How to Import OST File into Outlook (Step-by-Step Guide)

When professionals are on business trips, internet access is usually limited or restricted. In that case, to access their Outlook emails stored in an OST file, they can import OST file into Outlook. The OST file functions as an offline Outlook data file. Unfortunately, MS Outlook does not have a built-in option to import an OST file. Therefore, we have an option to either manually do it or use a professional tool, Cigati OST To PST Converter. Follow this blog for detailed, step-by-step methods to import the OST file in Outlook with complete accuracy and data preservation.

Reasons to Import OST to Outlook

Apart from recovery needs, importing OST files helps maintain backup, archive old emails, etc. There are several reasons to do it. Have a look at some of them:

• To restore emails and other mailbox data from an inaccessible account, importing OST file into Outlook is helpful.
• When the Outlook profile gets corrupted, importing an OST file into Outlook helps recover the email data. This will not require reconnecting to the server.
• User import their OST file when switching to a new device. This ensures that all the Outlook data is available to the new Computer.
• A user travelling in a low internet connectivity zone often import their OST file into Outlook for offline access.. 
• If the OST file becomes orphaned, users usually import their OST file in MS Outlook. 

Locate the OST File as per your Outlook Versions

The following steps might differ a little bit as per your Outlook versions:

1. First, open the Outlook application.
2. Then, go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings.
3. Now, click on the Data Files tab to find the OST File location.
4. After that, look for your account and under Location, note the location listed.

Multiple Approaches to Import OST File into Outlook

After understanding the reasons why users need to import their OST file in Outlook. We’ll proceed further. In this section, we will explore different approaches to successfully import the OST file. Let’s begin.

Approach 01: Import OST File in Outlook with Same Outlook Profile

This is the simplest manual approach to import the OST file that is linked to the original Outlook profile. This method needs no conversion or extra tools.

These steps are to be considered to begin the process:

1. Firstly, make sure that the same Outlook profile is connected to the OST file.
2. Now, open MS Outlook and click on File > Open & Export > Import/Export > Outlook Data File.
3. Then, locate the OST file, and Outlook will load the data from your OST file. 

Limitations: The orphaned OST file will not be accessible through this method. Also, the user cannot import this OST file into a different Outlook profile. 

Approach 02: Import OST File to New Outlook Using Outlook Export Feature

In this method, we export the OST mailbox data to PST format. This way user can transfer the data to a new Outlook profile. It is useful for data migration, backup, or recovery purposes.

Follow the step-by-step instructions to start the procedure:

1. Open MS Outlook and press the File tab.
2. Now, navigate to Open & Export > Import/Export > Export to a file > Next.
3. After that, select Outlook Data File (.pst) and click Next to proceed. 
4. Then, choose the folders to export and check the Include Subfolders checkbox.
5. Specify the destination to save the file and click on Finish.
6. Once the PST file is saved, import this into Outlook.
7. For that, go to File > Open & Export > Import/Export > Outlook Data File and choose the saved exported PST File.

Limitations: The above process will be time-consuming if the user is exporting a large mailbox. PST file corruption may occur due to the size limitation in different Outlook versions. 

Approach 03: Load OST File into Outlook with Archive Feature 

With the help of the Archive feature in Outlook, users can load the less-accessed emails in a separate PST file. They can also manually import this archive PST file into new Outlook profile if needed. 

Use the step-by-step process to load the OST file into Outlook:

1. Launch the Outlook application.
2. Then, head to File > Info > Tools > Archive/Clean up Old Items.
3. After that, select Archive this folder and all subfolders.
4. Now, choose the folder you wish to archive and set the destination to store the resultant file.
5. Finally, click on Start to start the archiving process.
6. Once the emails are stored in an archived PST file, import this PST file using Step 7 in Approach 02 above.

Limitations: The above process does not recover emails from an orphaned OST or inaccessible profile. While managing the large archived PST file, the Outlook performance may be affected. 

Automated Approach to Directly Import OST File into Outlook

The Cigati OST to PST Converter addresses the drawbacks of the conventional methods to import the OST to Outlook. It automatically imports the OST file into Microsoft Outlook with full accuracy. Beyond this, the tool supports conversion to other file formats like DOC, PDF, and various email clients. Throughout the conversion, it preserved the metadata and also handles bulk operations efficiently. 

Quick and simple steps to import OST to Outlook:

1. To begin with, download and install the converter.
2. Then, upload the desired OST file using the Select File option.
3. After that, find the mailbox folders and pick the emails you wish to convert. Click Next.
4. From the available options, choose PST File Format.
5. Now, from the built-in features, select the ones you require.
6. At last, press the Convert button to start the process.

Conclusion

Enterprises often choose to archive specific emails from an OST file to an Outlook PST file. To access the archived emails, they need to import OST file into Outlook. With the manual methods, there is no guarantee that all the mailbox data will be imported without errors. A simpler solution is to use a professional tool, Cigati OST to PST Converter. It effortlessly opens the OST file and converts it into a PST file format. The tool also ensures data integrity and maintains the folder structure.

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