Nowadays, with growing popularity of digital market among all users, the mode of cross-communication is online. There are a specified number of platforms or email programs to share email messages, text, meetings, etc. Each mail client has its own file extension to save the data. OST is one such format, which belongs to Microsoft Outlook. However, the main challenge comes when users want to move OST file to Office 365 suite. The need arises in the same way because of many professional or personal reasons. Some users want to save emails in Office 365 so that they can easily access the data at any time. As MS Office 365 is a cloud-based application, developed by Microsoft. It is a secure place where users can save their crucial data. To know challenges faced by end users let us consider the following query:
“I have been working on MS Outlook for a long time. Nevertheless, now I have decided to import OST file to Office 365. I have searched so many methods, but I was unable to find any suitable approach. Therefore, I am looking for a solution to convert OST to Office 365.”
Outlook OST to Office 365 Migration Manually
There is no direct approach that can export OST messages into Office 365 account. Henceforth, first users need to convert OST to PST file and then, import PST files into O365 suite. This process is categorized into two steps:
Step 1: Move OST File to PST Format
To import OST file to PST format there are several methods available that users can use. All these methods are broadly categorized as:
1. Create New PST File & copy OST in it
2. Use Archive feature of Microsoft Outlook
3. Use Export feature of Microsoft Outlook
Create New Outlook data file & save OST file in it
1. Create New PST File & copy OST in it
2. Use Archive feature of Microsoft Outlook
3. Use Export feature of Microsoft Outlook
Create New Outlook data file & save OST file in it
1). First, launch MS Outlook mail client
2). Now, create a new PST file in Outlook
3). Copy the desired mailbox folders and paste it into the PST file
Use Archive Feature of MS Outlook
2). Now, create a new PST file in Outlook
3). Copy the desired mailbox folders and paste it into the PST file
Use Archive Feature of MS Outlook
a). Open Outlook application, click on File menu and choose Archive option
b). After this, select the particular file or folder
c). Browse the desired location where you want to store all archived files and click OK
d). In the last step, you can directly create the archive files
c). Browse the desired location where you want to store all archived files and click OK
d). In the last step, you can directly create the archive files
Note: One can directly transfer OST file to PST except all contacts, by using this manual approach.
Use Export feature of MS Outlook
Use Export feature of MS Outlook
a). Open MS Outlook and click on Export button from the File menu
b). Select Export to a file option and then, click Next button
c). Then, select Personal File Folder (PST) option and press Next
d). Now, choose the specific folder which you want to convert (make sure this option “include subfolders” is enabled)
e). Eventually, provide a specific path where to store migrated files. Click on Finish to complete the entire task
Note: This method only works when users account is connected with MS Exchange Server.
Step 2: Upload PST to Shared Mailbox Office 365
To import PST file into Office 365 suite manually one can use any of the techniques as discussed below:
a). Upload OST File to Office 365 via Azure AzCopy.
b). Download & install Azure Azcopy and then, copy SAS URL too(SAS URL will only provide the permission to transfer PST to Azure).
c). Now, upload Outlook data files (PST) into Office 365 account successfully.
d). You can view all the uploaded PST files to complete the process.
e). You can also generate a new PST import mapping (CSV) file.
f). Finally, you can create Outlook PST import job in Office 365 profile.
Import PST to O365 using Drive shipping
a). Upload OST File to Office 365 via Azure AzCopy.
b). Download & install Azure Azcopy and then, copy SAS URL too(SAS URL will only provide the permission to transfer PST to Azure).
c). Now, upload Outlook data files (PST) into Office 365 account successfully.
d). You can view all the uploaded PST files to complete the process.
e). You can also generate a new PST import mapping (CSV) file.
f). Finally, you can create Outlook PST import job in Office 365 profile.
Import PST to O365 using Drive shipping
a). Copy a PST file in the BitLocker-encrypted hard drive
b). Next, you can export a drive to Microsoft physically
c). When Microsoft receives a flash drive, the personal data also start uploading the received PST files into a temporary folder in Microsoft cloud
d). Finally, users can use an Import service of MS Office 365 for converting PST files to Office 365 suite.
Professional Way to Migrate Offline OST Data to Office 365
In case, if the above solution gets fail then, users can use trusted third-party tool i.e., OST to Office 365 Converter. It is designed in such a way to regain all items i.e., emails, calendars, contacts from Outlook OST file. It also ensures to keep all metadata remain intact without any data loss. It has an easy-to-use interface that even a native user can understand the working of this software more clearly.
Final Words
In the above-discussion, we have explained manual method to let users understand the ideal OST to Office 365 migration strategy. Along with this, we have suggested one of the best solutions i.e., OST to Office 365 Converter that will help to export OST file to Office 365 effectively.
