Email communication is the backbone of personal communication; many email clients are available today, and sometimes it happens users need to recover and migrate between two platforms. Microsoft Outlook is one of the most well-known and widely used email clients, especially among Windows users. With its advanced features and seamless integration with other MS Office tools, Outlook is a top choice for several organizations, individuals who manage high volumes of daily emails corresponsive.
However, despite its popularity on Windows, MS Outlook has not gained the same level of adoption among Mac OS users. Moreover, many users are converting to more open and cost-effective emails program that smoothly supports the MBOX formats, such as Mozilla Thunderbird, Apple Mail, Eudora, and others. All this conversion needs a common need: migrating Outlook proprietary PST Files into the more MBOX format.
In this article, we will walk you through all you need to know about PST to MBOX Conversion- Why it is required, the challenges it involves, and the step-by-step methods you can use, both automated and manual.
Why Convert PST to MBOX?
So, if you are going to migrate from Outlook to an email client that supports MBOX format (Apple Mail, Thunderbird, Spicebird, Eudora and etc), you will need to convert PST to MBOX.
- PST (Personal Storage Table) is a proprietary format used by Microsoft Outlook to store calendars, emails, contacts, and other mailbox items.
- MBOX is an open-source file format used by many email clients for storing emails.
Let’s explore the most common reasons users move their data from PST to MBOX format:
Common Reasons to Convert Outlook PST to MBOX
High Cost of MS Outlook
MS Outlook requires a paid MS Office license after the initial trial period. For all small businesses and all users, this recurring cost may not be justifiable. MBOX-compatible clients like Thunderbird are completely free and open source.
Platform Compatibility
PST Files are limited to Windows OS and need MS Outlook for access. In contrast, MBOX files can be opened on multiple platforms, such as Linux, Windows, and macOS, and provide better flexibility for all users who want to work across devices.
PST File Corruption Issues
PST files are known to be prone to corruption, especially if they grow too large or are improperly closed. If a PST file becomes corrupted, recovery can be complicated, and Outlook doesn’t provide many built-in options to solve all these issues.
Data Migration or Backup
All users migrating to open source email clients or creating long-term backups prefer the MBOX format because of its extensive compatibility and easy restoration options.
How to Convert PST to MBOX Format – Manual Method
Manual conversion from Outlook PST to MBOX is not a direct and easy task, as Outlook doesn’t natively Export to MBOX. However, with the help of Thunderbird and intermediate steps using EML Files, the process can be completed.
Pre-Requisites:
- Microsoft Outlook must be installed on your system.
- Mozilla Thunderbird must also be installed.
Step 1: Export PST to EML Using MS Outlook
- Open Microsoft Outlook and select the mailbox or folder you wish to export.
- Go to File > Import and Export.
- Choose Export to a file, then select Outlook Data File (.pst).
- Save the file and later convert messages to EML format by dragging them into a Windows folder.
Step 2: Import EML Files into Thunderbird
- Open Mozilla Thunderbird.
- Go to Tools > Import > Mail.
- Select the EML files you exported and click Next.
- Choose the destination folder for the imported files and click Finish.
Thunderbird will import the EML files and save them in MBOX format.
Note- Manual methods are free but can be time-consuming and may not work well for large or corrupted Outlook PST files.
Professional Solution: vMail PST to MBOX Converter Software
We recommend downloading and using vMail PST to MBOX Converter Software, which is well designed to recover data from PST files and convert PST to MBOX format without problems. You can easily use the best Outlook to MBOX Converter Software that allows you to add your PST files, either single or multiple, into the software and convert Outlook to MBOX. The converted MBOX file can open in different mail clients such as Entourage, OperaMail, AppleMail, Thunderbird, PocoMail and etc.
- It is a safe program to easily recover data from a PST File and convert PST to MBOX file
- Allows you to add a Single PST File and convert the PST file to MBOX Format securely.
- MBOX file supports SeaMonkey, Thunderbird, Spicebird, and Netscape mail clients
- During PST to MBOX Conversion, it will not harm your internal data of the PST file, such as contacts, emails, calendars, notes, tasks and etc.
- It converts Outlook to MBOX while preserving all email properties like To, CC, BCC, Date-Time, Subject & Attachments
- Software quickly exports Outlook to MBOX and restores data from password-protected PST files
- No PST file size limit for conversion
- It easily supports all Outlook 2021, 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, and 2007 versions of PST files
- Preview of recovered emails before conversion of PST to MBOX
- It is capable of supporting the Latest Windows Version & Outlook PST File
- Outlook to MBOX Migrations using IDC PST to MBOX Converter Software
How the Tool Works:
- Install and launch the IDC PST to MBOX Converter Software.
- Select the PST file(s) you want to convert.
- Choose MBOX as the output format.
- Click Convert, and the tool will handle the rest.
This tool is ideal for users who need a reliable and user-friendly solution without technical complexity.
Conclusion
Whether you select the manual method or a professional tool depends on your needs. For small files or tech-savvy users, manual conversion works fine. For bulk conversions, time-saving, and full data integrity, a dedicated tool like vMail PST to MBOX Converter Software is the best choice.
Comments