To address the issue of mailbox downtime, Microsoft created Cached Exchange mode for Exchange Server accounts in Outlook. The cached Exchange mode makes the mailbox usable when there isn’t an active connection between Outlook and the Exchange Server.
All of the Exchange mailbox data is available in a local file known as the OST file, which stands for Offline Outlook Data file while using Microsoft Outlook in offline (Cached Exchange) mode. Your Exchange mailbox continues to exist as OST files on your local computer. While you are using Outlook in offline mode, data is stored in OST files. However, these data periodically run the danger of being ruined or unusable. You must convert them into PST files to keep utilizing them in this circumstance.
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Because of this, conversion from OST to PST is a common operation for Microsoft Outlook users. The requirement for this conversion occurs even when an Outlook user has to access an OST file on a separate machine or format it for use in another email program. Fortunately, there are two straightforward, cost-free choices available. This blog post will describe the procedures for using each approach.
Here are a few advantageous scenarios for converting OST to PST files.
OST files, which are the data files of Exchange accounts linked to Outlook, are useful in a variety of circumstances, including the following:
- The Exchange server deletes a few user mailboxes.
- Would like to back up a few Exchange mailboxes (before they are deleted)
- An Exchange user has some unsaved data in his damaged OST file and wants to reconstruct it.
- Users desperately want access to their emails despite the corrupted Exchange accounts being unreachable.
- to resume email communication when Exchange is unavailable or offline
- You will need to convert the OST to PST to retrieve your previous emails if you are migrating from one email client to another and your new email client doesn’t support OST files.
- If you are unable to access your email because it has been compromised. You can now read your old emails and perhaps even restore any lost data by converting the OST to PST.
As long as you can sign in to Outlook using the same Exchange profile, there are several ways to convert any OST file into a PST file. Here are a few native ways to convert OST to PST:
Export Mailbox as a PST, first. File
Use the Exchange account that was used to produce the OST files to log into Outlook. Additionally, adhere to the straightforward instructions provided here to export OST mailboxes to PST:
- Click Import & Export under Files > Open & Export.
- After choosing Export to a file, click Next.
- Click Next after selecting the second choice, Outlook Data File (.pst).
- Click Next after choosing the folder or folders you wish to export.
Note: that you also have the choice to include subfolders.
- Choose an option for the duplicate items and browse to the directory where you wish to save the new PST files.
Note: that selecting a password for the PST file is optional; you can still proceed without doing so.
Method 2: Archive OST emails to save them to PST.
You can store the items from the OST file in a different PST file by turning on the Auto Archive option in Outlook. You can adjust the size of your mailbox using this technique. When there are many older messages you do not need in your mailbox, you can effortlessly move them to the archive folder. The mailbox will get smaller as a result. To activate auto archiving in Outlook, simply follow the easy instructions.
- Open the Outlook program, select File, and then click Options.
- Click Auto Archive Settings under Advanced.
- Now decide how many days you want the auto-archiving to run. Choose the archived file’s destination folder, then choose the choices for archiving it before clicking OK.
- This will save mailbox items from your OST file to the PST file following your archive settings.
Without an Exchange profile or server connectivity, convert OST to PST
A professional program called TrustVare OST to PST Converter can easily convert some contents from each OST folder to PST. It has the benefit of converting offline OST files to PST without the need for an Exchange profile or access to the Exchange Server. Using its incredibly user-friendly interface, the user can choose one or more OST files, recover items—including deleted ones, and convert them to PST format. It can also convert several OST files to PST simultaneously. Let’s see how the tool functions: –
Steps use the professional OST to PST Converter Software:
- Download the OST to PST Converter Tool in the Windows system.
- Now start the app and accept the “Terms and conditions”.
- Choose the OST file or folder that you need to export into PST.
- Filter OST files by emails, attachments, tasks, journals, notes, etc.
- Preview OST files before the conversion process begins.
- Choose the location to save the converted OST files.
- After the all steps hit on the “Convert Now” button and start exporting OST files to PST file format.
Final Upshot
Therefore, these are the two ways you can convert your OST file to PST. While the first technique is quicker and doesn’t need any additional software, it is also more user-friendly. Though the second approach is more difficult, it moves along more quickly than the first. Depending on your needs and tastes, you can select the approach that best suits you, but the simplest answer can only be obtained by using the OST to PST conversion tool we highly suggest.
Even customers who lack technical expertise can easily convert their files thanks to the tool’s straightforward user interface. Users can assess the software’s performance and features before purchasing by using the free trial version.