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Convert Offline OST Files to PST With Free & Result - Oriented Manual Procedure


Offline OST files are the cached replica of user's Exchange account that consist of all data item exist in the account. These offline files enable the users to work offline when the they are not connected with Exchange server or when Exchange is going through downtime. However, user can synchronize the all changes with Exchange Server when they again connects with the server. But when we talk about Offline OST files to PST conversion, the actual need of this conversion is arises when these OST files becomes inaccessible due to damage and corruption. In such case, user can not make changes in OST file data in offline mode.

Moreover, user can get rid of such problem by migrating data from OST file to Outlook PST file, as this conversion enables user to access Exchange OST file data in Outlook. There are number of methods to convert offline OST files to Outlook, user can perform this conversion with manual as well as with commercial tools.

There is a huge variety of commercial tools in the market and OST Recovery is one of the tool that can recover offline OST files from damage and corruption. The tool can recover all permanently deleted items of OST file such as Email, Calendar, Contacts. In addition, it also extracts data from OST file to Outlook PST file. In this article, we will discuss the other different methods to convert inaccessible ost file into outlook pst file format and it's need.

Reasons That Causes OST File Corruption

There exist many causes for OST file corruption, some of them are mentioned below:

  • There are many software and hardware issues that causes corruption in OST files that includes: bad sector, improper termination of system or application/server, Virus and Trojan, hardware failure, power issue, network issue, etc
  • While Exchange server is going through downtime which can be planned or unplanned and the user is attempting to make connection with Exchange server it may leads errors and conflicts which makes these OST files corrupt and inaccessible.
  • When a user tries to synchronize OST files with Exchange Server but due to unavailability of network, user fails to synchronize it. In this scenario the OST file will become orphan and user can not access it in offline mode.

Methods For Converting OST File Data in Outlook PST

User can create archive of OST file data by moving it to a PST file, In order to perform the archiving, user need to enable AutoArchive option.The all version of Outlook has the feature of AutoArchive by which one can move their messages, tasks, appointments in PST file.

  • Click on File
  • Go to Options
  • Click on Advanced and select the AutoArchive option

Note : This feature does not supports archiving of contacts.


By Using Outlook Import and Export Option

With this method user can import OST file data such as emails, contacts, calendar, notes in PST file

  • Explore MS Outlook
  • Click on File
  • Select the Import and Export Option


  • Browse the desired file with Browse Option
  • and select Allow duplicates to be created
  • Click Next

  • Click Outlook data file(.pst) in Import a File window
  • Click Next

  • In Import Outlook Data File, user can select the data items to export

  • Click Finish

Note : To perform migration of OST file data in PST with above mentioned method, one needs to be connected with MS Exchange Server and OST file must be healthy state. In case, if the user get disconnected with Exchange server,it may cause huge damage to OST file as well as to Exchange Server.

Conclusion : When the Exchange server is going through planned or unplanned down time or there is any damage in OST file,in such cases the need of offline ost conversion is arises. By converting OST file in PST format one can easily access data on Outlook and can make any action on the data that resides in the file. This conversion is a one solution that solves number of issues arises while accessing Exchange Offline files.