Overview: Struggling to convert PST to MBOX on Windows? Leave all your worries with us, as we have come up with the best free solutions to perform this conversion in this article.
PST files are the default file format used by Microsoft Outlook to store emails, notes, calendars, and other data. Although MS Outlook is a highly used email client, users are looking forward to moving to other email clients that don’t support PST files. In that situation, users need to convert PST files to MBOX format, as MBOX files support various top email clients, including Thunderbird, Apple Mail, and many others.
Before this, we will read some user queries and find the need to convert PST emails to MBOX format.
User Query 1: My clients have saved all data in a PST file, but I don’t have Outlook, and it is tough for me to read the content of the PST file in Thunderbird. Therefore, I want a solution that can help me read PST file items in Thunderbird.
User Query 2: Earlier, we were using Outlook for email communication. But recently, our company shifted to the Apple Mail email client. Now, it is really up to us to migrate Outlook data to Apple Mail. Hence, we are searching for a solution that can safely convert Outlook data items to Apple Mail. Suggest a trustworthy solution.
Top Reasons – Why Convert PST File to MBOX?
Here, we are stating the top reasons behind PST emails to MBOX conversion:
Switch from Outlook to a MBOX-supported email client: A switch from Outlook to Thunderbird, Apple Mail, Entourage, Spicebird, or any other MBOX-supported email client can be the reason to convert PST file items to MBOX format. A PST file can’t be directly accessed in MBOX-supported email programs.
Moving from paid to free email services: Most MBOX file-supported programs, like Thunderbird, are freely available. Whereas Outlook is a paid program (comes with the MS Office Suite). Thus, for cost reduction, small businesses need to convert PST file data to MBOX format.
A change of platform from Windows to Mac/Linux OS: Outlook is based on Windows. However, Mac or Linux OS users prefer MBOX-supportive email clients. Hence, when users shift from Windows to Mac, they need to access Windows Outlook data on Mac/Linux and hence find the need to convert Outlook PST file to MBOX format.
For Archiving and Backup: MBOX file format is very simple & flexible, hence most users find it ideal for backup and archiving purposes. So, many times for backup, users transfer Outlook PST emails to the MBOX file format.
When Outlook is not available in the system: Suppose you just got a PST file, and you don’t have an Outlook installation on your system. Then, to read PST files in available email clients (Thunderbird, Spicebird, or others), converting the PST file to MBOX format helps you to access the data.
Also Read: Convert MBOX to PST using Outlook
Workarounds to Convert Outlook PST file to MBOX
To do this conversion, one can use manual or automated solutions. If you go with a manual solution, you have to be very careful and patient, as manual solutions take time & can be risky. On the other hand, automated tools are safer and simpler, which makes the conversion faster. Let us check out the possible ways to execute this conversion.
Workaround 1. By using Microsoft Outlook
If you have a small set of emails, you can use this method. Here, you need both Thunderbird and Outlook installations to work with this method.
Check the steps involved in converting PST file data to MBOX:
- Start by opening Outlook and importing your PST file
- Head to the File tab, then Open & Export, after this, Import/Export, and finally Export to a file
- Mark the Outlook (.pst) option, select the folder to move, and press the Finish button.
- Now, launch Thunderbird. Head to Tools, then Import – Mail & lastly to Outlook
- Locate emails under Local folders
- Restart the Thunderbird application
- Install ImportExportTools NG – Export all folders
- Then, set a location to save the MBOX files.
Cons: You may encounter sync issues when using Thunderbird and older versions of Outlook. Furthermore, there is no certainty of retaining the folder structure and other elements during the conversion process.
Workaround 2. By using the Apple Mail email client
This method is only for Mac OS users who plan to move Outlook emails to Apple Mail MBOX format.
Note: To use this method, an Outlook for Mac installation is required.
Use these steps to convert PST mailbox items to MBOX format:
- Start the Outlook for Mac email client
- Export the data via File – Export – Outlook for Mac files
- Now, launch Apple Mail
- Visit the File tab, go for Import Mailboxes, and then pick the Mac Outlook Archive and import your emails
- Finally, pick Mailbox – Export Mailbox to save emails in MBOX format.
Cons: This method takes a lot of time to process a lot of emails, and sometimes, it may lead to data loss. Also, you may lose attachments, email headers, or other items.
Workaround 3. Convert PST File Data to MBOX with Complete Data Safety
You can easily notice that both manual workarounds are not simple and safe to convert PST email items to MBOX format. Therefore, users must use a safe and reliable solution, i.e., ViceVersaTools PST to MBOX Converter. This is an amazing solution that will securely convert PST emails and related data to MBOX format. Without any hassle, the program can export unlimited emails from PST format to MBOX format. To use this application, you don’t require the installation of any email client.
Below are the steps for the professional program to safely convert PST to MBOX online:
- Install and launch the third-party program to convert PST file items to MBOX format.
- Upload the necessary PST file.
- After this, a window appears to ask to add or remove more PST files.
- Mark the ‘Export to MBOX format’ option. You can filter emails using the provided filter option.
- Mark a location on your system for saving MBOX files and press the ‘Convert’ button.
Will these MBOX files work with Apple Mail or Thunderbird?
Yes, you can easily open these output MBOX files with Apple Mail, Thunderbird, or any other MBOX-supported email application. They can be simply opened in a few clicks.
What are the common errors during PST to MBOX Conversion? How to fix them?
When you are migrating from Outlook to Thunderbird, you may face many errors, like:
Unsupported PST file version
Many outdated tools support ANSI PST or Unicode, but not both. So, users must pick a solution that supports both ANSI & Unicode PST files. Also, check the version of Outlook that you used to create the PST file.
Corrupted PST file
If the PST file is corrupted or damaged, you must repair the file with Scanpst.exe or a third-party PST Repair Tool. Then, you should convert the PST file to MBOX format.
Encrypted or password-protected PST
Make sure to pick a tool that can convert the password-protected PST file, or you must remove the PST file password before exporting it to the MBOX file format.
The folder structure is not preserved
Some conversion tools skip subfolders or make changes in the actual folder hierarchy. So, you must choose the conversion tool that supports folder preservation.
The email client does not recognize MBOX files
The output MBOX file is sometimes not recognized by the email client. In this case, you can try importing MBOX files using the ImportExportTools NG add-on for Thunderbird.
How to choose the right tool for Outlook to MBOX Conversion?
Users face issues when they have to pick the right solution for Outlook data file to MBOX conversion. Here are some points that you have to remember before selecting any solution:
Friendliness: The solution must be easy to understand and friendly. Users can smoothly handle it without any technical expertise.
Data Safety: Data safety is another important point that users should consider while choosing a tool for PST file to MBOX migration.
Hold Database hierarchy: Folder hierarchy maintenance is essential while you are exporting PST file items to MBOX format. So, the tool selection must be done by taking care of the folder structure.
Bulk Conversion: For a large amount of database, users need a solution that supports bulk conversion. So, users should pick a solution that can bulk convert PST files into MBOX format without any hassle.
Compatibility: The conversion tool must work with all Outlook edition PST files and should run on different versions of Windows.
Conclusion
This write-up has covered several techniques to convert PST data to MBOX format on Windows. You can follow the manual solutions or the professional tool, depending on your requirements. However, the best way is the automated tool, which is simple, safe, and cost-effective. Apart from this, the post talked about all the important aspects regarding PST file to MBOX conversion.
