How to Open & Import an OST file in Outlook 2024/2021/2019/2016

Summary: This article shows you how to import an OST file into Outlook (2024, 2021, 2019, 2016, 2013, 2011, 2007, and 2003) step by step. It includes both manual ways and a professional solution that keeps all of your important and private information safe. Learn about the free ways to manually import an OST file into Outlook. Also, obtain a professional solution instead of just employing manual methods to open OST files in Outlook desktop clients.

When people set up an Exchange Server email account with MS Outlook, a copy of their information is saved on the computer's local directory. This feature lets users access data that was synchronized before while they are not connected to the internet.

Learn about the OST file.

An OST (Offline Storage Table) is a local duplicate of mailbox data that Microsoft Outlook syncs from Exchange, Office 365, or IMAP. It lets users access emails, contacts, calendars, and other items without being connected to the internet.

The next sections will show you how to import OST files into Outlook with all of their data. So, read the whole post carefully to acquire the exact answers you need. If manual approaches don't work to open OST files in Outlook, you should also acquire professional software.

When You Need to Open an OST File in Outlook

• When the Exchange Server goes down or crashes, it is either down for scheduled maintenance or crashes. Then, for work to continue, different professionals may want to import an OST file into Outlook.
• Upgrading a computer: Some people may want to improve their computer. They want to migrate the OST file to the new computer after they buy it. So, they want to add the OST file to the most recent version of Outlook 2021.
• Orphan OST File: Sometimes, people have orphan OST files that contain important and private information. Then, they want to import OST into Outlook so they may see their emails.
• Recovering Deleted Items: If emails are unintentionally removed from the Exchange Server, and the deletion is synced with the OST file. So, they wish to import OST to Outlook to do the OST recovery process and get back things that were destroyed.

Manual Method to Import an OST file into Outlook?

If the OST file is linked to an active Outlook profile, you can use the following manual techniques to import it into Outlook. To start, your OST file needs to be linked to Outlook. Second, your Outlook has to be working properly.

If you meet both of the aforementioned conditions, you can use the following manual methods to import OST files into Outlook 2021, 2019, 2016, 2013, and any earlier versions.

Use the Import Export Wizard to add an OST file to Outlook.

To do it by hand, you need to use the Outlook import/export feature to open an OST file in Outlook. This means you need Outlook. So, this method won't work if the Outlook profile is missing or the OST file is orphaned. But if you have a healthy OST file and an active Outlook profile, you can follow these simple steps to open the OST file in Outlook in two phases:

Step 1: Export Emails

• On your Windows PC, open Microsoft Outlook and click on File.
• Click on Open & Export, and then click on Import/Export.
• Select Export to a file and then click Next.
• Choose Outlook Data File (.pst) and then click Next.
• Select the folder and profile you want, then click Finish.
• Click "Browse" and choose a specific place to go.
• Finally, click Finish to save the emails as PST files.

Step 2: Bring in Emails

• Open MS Outlook on your computer and click on File.
• Then, click "Open & Export" and then "Import Export."
• Choose Import from another file or program, and then click Next.
• Choose Outlook Data File (.pst) and then click the Next button.
• Find the PST file you want to import by looking in a saved location.
• Choose a folder in Outlook to import the PST file.
• To start the import procedure, click the Finish button.
• Use Archive Settings to Import OST to Outlook
• Open the Outlook client and choose File.
• After that, click on Options to see the Outlook options.
• Select AutoArchive Settings from the Advanced menu.
• Click Browse after turning on AutoArchive Settings.
• Choose a place to save the archive.pst file and click OK.
• Click OK to make the archive.pst file. You can then use the Import/Export wizard to bring it in.
• Now click "OK" to make the archive.pst file. After that, you may use the Import/Export wizard to import it.

Limitations of Manually Importing OST Files into Outlook

• When the Outlook profile or account is missing, manual approaches don't work on orphaned OST files.
• It requires Outlook to be connected to the original mail server (Exchange, Microsoft 365, or IMAP).
• If you choose to do it manually, you won't be able to open an OST file on a separate system.
• You can't recover and convert broken, corrupted, or unavailable OST files by doing it by hand.

The Best Way to Add an OST File to Outlook

You can use Softaken OST to PST Converter to convert one or more OST files at a time, even if they are corrupted, unavailable, or not mounted. This wizard lets you change all of your OST data, like emails, contacts, calendars, journals, tasks, notes, and more. It keeps attachments in their original form without changing them. The software can also fix broken OST files.

How to add an OST File in Outlook

• Open the program and choose the automatic option to add OST files.
• Click Next after choosing the folders you need from the software panel.
• After that, pick PST as your preferred way to save.
• Select a specified route to the destination where the PST will be saved.
• Click the Convert button and save the emails that come out in PST format.

Why Automated Solution Best Over a Manual Method

• It can get back and change OST files without needing Outlook or Exchange Server.
• This program can also change OST files into PDF, MSG, EML, MBOX, PST, and many others formats.
• You can also use this wizard to work with more than one OST file at a time, which will save you time and effort.
• It can get data back from OST files that are corrupted, orphaned, too big, or broken, and then export that data.
• Keeps the original folder structure, metadata, and formatting.
• This wizard can change any version of an OST file that was exported from Outlook, including Outlook 2024. 2021, 2019, 2016, or any prior version.

Final Thoughts

This post shows you how to import OST files into Outlook by hand or automatically, keeping all metadata and attachments. You can do this to upgrade computers, fix crashed mailboxes, or get to orphaned OST.