Quick & Easy Solution to Import OST File to Office 365

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OST(Offline storage table)  files are essential for offline access in Outlook, but they’re also tied to a specific Outlook profile. That means you can’t simply open or import an OST file directly into Outlook 365. This becomes a major challenge when switching to Office 365 after a crash, profile deletion, or Exchange migration.

In this blog, we’ll show you exactly how to import OST file to Office 365. We’ll cover both a manual workaround and a smarter professional approach using the OST to PST Converter, so you can move your data quickly and without any risk.

Why We Need to Import OST File into Office 365?

There are several real-world situations where importing an OST file into Outlook 365 becomes necessary:

  • You lost the Outlook profile, but the OST file remains intact.
  • Accessing mail from an old OST backup.
  • Consolidating multiple OSTs into one Microsoft 365 mailbox.
  • It allows for moving email from a local server to the Office 365 cloud.
  • Recovering data after a system crash where only the OST file survived.

No matter the reason, accessing an OST file through Office 365 requires an extra step.

Different Techniques to Import OST File to Office 365

There’s no direct option in Microsoft 365 to import an OST file, which makes the process a bit difficult. If your OST is still linked to a working Outlook profile, you can try a manual export. But if the file is corrupted, using a professional tool is more reliable.

Manual Method to Import OST to Outlook 365

Office 365 doesn’t support direct OST file imports, but if your Outlook profile still connects to the OST file, you can first export it to a PST. Then, you can load that PST file into Outlook 365. Here are the commonly used manual approaches:

Method 1: Export OST to PST and Access Data in Outlook 365

If you’re trying to open OST file in Outlook 365, you’ll need to convert it first. By exporting the OST to a PST file, you can easily load your old emails and folders into your Office 365 account. Follow the steps to get it done:

 

  1. Initially, start Microsoft Outlook connected to the account associated with the OST file.
  2. After that, go to File > Open & Export > Import/Export.
  3. Then, select Export to a file, then select Next.
  4. Further, select Outlook Data File (.pst) and press Next.
  5. To proceed, select the mailbox folders you want to export (Inbox, Sent, etc.).
  6. Later, select Next, then browse a location to save the PST file, and hit Finish.
  7. Now, open Outlook linked to your Office 365 account.
  8. Afterward, go to File > Open & Export > Open Outlook Data File and select the PST file.
  9. Lastly, once loaded, you can drag and drop items into your Office 365 mailbox.

Method 2: Use Outlook’s Archive Feature to Import OST File to Office 365

This method works well if you don’t need the entire mailbox but still want to access older emails from your OST file.

  1. Firstly, start Outlook that’s still connected to the OST file.
  2. After that, Navigate to File > Options > Advanced > AutoArchive Settings.
  3. After that, select the folders you want to archive and set a custom date range.
  4. To proceed, select the path to save the archived PST file, then select OK.
  5. Later, start Outlook 365, go to File > Open & Export > Open Outlook Data File, and select the archive PST.
  6. Lastly, from there, copy or drag the needed items into your Office 365 mailbox folders.

Professional Technique to Import OST File to Office 365

When your OST file loses its connection to Outlook or becomes corrupted, you can’t depend on manual methods to import it. In such cases, the best way to recover and move your data into Office 365 is by using a professional solution. One trustworthy tool for this job is the OST to Outlook Converter Tool. 

This utility allows you to recover mailbox data from any OST file and convert it into a PST format that’s fully compatible with Outlook 365. The tool keeps your emails, attachments, calendars, contacts, and folder structure intact, so you can move everything to Office 365 without losing any data or organization. Additionally, this tool also helps you to import OST to Gmail and other file formats or email clients.

Now, follow the steps to complete the process: 

  1. Initially, start the OST Converter Tool and select the File or Folder option.
  2. Afterward, select Open to add OST files and hit Next.
  3. Further, preview mailbox data and select folders to convert.
  4. Now, select PST as the output format.
  5. Later, apply filters and set the destination path.
  6. Finally, select the Convert button to start the migration.

Conclusion

Import OST file to Office 365 isn’t always easy. While manual methods are available but they come with limitations and only work if the OST file is still accessible. For an accurate transfer, using a professional solution like the OST to PST Transfer is a smarter choice. It provides a trustworthy way to transfer your data without the risk of errors or data loss, which makes the entire process easier.