What is OST File and How it Differs from PST File?

Microsoft Outlook creates two types of database files i.e, OST & PST to store its complete data. OST (Offline Storage Table) data file stores the Microsoft Exchange server data. Whenever you are connected with Exchange server and configure Outlook with cache mode OST file is generated. However, if you are not connected to the server, Outlook makes PST file. The default location of OST and PST files are same. In simple words, we can define that OST is used for cached storage but PST file is not.

Why user would Migrate from OST File to PST File?

There could be various reasons for the free conversion of OST to PST format. Some of them I am going to discuss. See below:

  • In case of accidental deletion, important data of mailboxes on the Microsoft Exchange server can be recovered easily after converting OST file into PST format.
  • If users want to change their location or want to transfer their data on different machine, then OST to PST migration is required.
  • If Microsoft Exchange server crashed due to any software failure, virus attacks or any other issue, then it is a better option to export OST to PST.
  • In the case of server maintenance, user unable to access mail items, so it is required to convert OST to PST file and import to Microsoft Outlook.

So to avoid the risks of corruption in OST file data and due to above reasons, the conclusion comes out that it would be better to move OST file to PST format.

Is there any Free Method or Tricks to Migrate OST File to PST Format?

Yes, let us see how to convert Exchange OST file to PST using free tricks. You can follow any free method to migrate OST to PST.

Trick 1: Use Export Feature of Microsoft Outlook.

This trick allow user to export files from Exchange OST to Outlook PST. Please see below manual method for the migration of OST file to PST format.

  • First you have to start Microsoft Outlook.
  • Click on File. Select “Export to a file” and click “Next”.
  • Select “Personal File Folder (.pst)” and click “Next”.
  • Select the folder which you want to export and check “Include sub-folders”.
  • Now, browse the location where you want to store exported file and Click Finish button.

Note: Above free conversion of OST file to PST trick will be applicable only if user connected to the Microsoft Exchange Server.

Trick 2: Use Archive Feature of Microsoft Outlook.

It is used to transfer data to mailbox items to Outlook Data File (.pst). See the below steps:

  • First, start MS Outlook.
  • Go to File tab >> Click on Archive.
  • A window will open, you can select the file or folder for archiving.
  • Browse the destination to store the archived PST file.
  • After hitting on OK button, archiving process will be start by creating OST to PST file

Note: Using above manual trick, you are able to move entire OST file data except Outlook Contacts.

Trick 3: Export Outlook items to new PST

This trick can be use to migrate mailbox items of Exchange Offline OST file into new PST.

  • Launch Microsoft Outlook.
  • Make a new Outlook Data File (.pst) in MS Outlook Profile.
  • Now, drag entire mailbox folders that you want to export in Outlook PST file.

Note: With the help of above free trick you cannot drag Inbox, Sent Items, Calendars, Contacts, etc. default folder into a PST file. So, just copy the folder from Offline OST file to PST.

In case, after using above three free tricks if you are unable to export exchanges mailbox to PST file, then without wasting too much time you should go with Trick 4 which will definitely convert OST to Outlook data file (.pst) easily and safely without getting any issue.

Trick 4: Use Commercial Tool – OST to PST

You can easily repair and export Offline OST file to PST format easily and safely without any data loss with the help of third party commercial tool. Let's see the features and functionality of OST to PST software.

OST File to PST Migration – Easy Way to Extract OST File to PST

OST to PST migration is an effective tool to recover or fix the corrupted part of Outlook Offline data file which is commonly known as OST. Microsoft Outlook creates this file on the user's local machine to save a copy of Exchange server's data. As like PST file, OST data file contains all the attributes of emails like calendar,contacts, notes, tasks, journals etc. The OST recovery resume your work processes by recovering corrupted Outlook OST file successfully without any harms. The software provide option to search multiple OST files from the drive and to repair OST files together. It also allows to remove SMIME / OpenPGP encryption from Outlook emails in OST files.

You can also migrate the retrieved OST file into PST file using this OST extractor tool. It gives you an output file that contains your original mailbox contents, in exact structure, info, with exact properties and content details.

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OST to PST Migration Tool – Extract Data from Offline OST File

OST to PST Explorer will not just help you to migrate OST file to PST data file, but also allow users to export these repaired Offline OST file into four variant file formats like PST, EML, MSG, HTML and it can directly export recovered OST file data into Office 365 account. These resultant file formats are common file formats which are even compatible in email client platforms like Outlook Express, Microsoft Outlook, Thunderbird, Lotus Notes and so on.

OST email extractor also deals with permanently lost emails of OST file. It's a complete tool-kit to troubleshoot the various bugs of OST File whether it's about to repair OST file or retrieving Outlook PST file's data from in the hard deletion scenario. The application also provides options to decrypt SMIME / OpenPGP encrypted emails from Outlook messages in OST files.

Key Feature of OST to PST

  • Scan Modes To Repair OST File: Quick and Advanced mode of OST recovery tool help user to analyze the level of corruption and then it repair and recover multiple OST files.
  • Instant Recovery: OST extractor is an efficient program which is capable to extract OST emails instantly and other relevant items from OST file. The tool can recover permanently deleted Outlook items from OST file and provides a preview of deleted items in Red Color.
  • Compelete Preview: After recovering the lost or damaged data, it provides complete preview of recovered OST emails along with its various components. It provide previews option like Normal Mail View, Hex, Message Header, MIME, HTML, RTF, Properties, Attachments.
  • Restore Data Structure As Native: OST recovery tool does not manipulate the original data structure of emails, contacts, calendars, tasks etc. and restore them as native.
  • Decrypt SMIME / OpenPGP Encryption: The OST Recovery software provide option to remove encryption from Outlook email message in OST file. It can decypt SMIME or OpenPGP encrypted emails from Offline file provided with certificates, private keys and passwords correctly.
  • Export Selected Outlook Items / Files: Effective GUI and advance algorithm of the OST to PST file Exporter software give authentication or allows the user to export selected items / file / folder from the recovered exchange OST file. Choose the required folders or Outlook items to save it on the local machine in various file formats.
  • Breakdown and Minimize the OST File: Split function of the OST file to PST converter breakdown the exported OST file data into smaller section and prevent user data from future corruption.
  • Mail Filter: This option makes the user's task much easier and help them to extract OST emails of the limited time interval after recovery or conversion.
  • Naming Convetion: It only can be useful, if a user is going to save the extracted emails of OST data file into MSG and EML file format. This option is a unique feature to export emails accordingly the various naming conventions like "Subject+Date", "From+Subject+Date", etc.
  • Export Seleted Data items: The OST to PST Exporter tool provides option to migrate only selected data item from the OST file. The tool also provides an option to 'Dont export Empty FOlders' from the OST file to PST file
  • Final CSV Report: OST extractor also endow a CSV report of complete execution, which consists abstract details of OST conversion

Repair OST File – Download Free Version of OST Recovery

If you are facing a problem where your connection with Exchange server has been broken due to some server related issues maintenance and server down, then download the free demo version of OST extractor and repair OST file right now.

The demo edition of the OST to PST Migration tool is entirely free and helps users to evaluate the working of the application. It also allows to export 25 items per folder from the corrupted OST data file after migrating OST file into PST, MSG, EML, HTML or Office 365.