How to Convert OST to IMAP

When Microsoft Outlook users want to quit their present employer, they typically wish to keep their mail, calendar, and contacts. They may also wish to convert OST to IMAP, which they may be unaware can only be read with the original account, or they may choose to delete the Microsoft Exchange account from their profile without realizing the Contacts are saved in the Exchange account.

If you have the OST file but are unable to access the computer that created it or do not have a restore point, you will need to utilize a tool to retrieve the contents of the OST. These resources are listed below.

Beginning with Outlook 2013, Convert OST to IMAP

Upon account deletion. If you deleted the account from Outlook without copying the OST file or exporting the contents to a PST file, your chances of recovering data are limited. You’ll need software to recover lost files from your hard disk, but the success of your recovery will depend on how long you wait after deleting your account before using the undelete program, because Windows will overwrite the deleted information. To see if the OST is present, enter into File Explorer’s location bar.

Many companies that sell software for converting OST files to PST files also sell file recovery tools.

Restoring Exchange Accounts

If you removed the Exchange account recently and your operating system permits system restore, you might be able to get it back. If too much time has passed, you are less likely to have a restoration point available.

• This technique will also work with IMAP accounts in Outlook 2013 and later if you have a copy of the IMAP data file.
• When an account is deleted from Outlook 2013, the OST file for that account is immediately erased. Because Outlook is unable to erase the OST file, this process will only function if it is present.
• Though unusual, it does happen.) Before running a restore, ensure that the OST is located at%localappdata%microsoftoutlook.

Start the System Restore program and install Webbyacad OST to PST converter tool. Type restore into Settings, the taskbar’s Search area, or the Start menu, and then select Create a restore point from the list of options that appears. This will bring up the System Restore wizard when you click the System Restore button. You can also open it by pasting or typing rstrui.exe into the Run command or the search area.

Choose a time close to the profile’s deletion, then follow the wizard’s instructions.

When Windows resumes and the account reappears, you can move or convert OST to IMAP. After making a backup copy of the newly created PST file, you may either delete the account or perform another restoration to return to the prior state.

First, you can use Archive to copy or migrate a large number of objects to a PST. Users’ Exchange online archive mailboxes will not be able to archive to a PST. Autoarchive is best used to move practically everything in your email; contacts cannot be archived. Exporting, moving, or copying contacts to the pst file is required.

Apply the modifications to all directories and make AutoArchive the default option under File, Options, Advanced, AutoArchive. (Using the AutoArchive button on the Folder ribbon, you can select an archive option for the currently open folder.)

• To run it, go to File, Tools, Cleanup, and AutoArchive.

Because AutoArchiving uses the last altered date, you must choose a short number of days when archiving recent items. You may force AutoArchive to utilize the Received Date in Outlook 2007 and later. View Make use of Microsoft Outlook’s Autoarchive feature.

If you opt to use this method and need the Contacts, you will need to relocate them to the new data file.

• Convert to a PST

Although it is not recommended, Export is a handy tool for transferring content from an OST file to a PST file. The calendar and contacts, as well as the whole contents of the OST, can be exported to a PST file. If your employer forbids the creation of PST files, export Calendar, Tasks, and Contacts to CSV or Excel format.

This technique will be used if your server fails and there are no backups, or if you are migrating to a new server and need to relocate your own email. Make sure you run Outlook offline to avoid connecting to the new server and perhaps destroying the mail stored in the offline file. After exporting everything to a PST, use auto account setup to add your account back to your profile.

• Copy the contents to a new PST file

Drag the folders you want to carry with you into a newly created PST in your profile. Using this method, forms published to a folder and custom views will be preserved.

When you drag one of the default folders, such as Inbox, Calendar, or Contacts, an error message claiming that default folders cannot be moved occurs. Instead, a copy of the contents, as well as the Inbox (1), Calendar (1), and so on, will be created.

Email forwarding is the fourth method

1. If you don’t have many items to save, you can email them to your personal email account. After you’ve chosen the item or items, use Ctrl+F or utilize the right-click menu to select Forward.
2. If you want to save a large number of conversations, drag them to a Documents folder, zip the folder, then email the zip file.
3. If you forward the messages to an Outlook-opened account, you can drag and drop associated communications from the incoming message into the Inbox or another folder.
4. You can email the entire calendar as a single iCal if you use Outlook 2007 or later, or any calendaring tool that supports multi-event icals at home. Outlook 2003 and older versions do not allow multi-eventicals.
5. To create the iCalendar file, right-click on the Calendar folder and select Share, Email Calendar. If you want to generate the iCalendar file and work with it later, select the calendar folder, then File, Save Calendar.
6. While using the email calendar, you can change the date range and other options by utilizing a dialog box.
7. If you are saving the calendar to your hard drive, choose More Options in the Save As window to bring up this menu.

Although you will most likely wish to use the complete calendar and all of the data, the defaults are Today and Availability only. Keep in mind that not all calendars support attachments; if you want to include attachments, make a backup copy that does not.

OST to PST export utility

If you have an orphaned OST and are unable to recover the account via System Restore, you will need to use an application to export the contents to a PST file. The free convert OST to IMAP program only works with OST files written by Outlook 2002 and older. If you’re not sure which Outlook version you used, try it; an error indicates that the OST isn’t the correct type.

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