Convert Exchange OST File to Outlook PST File – How can You Do It?

If the need is to convert Exchange OST files to Outlook PST file, then the present article may prove to be highly advantageous for all such users. This is due to the fact that the article deals with various scenarios during which it gets essential to convert .ost files into .pst format and different ways to convert them.
Different Situations That Need OST to PST Conversion

• It can be that an employee is leaving the current employer but want to have access to all the data items of different categories in the Exchange OST file like emails, calendars, contacts, tasks, journals, etc. As OST files are not accessible in any other system Outlook except in which it is created, it gets essential make conversion in Outlook PST format and then the transformed files can be imported into any other machine, having Outlook with the in-built import-export wizard.  
• Users may get encountered with various error messages while accessing Exchange Outlook offline files. Generally error messages arise due to corruption in the OST file. In such a case both recovery as well as conversion from Offline Storage Table to Personal Folders becomes essential. Conversion gets essential because even if OST gets repaired, to make it usable and accessible once again transformation becomes a necessity.

The subject is produced as a resolution to convert Exchange OST file to Outlook PST file. Therefore, several methods to perform the same are discussed here in the article.

Manual Ways to Convert OST into Personal Folders

1. With ‘Export’ Feature in Outlook - Outlook possesses a built-in feature called ‘Export’ with the help of which Exchange OST file can be converted into Personal Storage Table; however there is a problem associated with it. The trouble is that it is not considered as an apt means for the conversion of .ost data file into PST format because it does not assure accuracy of data in the converted file without technical expertise, although it is known to be effective for other data migration from one platform to the other.
2. Shift Mailbox Items to New Outlook PST File – To convert Exchange OST files to Outlook PST file, the items stored in the mailbox can be moved to a newly created .pst file.  To do this, at first users need to make a new PST file in Outlook program. After that mailbox folders of .ost file that are to be imported in Personal Folders, need to dragged one at a time.

Moreover, with the export characteristic it is not only possible to convert .ost file into .pst type but in CSV and Excel too. With this, users of the company where creation of PST file is restricted they can export to CSV file or Excel format. Though the method is not usually recommended for exportation of OST to PST without expert guidance, it is considered as a quick and easy way to achieve migration.

Though the process seems quite easy and advantageous because it preserves custom views and forms published to folder, it is not advantageous when the default folders of OST file have to be transferred. The reason being, that the default folders of .ost file type like Inbox, Calendar, Contacts, etc. cannot be transferred through this method. When tried to do so a message pops up that default folders cannot be moved and the contents get instead copied with the folder named Inbox (1), Calendar (1), etc.

Remarks – As discussed in the above section, the manual procedures do not prove to be quite effective. Moreover, they do not support recovery of OST file in case of corruption issues. Therefore, due to these drawbacks other ways to make recovery as well as conversion should be brought in use.

Ultimate Resolution to Deal with OST File Errors

Hence, to convert Exchange OST file to Outlook PST file, a third party tool called OST Recovery is suggested as key application. The reason being that it has the capability to achieve success over any major damage caused by recovering all data items as well as be making a change over from .ost to Outlook .pst format.