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When an Outlook account is configured with Microsoft Exchange Server, it creates an OST file that is stored at user’s system. This OST file contains an offline copy of the Exchange Server mailbox, which comes in handy when the Exchange Server connection is not available. The user can access mailbox items, and the changes made during that period are later synchronized with the Exchange Server when a connection is established. The OST file can be accessed only with the original Outlook profile that was used to create it. When the Outlook profile gets deleted or becomes corrupt, the users can’t access the OST file. The need to import OST to new Outlook arises when the original profile is not available. Let us learn the method to import OST file to new computer or to a new Outlook account on the same computer.
Why Transfer Outlook OST File to New Outlook?
With the OST file, there are various restrictions, and it is not easy to access its data. There are a few other reasons to transfer OST to new Outlook, some include –
- When one moves to a new computer or installs a fresh version of Outlook, they want to transfer their old emails as well.
- If a user deletes their Outlook profile, they have important data left in the OST file. To recover data from the OST file and access it in the new Outlook.
- If the Exchange server is unavailable or crashed, users are left with an orphaned OST file. To access emails from the OST file, it needs to be imported to Outlook again.
- For backup and migration purposes. It will ensure all your emails, contacts, and calendars remain accessible.
Manual Method to Transfer OST File to New Outlook?
Outlook provides the Import/Export feature to import OST file into Outlook account. This manual method will work only if you have access to the original Outlook profile. The OST file, which is orphaned or damaged, can’t be accessed using this manual method. To perform a manual import of OST file to new Outlook follow the steps mentioned:
Step 1: Export Emails
- Open Microsoft Outlook.
- Click File, Select Open & Export.
- Choose the Import/Export option.
- Select Export to a file and click Next.
- Choose Outlook Data File (.pst) from the available options and click Next.
- Select the folders you want to export.
- Select the destination to save PST file.
Step 2: Import Emails
- Open MS Outlook.
- Click File > Open & Export > Import Export.
- Choose Import from another program or file option.
- Select the Outlook Data File (.pst) from available options.
- Browse the PST you save in the previous step.
- Click the Finish button to begin the import process.
Limitations of the Manual Method to Import OST to new Outlook
There are a few limitations of the manual method of importing OST emails to new computer or Outlook account. Here is the list of limitations:
- If the OST file is orphaned i.e the original Outlook profile is not available, this manual method won’t work.
- The manual method requires Outlook to be connected with the mail server (Exchange, IMAP, or Office 365).
- Using the manual method, you can’t import damaged or corrupt OST files.
How to Transfer OST File to New Outlook?
In order to move the OST file to the new Outlook, you need to export OST to PST file. After that, you can import it into your new Outlook. For the conversion, there is no manual way; in that case, you need a secure automated tool. BLR OST to PST Converter Tool is a secure way to convert your OST emails and then move them into a new Outlook.
OST to PST converter software will provide a helping hand to import OST to new Outlook account without any hassle. It will save your old OST file emails, contacts, calendar, etc, in a specific file that can be easily moved into your new Outlook. Most importantly, your email folder and sub-folder hierarchy and structure will be maintained. Try out the demo version of the software to know how it works.
Conclusion
In this article, we discussed the best methods to transfer old OST file to new Outlook with ease. You can use the inbuilt Import/Export wizard to export the content of OST file to PST and then import the PST file to new Outlook. But this method works only if the original Outlook profile is available. For orphaned OST files, you need to take the help of the professional tool suggested above.
