Top 4 Methods to Convert PST to MBOX - A Complete Guide

Email is one of the most efficient communication tools we use daily, and different email clients use different formats to store email data. This can cause a bit of confusion when trying to transfer data between email clients that don't use the same format. But fear not! Today, we're going to address how to convert one popular email data format, PST, used by Microsoft Outlook, to another common format, MBOX, which is supported by various other email clients like Thunderbird, Apple Mail, Opera Mail, and more. Whether you are an IT professional or a regular email user, this post will help you understand how to convert PST to MBOX files.

Before we delve into the conversion methods, let's explore what PST and MBOX files are and why one might need to convert between the two.

What is a PST file?

A Personal Storage Table (PST) is a file format that Microsoft Outlook uses to store mailbox data, including emails, contacts, tasks, calendars, and journals. This file enables MS Outlook to keep all the data on the local machine, giving the user complete control over their data.

What is a MBOX file?

MBOX file is a commonly used generic term for a family of related file formats, all designed to store collections of email messages. It's employed by several email clients, including Mozilla Thunderbird, Apple Mail, Opera Mail, Entourage, and Eudora. Just like the PST, an MBOX file holds user data like emails, tasks, contacts, and journals.

Why Convert PST to MBOX?

MS Outlook store all data, including emails, contacts, and calendars, are stored in PST files. Now, suppose you want to change your email client from MS Outlook to another client like Thunderbird or Apple Mail. In that case, you'll face the issue that these email clients cannot natively read PST files. As a result, you won't be able to access your old emails or other information stored in the PST files, which can be problematic if you need to retrieve to older emails.

That's where the PST to MBOX conversion comes into play. By converting PST files to MBOX, you're essentially translating the data into a format that your new email client can understand. This allows you to import all your emails, contacts, and calendar data into your new email client.

The decision to switch email clients can be driven by a variety of reasons:

Cross-platform accessibility: While MS Outlook is a widely used email client, it works best within the Windows OS. On the other hand, MBOX-supported email clients like Thunderbird are cross-platform, meaning they can be used across multiple operating systems, including Windows, MacOS, and Linux. So, if you're switching operating systems, you might want to use an email client that supports that system.

Cost considerations: MS Outlook is a paid application and is part of the Microsoft Office Suite. Switching to a free, open-source alternative like Thunderbird can save costs while still providing a robust email management system.

Simplicity and ease of use: Some users may find MS Outlook to be feature-heavy and complex. MBOX-supported clients, particularly Thunderbird, are often praised for their user-friendly and intuitive interfaces.

Data Consolidation: If you're using multiple email clients for different purposes, you might want to consolidate your data in one place. Converting PST files to MBOX can help you achieve that, especially if your primary client supports MBOX.

How to convert PST to MBOX?

Converting PST files to MBOX can be achieved through several manual methods and third-party PST to MBOX converters. Let's dive in and explore four reliable techniques that can help you accomplish this task.

Method 1: Convert PST to MBOX using Default Program

For this technique, ensure you have MS Outlook and Thunderbird installed on your computer. Follow these steps:

1. Go to the Settings
2. Select the Default Program option and click the Email option
3. From the Choose an app list, select Outlook (Desktop)
4. Open Mozilla Thunderbird and click the Hamburger icon
5. Select Tools and choose the Import option
6. Select the Import Everything or choose the Mail option as per your requirement and click the Next button
7. From the select the type of file, select Outlook and click the Next button
8. Click the Finish button to complete the process.

Though this is a quick manual method, it might not work for all versions.

Method 2: Convert PST to MBOX using Google Takeout

This process involves configuring your Gmail account in Outlook, migrating emails from Outlook to Gmail, and then utilizing Google Takeout to export all your emails to MBOX format. We have divided this process into five parts for a more straightforward execution:

Step 1: Enable IMAP protocol from Gmail

1. Sign in Gmail account
2. Click on the Setting icon
3. Select the Settings option
4. Select the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab
5. Enable the IMAP option and click the Save Changes button.

Step 2: Generate App Password

1. Go to the https://myaccount.google.com/
2. Click the Security option
3. Enable the two-step verification option
4. Click the Security option
5. Select the App Password
6. Sign in Gmail account again
7. Select the Other (custom name) as an app option
8. Enter Outlook Desktop and click the Generate button
9. Copy the app password

Step 3: Configure Gmail in Outlook

1. Open MS Outlook
2. Click the File option
3. Click the Add Account button.
4. Enter your name and Gmail email id
5. Enter your App password and re-enter your App password
6. Click the Next button
7. After the verification process, click the Finish button.

Step 4: Migrate emails from Outlook to Gmail

1. Right-click on the Gmail mailbox
2. Select the New Folder option
3. Provide folder a name and hit the enter key
4. Right-click on the Outlook email folder you want to import and choose the Copy Folder option
5. Select the folder that you created earlier and click the OK button
6. Go to Gmail and refresh the page. You will find the folder moved to your Gmail accounts.

Step 5: Export emails from Gmail using Google Takeout

1. Sign in Gmail account and go to the Google Takeout (https://takeout.google.com/)
2. From Create a new export, select the Deselect all option.
3. Scroll down and select Gmail
4. Click on the Next Step button.
5. In the Choose file type, frequency & destination section, choose Export once as a frequency.
6. Select the file type as .zip and choose the file size split option as per your requirement
7. Click the Create export button.
8. Once your data is ready for export, you will receive an email.
9. After receiving the email, open the email and click the download link.
10. After downloading, extract the .zip file, and you will find the MBOX file.

Please note, the Google Takeout method is typically slow and can take anywhere from a few hours to several days.

Method 3: Convert PST to MBOX using IMAP

This approach require configuring your Gmail account into Outlook, setting up the same Gmail account in Thunderbird, and accessing PST file data in Thunderbird. The process is divided into seven steps:

Step 1: Enable IMAP protocol from Gmail

1. Sign in to your Gmail account
2. Click the Setting icon and select the Settings option
3. Select the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab
4. Enable the IMAP option and click the Save Changes button.

Step 2: Generate App Password

1. Go to the https://myaccount.google.com/
2. Click the Security option
3. Enable the two-step verification option
4. Click the Security option
5. Select the App Password
6. Sign in Gmail account again
7. Select the Other (custom name) as an app option
8. Enter Outlook Desktop and click the Generate button
9. Copy the app password

Step 3: Configure Gmail in Outlook

1. Open MS Outlook and click the File option
2. Click the + Add Account button.
3. Enter your name and Gmail email address
4. Enter your App password and re-enter your App password
5. Click the Next button
6. After the verification process, click the Finish button

Step 4: Migrate emails from Outlook to Gmail

1. Right-click on the Gmail mailbox and choose the New Folder option
2. Provide the folder a name and press the Enter key
3. Right-click on the Outlook email folder you want to import and choose the Copy Folder option
4. Select the folder that you created and click the OK button
5. Go to Gmail and refresh the page.

Step 5: Generate the App password for Thunderbird

1. Go to the https://myaccount.google.com/
2. Click the Security option
3. Select the App Password option
4. Sign in Gmail account and select the Other (custom name) as an app option
5. Enter Mozilla Thunderbird and click the Generate button
6. Copy the generated app password

Step 6: Configure Gmail in Thunderbird

1. Open the Mozilla Thunderbird.
2. Go to Tools and select the Thunderbird Options
3. Click the Account setting option
4. Click on Account actions
5. Select the add mail account option
6. Enter your Name, Gmail address, and password
7. Select remember password checkbox and click the Continue button
8. Select the IMAP (remote folders) and click the Done button

Step 7: Export MBOX from Thunderbird

1. Go to the Tools and select the Add-ons.
2. Search the ImportExportTools NG
3. Click the Add to Thunderbird button and restart Thunderbird
4. On the left pane, select the Gmail mailbox and right-click on the folder you migrated
5. Select the ImportExportTools NG and choose the Export folder option
6. Provide a path to save the MBOX file and click the Select Folder button
7. After that, Thunderbird will export all data in MBOX format.

These manual methods, though reliable, can be quite time-consuming and might require some technical expertise. Therefore, if you're not particularly tech-savvy, you might want to consider using a third-party converter for ease and convenience.

Method 4: Convert PST to MBOX using PST to MBOX Converter

Here, we are going to use the SysCurve PST to MBOX Converter. It is a powerful software that provides the best way to convert PST to MBOX format. With its help, you can also convert PST to EML, MSG, EMLX, and other file formats. To perform this method, follow the steps below.

1. Download and install the SysCurve PST to MBOX Converter.
2. Open the tool and click the Add File option.
3. Select the PST files you want to convert and click the OK button.
4. After the loading process, the software will generate a preview mode. Select any item to see the message. (Optional)
5. Click the Export option and select the folders you want to Export.
6. Select the MBOX as an Export option
7. Click the Browse button and provide a path to save the MBOX file.
8. Click the Export button to start PST to MBOX Conversion.

After the process, you can open the newly created MBOX file with any compatible email client, such as Mozilla Thunderbird, Apple Mail, or Eudora.

Other helpful features

• Convert PST to MBOX, EML, MSG, HTML, and other file formats.
• Preview all PST file data.
• Save Individual emails to MSG, HTML, and RTF format.
• Migrate PST to Office 365 platform
• Perform selective conversion based on To, Cc, Bcc, Subject, and Date.
• Free PST to MBOX conversion for the first 20 items per folder.
• Support all versions of MS Outlook
• Compatible with Windows OS.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Final Word

In conclusion, while email clients can use different formats for data storage, converting between these formats doesn't have to be a daunting task. As we've outlined above, several reliable methods can help you convert PST to MBOX format.

However, always remember that while manual methods can be cost-effective, they do require a reasonable degree of technical proficiency and can be more prone to errors or data corruption. On the other hand, third-party PST to MBOX converter tools offer a safer and more straightforward alternative for less tech-savvy individuals or for large-scale conversions.

Finally, regardless of the method you choose, always remember to backup your data before starting the conversion process to safeguard against any potential data loss.

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