Sending and receiving emails using either a web or desktop-based client has become extremely simply and anyone can do it. However, there are some complex tasks relating to email data management that yet don’t have intuitive solutions for basic users to get behind. One of those complex procedures is importing OST file into Office Outlook.
Import OST file into Office Outlook
Here we are discussing in detail all the relevant information of performing such a task. Let’s start with the definitions.
What is Office/Outlook:
Since the title of this post is importing OST file into Office, it’s important to clear the distinction between Outlook and Office. Office is set of apps and services from Microsoft which includes software like Outlook client, Word processor, and services like OneDrive storage space, premium support, etc. For this post, we are going to use Office and Outlook interchangeably.
Is OST file personal data file:
It is an acronym for ‘Offline Storage Table,’ a native format used by Outlook in Windows to store data. But it cannot be handled by users manually for tasks like data import, archive, export, etc. It works internally with the client. It’s a variant of more basic and Outlook standard file called PST.
Is PST same as OST:
PST and OST are almost similar, except in few important aspects. PST stands for Personal Storage Table and that means you can use the file manually for personal operations (outside of Outlook auto and default functions). Examples of operations through PST file include archive/backup, import/export, and migration to other Outlook installations. Other important difference is that PST can also be used for data import in Mac Outlook.
No OST import option:
Inside Outlook Windows client, there is an ‘import’ function that allows you to import different kinds of data using another file or program. For example, you can import CSV (comma separated values) for contacts. But here you will find that there is no option to import OST file, but rather for PST file. This was explained above that OST file cannot be used for data import. But this poses the question: how to import OST into Office Outlook if the format is not supported? The answer is given below.
OST to PST Conversion:
The question of how to import OST file in Office/Outlook has a clear answer: we need to first convert OST file into Office outlook supported PST file and that can only be done through a third-party file converter. By going through OST to PST conversion, we can achieve the same outcome as importing OST file, even if it is not possible directly. This conversion is not a simple task and can get messy if you don’t have the right tool. Data files like OST and PST are not simple files (like media files). Their conversion requires more than just renaming the suffices at the end of the files. A tool requires sophisticated algorithms to extract the information and implement it to new files with correct metadata and structure.
Here we want to suggest going with “OST Extractor Pro” that allows converting OST file format into many others, such as MBOX and EML, including OST file into Office (PST format).
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Download now at https://www.ostextractorpro.com/download-now/
Once the OST is converted to PST, you can simply go to ‘File’ -> Export/Import -> Import from a file -> and select the converted PST file. You will find all the data in OST has been accurately imported into Outlook client. The good news is that you can also use this file with also Mac Outlook client. “OST Extractor Pro” is available in both Mac and Windows versions and has a free trial version.
To import OST to Office 365, get it today.