Convert OST to MSG

Export and backup Outlook mailbox in whole or selectively, according to predefined parameters. Recover information from orphaned OST files, perform the bulk conversion. Save all the properties of the exported items, along with additional data for viewing and searching in Windows Explorer.

Features:

• Supports all OST file types and all versions of Windows and Outlook 2007 and later.
• Restores the data from the Outlook BAK file created with ScanPST.
• Preserves the original folder structure.
• Provides integrity of the data:
  • Exports Outlook items in full, along with images, attachments (of all extensions), appointments, notes, contacts, tasks, and journal entries.
  • Retains item properties, metadata, and the original formatting.
• Imposes no limitation on the OST file size.
• Works quickly with large OSTs or where several files must be converted at once.
• Does not require a connection to Exchange Server or IMAP mailbox.
• Recovers data from orphaned or archived OSTs.
• Selectively saves data from OST to MSG format. Allows selecting items for conversion automatically by item type or date.
• Optionally skips empty and system folders when converting.
• Enables to name MSG files, specify an existing folder to save them, or organize the final MSGs into folders by date, sender and recipients, subject, source folder, or mailbox name.
• Optionally complements the MSG files with information for Windows Explorer.
• Automatically converts OST to MSG on schedule and performs a batch conversion using the command line.
• Runs from Outlook or a standalone application.
• Creates a report at the end of the work.

Why convert OST to MSG?

OST is a temporary offline file; it can be opened only in the Outlook account where it was created. To move the OST file to another computer or back it up, you need to convert it. After saving messages or other necessary data from your mailbox in individual Outlook MSG files, you can always open them in any Outlook account. If you don't have access to the mailbox, OST to MSG conversion will also help you.

The OST file contains all the mailbox data. To share separate messages, contacts, or entries, it is more convenient to use the MSG format. Saving data from OST to MSG is a simple way to archive data in parts, in an easy-to-use folder structure.

MSG is also an optimal intermediate format for mail migration when you need to save and transfer data from multiple OSTs.

By converting OST to MSG, you can:

• Restore data from an archived, old, or orphaned OST.
• Make a backup copy of the .ost file or selected items from it, automatically organizing them into folders in a convenient structure for you.
• Import data to Outlook IMAP, Exchange Server, and Office 365 accounts:
  • when migrating Outlook to another computer,
  • when updating Windows operating system,
  • when changing to a different Outlook profile.
• Export data from an OST file to an Outlook account not synchronized with Exchange Server.
• Move the .ost file to a different Outlook version.
• Selectively export data from one or more OST to MSG files, for example, only emails for a certain period or only contacts.
• View and search for messages in Windows Explorer.

The utility converts OST to MSG, saving all the properties of Outlook items with no data loss. MSG is an optimal format for importing, exporting, and backing up Outlook.

How to convert OST to MSG?

Outlook offers two ways to save messages and other items in separate MSG files:

1. Select the message and save it via the File > Save As.
2. Create multiple MSGs at once by dragging selected items from the Outlook folder to a folder opened in Windows Explorer.

Both methods are inconvenient and time-consuming, especially if you need to save many messages from different folders.

The utility to convert from OST to MSG helps you save the data faster and offers additional benefits:

• The conversion does not require the account where the original OST was created.
• Advanced settings allow you to pre-select items by type and date.
• The utility contains built-in macros for the convenient automatic organization of the final MSGs.
• The command-line app enables batch conversion of several data files in a single operation and scheduled conversion.
• A simple, intuitive interface makes the conversion easily understood.

How to extract data from OST files selectively?

To extract messages, contacts, and other necessary data from OST to MSG files, configure the utility as you prefer.

1. Specify the desired file or folder with files to convert.
2. On the Advanced tab select the item types for export:
   • messages,
   • contacts,
   • calendar entries,
   • notes,
   • tasks,
   • journal entries.
3. Specify the period for which you want to convert the selected items in the drop-down (optionally).
4. The converting messages filter allows you to choose messages for conversion:
   • all messages,
   • received messages,
   • sent messages.

How to set the destination folder and file names

You can specify an existing folder for the resulting MSGs on your disk or network share. The utility also provides an option to specify a template for naming new folders and MSG files:

• By date, time, or year;
• By sender's name or email address;
• By first recipient name or email address;
• By subject;
• By Outlook folder;
• By mailbox or data file;
• Naming the destination folder by the current date/time.

With regular expressions, you can use only the necessary parts of the subject, message body, and any other message fields in the names of the target folder and file to be saved.

Here, you have the option to save the resulting MSGs in separate folders for each source OST, and save the original folder structure. Also, you can create unique names for the final MSG files to avoid duplicates when converting the same OST again.

To skip empty folders and "Deleted Items" from the source file, check the required option.

Additional columns in Windows Explorer

Supplement items saved from OST to MSG with information to view and search in Windows Explorer. When you activate this setting, you can see fields such as subject, categories, sender and recipient addresses, account name, send and receive dates, and attachment file names in Explorer.

How to backup Outlook .ost data file?

When using an OST file, the data is stored on the server where your account is hosted. The contents of your mailbox (emails, contacts, tasks, etc.) are cached locally on your PC inside the .ost file. You can rely on the backup and storage methods used by the company that hosts your Exchange account. However, often users need to back up the .ost file or certain items from it for storage on disk or in the cloud. This will ensure that you can access the data you need at any time and from any computer, whether you have access to your mailbox or not. For this use the conversion from OST to MSG.

How to move Outlook items from one OST to another?

When you create a new Outlook account, it seems impossible to move data from an OST file to it. Especially when you don't have an OST backup in a universal Outlook format. To avoid the risk of losing data from your mailbox, and carefully transfer all its contents to a new account, use our tool to convert from OST to MSG. The utility allows you to automatically select only the necessary items.

After the conversion you can import messages, contacts, calendars, tasks, notes, and journals from MSG into Outlook.

The OST to MSG conversion helps you access data from the .ost file when upgrading the current version of Outlook or Windows operating system.

How to recover data from an old OST file?

When the OST data file is disconnected from the mail server, this program helps you extract the messages, contacts, or other data from OST. It requires no special knowledge. Just run the utility as described above and all the original information will be recovered in MSG format. After that, use the add-ins to import items into your Outlook account (see below).

How to import emails, contacts, and other recovered data into an Outlook account after converting them from OST to MSG?

Once you have exported messages and other Outlook items from OST to MSG files, you can easily and quickly import them into any Outlook account. Special utilities for importing messages, contacts, tasks, notes, calendar, and journal entries will not only transfer all these items to another mailbox but also preserve the folder structure you created when converting from OST to MSG.

How to move data from multiple OST files or convert OST to MSG on a schedule?

You need a bulk transfer of data from OST files when your organization updates the operating system or Outlook profiles. User mailboxes on legacy systems are not synchronized with the Exchange server. In these cases, our utility easily converts several OST files at a time.

The command-line app allows you to configure automatic conversion of OST using scripts, batch scripts, and PowerShell. You can run multiple command-line apps simultaneously to convert from .ost to .msg format even faster.

FAQ

What is Outlook OST data file format?

An Outlook OST (Offline Storage Table) data file is a local copy of the mailbox on the server. It is an offline file that syncs with the email server. The .ost file is used in IMAP, Microsoft 365, Exchange, and Outlook.com accounts.

What is Outlook MSG format?

In the MSG format, Outlook saves individual mailbox items: messages, calendar events, contacts, tasks, notes, journal entries. A separate .msg file is created for each item. It stores an Outlook item completely, including its internal properties.

How to extract all emails from an OST file?

You can extract all the messages from the data file as follows:

1. Open the utility.
2. Select the .ost file.
3. Specify the path to the folder to save the messages.
4. On the Advanced tab select Messages.
5. Click Run.

How to restore calendar and contacts from an old OST file?

The utility will easily restore any items from the orphaned OST:

1. Open the utility.
2. Select the required .ost file.
3. Specify the path to the folder to save the final .msg files.
4. On the Advanced tab, select Calendars and Contacts.
5. Convert the selected items to MSG by clicking the Run button.
6. Use the utilities to import calendar events or contacts to another Outlook account.

How to move all Outlook emails or contacts from one OST to another?

Save the necessary messages or contacts from OST to MSG files using this program. After that, use the utilities for importing emails or contacts to another Outlook account.

Are there any restrictions when converting OST to MSG?

The utility imposes no limitations on the number or size of the converted data files. You can convert an unlimited number of folders or files as often as you like.

Since MSG is the format for storing Outlook items, such as messages, contacts, tasks, calendars, notes, journal entries, the utility saves all the item properties, not just the main message fields.

Why can't I use online OST to MSG conversion?

Online email conversion does not ensure the privacy of your correspondence and the complete safety of the original data. You may face limitations on the size and number of exported files. Online conversion of large databases can be time-consuming. Don't take the risk and don't waste time and effort, use reliable tools to convert messages and other mailbox items.