How to Open PST File Without Outlook – Easy & Free Methods

Need to access PST files but don’t have Microsoft Outlook installed? The Outlook PST files hold years of important emails, contacts, and calendars. Now, you might think that, to open PST file without Outlook is impossible. No need to worry. In this blog, we will provide you with various solutions to help you achieve it. Alongside this, we will learn about a professional tool, Cigati PST Viewer Tool, which quickly opens PST files. Now, let us start exploring the solutions.

Situations for Opening PST Files Without Outlook

Here are some common scenarios where users might need to open PST files in Windows without Outlook:

• The PST file is too large, and hence, Outlook fails to open it.
• If Outlook is not installed in your system, you won’t be able to access archived or old PST files.
• The PST file is either corrupted or damaged and, therefore, cannot be opened in Outlook.
• The Outlook license or subscription has expired, preventing access to mailbox data.
• User needs to verify and preview the PST data before moving it to a new platform.

Ways to Open a PST File Without Outlook

In the following section, we have illustrated several ways to open a PST file without the MS Outlook application. Let’s have a look at both manual ways and automated tool-driven methods to do it.

Method 01: Access PST Files Without Outlook With GWMMO

The Google Workspace Migration for Microsoft Outlook is a free tool with which one can easily import Outlook PST data. This free Google utility is an ideal option for those looking to open and use the PST file online, without Outlook.

These are the following steps to begin the process:

1. First, download, install, and launch the GWMMO tool.
2. Now, enter the Google Workspace email ID and password.
3. After signing in, select the PST file that you wish to open.
4. Then, choose what to import: mail, calendar, or contacts.
5. Next, click on Migrate and access the imported PST data in your Gmail account. 

Drawbacks: It only works for a G Suite account and not a Gmail account. This process fails to open the corrupted PST files. Sometimes, large PST files may fill the Gmail storage and fail to migrate.

Method 02: View PST Files Without Outlook Using Thunderbird

In this method, we will first convert Outlook PST to MBOX format. Then, import the MBOX file into Thunderbird through the ImportExportNG add-on.

The following are the steps to initiate:

1. Start by installing and launching Thunderbird.
2. Then, sign in with an email account.
3. Now, convert PST to MBOX and then in Thunderbird, go to Tools.
4. Next, navigate to Add-ons and Themes > Extensions, search for and install ImportExportToolsNG.
5. After that, restart Thunderbird.
6. Head to Tools > ImportExportToolNG > Import MBOX file.
7. Now, select the imported MBOX file and view the PST file in Thunderbird.

Drawbacks: This method involves converting PST to MBOX, which can be challenging for some users. Some Outlook data, such as flags, rules, etc, fails to transfer. It is time-consuming to convert large PST files.

Method 03: Expert Solution to Open PST File Without Outlook

The PST File Viewer is a go-to solution that effortlessly opens the PST file without Outlook. It is a reliable software that handles both healthy and corrupted PST files. And, while doing so, it ensures that not even a single email is lost. This simple tool has multiple recovery modes: Standard, Advanced, and Deep Scan. After scanning, the user can preview the email data along with the attachments. 

Simplified steps to open/read a PST file without Outlook:

1. Download, install, and open the tool on your machine.
2. Now, choose from Single File/Multiple Files and Select Folder. Then, click Next.
3. After that, find and add the selected PST file you want to view and hit Open. 
4. Expand the tree structure, pick the desired folders/files, and preview them one by one.
5. Next, choose the desired File Format in which you want to view your PST file.
6. Then, choose the additional features and select the Path To Save the resultant file.
7. At last, tap Convert.

Conclusion

To conclude, opening a PST file without Outlook is not complicated anymore. While manual methods to open PST file without Outlook exist, they are not reliable. On the other hand, a hassle-free and reliable way is to use Cigati PST File Viewer. This secure tool opens, scans, and previews PST files without Outlook. Moreover, it supports opening a corrupted PST file and even converts emails into file formats. Also, the tool guarantees a smooth, seamless, and error-free experience.

You May Also Read: Import PST File to Outlook

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