

Manual Method – Export OST to PST using in-built Import/Export feature within the Outlook

Perform the below steps to export OST file to PST file:

• Open Microsoft Outlook email client.
• Navigate to File à Open & Export à Import/Export.
• The Import and Export Wizard appears. For Choose an action to perform, select Export to a file à click Next.
• The Export to a File wizard appears. For Create a file of type, select Outlook Data File (.pst) à click Next.
• The Export Outlook Data File wizard appears. Select the folders that you want to export. Select Include subfolders checkbox if you want to export entire mailbox items.
• Click Filter to select the data as per your specific needs.
• Click Next.
• In the Export Outlook Data File wizard, for Save exported file as, it will have a default location and name of the PST file. Click Browse to select the location and name of the PST file. For the available options for managing duplicate items, you can select any one of them:

• Replace duplicates with items exported
• Allow duplicate items to be created
• Do not export duplicate items

• Click Finish.
• You can create a password-protected PST file by entering a password. Enter the password, confirm it, and click OK.

Scanpst.exe – A built-in Outlook Inbox Repair Tool to repair corrupt OST file

Scanpst.exe (also known as Inbox Repair tool), is an Outlook built-in application that repairs damaged Outlook OST files. This Scanpst.exe is usually found in Outlook installation directory, however the actual position of scanpst.exe may differ depending on the version of Outlook you are using. The location of scanpst.exe for different versions is:

MS Outlook 2019: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\

MS Outlook 2016: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16

MS Outlook 2013: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office15

MS Outlook 2010: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14

MS Outlook 2007: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office12

Steps to repair corrupt OST file using Scanpst.exe:

1. Exit Outlook.
2. Locate and run the scanpst.exe tool.
3. Click Browse to locate the corrupted OST file.
4. Click Start to begin repairing.
5. Click Repair once scanpst.exe utility is done with scanning the OST file.
6. After completion of repairing the corrupted OST file, a success message appears.

Open Outlook in Safe Mode for repairing OST File

The add-in installed in MS Outlook sometimes causes conflicts. On opening MS Outlook in safe mode, the add-ins get disabled. Perform below steps to open Outlook in safe mode:

• Go to the Start menu, select Run or press Windows+R keys.
• In the Run box, type the command Outlook.exe/safe.
• Click OK to proceed. Microsoft Outlook will launch in safe mode.

Scheduled Archiving of OST Files

Using the auto-archiving feature of MS Outlook, create a copy of your OST mail account n PST fie format. To achieve this, perform the below steps:

1. Launch MS Outlook.

2. Click File à Options à Advanced.

3. In AutoArchive section, click AutoArchive Settings.

4. Configure how Outlook will create PST files for you.

5. In the AutoArchive dialog box, select all the checkboxes.

Make sure to specify the interval of days you want Outlook to run the AutoArchive in Run AutoArchive every days option.

6. Define the time frame in Clean out items older than section.

7. Select Move old items to radio button and click Browse to specify the destination path.

8. Click OK to set the auto-archive.

Manual Method: Converting OST File Using Cleanup Tools to Move Mails to PST

Using Cleanup Tools on Outlook, you can move your mails from an OST file to a PST file. This helps reducing the chances of errors and also helps reducing the original OST file size. To achieve this, follow the steps:

• Launch Outlook. Navigate to File à Info à Tools à Clean Up Old Items.
• In the pop-up window that appears, select the “Archive this folder and all subfolders” option.
• Select the folder you want to archive and choose a specific date.
• Click Browse to specify the archive file location.
• Click OK. All the mail items until your specified date are archived in a PST file.

Limitations with Manual Convert OST to PST Method

• Outlook users must be connected with Exchange Server through their own profiles.
• The manual OST to PST conversion method does not work in case OST files are corrupted, damaged or Exchange Server is in down state.
• There are chances of data loss and damage.
• The manual method is complex and time-consuming.
• Requires technical knowledge to perform the steps in an accurate manner.
• If procedure is not followed strictly or anything goes wrong, the OST file can get corrupted.
• The manual method to repair corrupted OST files fixes only minor errors.
• Does not guarantee data safety.
• The inbuilt tool scanpst.exe utility is available for Outlook 2010 versions.
• The manual method for repairing corrupted OST file can repair only up to 2 GB size OST file.
• You can export or archive OST files that are connected to your profile only.

When to Use Convert OST to PST Software

Use Microsoft Convert OST to PST software:

• To prevent OST files data loss situation in case of accidental deletion, oversized OST file, etc.
• In case of Exchange Server downtime due to power failure or Exchange Server under maintenance.
• To resolve Microsoft Outlook errors in case of OST files corruption.

Third-party Convert OST to PST Without Outlook Tool

As manual methods has numerous limitations, we recommend using a third-party professional TrijaTech OST to PST Converter tool for converting corrupt, damaged or inaccessible OST files to MS Outlook PST files. The Change OST to PST tool allows users to save the recovered email items on email servers, web-based email clients, and cloud Office 365 service.

The Export OST to PST tool offers many other saving options such as:

• Single File Options – PST file (MS Outlook), MBOX file.
• Multiple File Options – MSG file, EML file, HTML file, and PDF file
• Email Servers – Microsoft Exchange Server and Office 365.
• Web-Based Email Clients – Gmail/Gsuite, Yahoo Mail, Hotmail/MSN/Outlook.com, GoDaddy Email, Amazon Workmail.

Convert OST to PST Without Outlook Software Features

• Converts OST files to PST file format.
• Recovers corrupted OST files and also allows to process orphaned OST files. The Convert OST to PST Without Outlook software converts every bit of data from added OST files, including To, From, CC, BCC, Subjects, Time, Date, and Attachments.
• Recovers deleted emails, folders, appointments, tasks, notes, calendar, journals, drafts, emails, zipped attachments, etc.
• Recovers emails from encrypted and password-protected OST files.
• Recovers permanently deleted emails.
• Displays data preview of added OST files before converting them into PST format. You can preview From, Subject, To, Cc and email alongwith attachments.
• Converts multiple OST files into PST file in a single go. Also, there is no file size limitation as it supports converting large-sized OST files.
• Supports selective folders conversion and offers option to eliminate empty folders from the conversion process.
• Maintains the folder hierarchy, email formatting, and data integrity while performing the OST to PST conversion.
• Fully supports directly exporting OST files into Office 365 and Live Exchange mailboxes.
• Facilitates migrating OST files to Gmail, Yahoo mail, Hotmail, Amazon Work email, etc.
• Allows saving OST files’ email into EML, EMLX, MSG, PDF, MBOX, vCard, HTML, TGZ and ICS file format.
• Offers a split feature option to set a specific file size for the resultant PST file.
• Offers a easy-to-use, convenient GUI such that even novice users can easily perform OST to PST conversion task in a few clicks. No any technical skills required to use this Microsoft Convert OST to PST software.
• Fully compatible with all Outlook and Windows Operating System versions.
• Available as a free demo version to check the Change OST to PST software capabilities. The free trial version saves only first 30 items per folder from OST file to PST file.
• Free technical support on purchase of license.

How Change OST to PST Converter Software Works?

Step 1: Install and open the OST to PST Converter tool.

Step 2: Select OST files or folder and click the Start Scan button.

Step 3: The Microsoft Convert OST to PST tool displays preview of mailbox and click on the Export option.

Step 4: In the pop-up, select file format and size for the PST file.

Step 5: Once done with all steps, click the Convert Now button.

Conclusion

This article discusses the need for converting OST files to PST format and the limitations of manually conversion OST files to PST file format. We strongly recommend using a professional third-party OST to PST Converter for accurate conversion of OST files to PST files without any data loss. The tool is also available as a Convert OST to PST Free Demo version to let users check the software capabilities before deciding to purchase the full licensed version.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I convert an OST to PST for free?

Use the available free demo version of OST to PST Converter tool to convert your OST file to Outlook PST file format for free. The free version of the Export OST to PST software will let you save first 30 items per folder from OST file to PST file.

Can I convert OST file to Outlook PST File?

Yes. You can convert your OST file to Outlook PST file using the professional OST to PST Converter software. And not only to PST format, using the Convert OST to PST Free tool you can convert OST file to EML, EMLX, MSG, PDF, MBOX, vCard, HTML, TGZ and ICS file formats.