Best Way to Import Mails from PST to Office 365

A common platform used by multiple organizations to manage their data is Office 365. As part of the Microsoft family (of Server Software and Client Software), Office 365 is a widely used and most popular web-based email client all over the world. O365 serves different functions and features to its users to communicate over the network. Office 365 includes Outlook with its all features and benefits as well as drive support (i.e. Onedrive). You can only import mails from PST Office 365 because the O365 includes Outlook and which supports its own file formats (i.e. PST, OST, NST). This blog will guide you on How to migrate / import mails from PST files to Office 365 using different methods. Before starting the blog, let's have an idea that what the PST file is?

Navigation Panel –

1. 1. What is PST?
2. 2. Methods to Export Mail from PST to Office 365
3. 3. Network Upload Method and Its Limitations
4. 4. Drive Shipping Method and Its Limitations
5. 5. Data Migration Via Professional Tool
6. 6. Conclusion

What is PST Files?

Generally, it is defined as a Personal storage table and originally known as personal storage files and folders. This is the file format of Microsoft Outlook stores the data like emails, calendars, events, etc in it. This file is generated while exporting the files of Outlook as well as in Office 365.

Methods to Import Mails from PST to Office 365

Various methods are available to export PST files to Office 365. In this blog, we will be going to discuss three methods which are described below

1. Use the Network Upload method to export your Outlook PST into Microsoft Office 365.
2. Use of Drive Shipping method to migrate PST emails to Office 365.
3. Use of Professional Automated Tools to import PST files to O365.

The first two methods have their own merits and demerits but the professional tool works quite well and it’s a great technique to export PST archives Office 365 mailbox(es) without any burden. Go, through the methods discussed and choose the best method according to you.

Method #1: Network Upload Method

This is the free method to import PST data to Office 365. In the Network Upload method, you need to follow some steps to import PST file data to O365. This method needs very high internet bandwidth and good technical knowledge.

Working of Network Upload Method

In Network Upload Method, a copy of the archive PST file uploaded in the network by using the Azure Azcopy tool. Then, we need to code (SAS URL) and need to map the CSV files which contain the information (like user ID, Password, file name, path, etc). Then, the PST files will be imported to your account. It takes a very long time to import mails to O365. This is a very long process or may fail sometimes. It's better to use a professional tool to import mails from PST to Office 365.

Limitations of Network Upload

1. Very complex method to apply to import PST data to O365.
2. Required enough technical knowledge to implement the Network method.
3. Not appropriate if large amount of PST files to be imported.
4. While importing the PST files this method takes a very long time.
5. Not a good method in the absence of good internet bandwidth.

NOTE- Azure storage is the temporary space over the network to store the files or data.

Azure Azcopy tool is used to store the files in the Azure storage over the network temporarily.

Method #2: Drive Shipping Method

In, Drive Shipping method users need to take the PST data into an encrypted hard drive and need to ship that drive to Microsoft. Then, Microsoft will import mails from PST to Office 365 account using Azure storage. Microsoft charges $2USD per GB to transfer the data (PST file) into your Office 365 account and the user needs to pay the shipping charges as well.

NOTE- In this method, the user needs to remove the passwords, security checks, need to check for corrupted PST files, a perfect CSV file needs to be dispatched along with the files, etc.

Limitations of Drive Shipping method

1. It takes a long time in the migration of data.
2. Possibility of data leakage (may affect privacy).
3. The cost is very high for migration.
4. CSV must be correct else repeat the whole task again.

"Hello! I am Stefan, I moved to Office 365 from Outlook and need to import my PST files into Office 365 account. I am aware of methods like Drive Shipping and Network Upload methods but they are a very lengthy and complex method to use. So, is there any automated professional tools that I can use to resolve my problem?"

Method #3: Import mails from PST to Office 365 –Using Automated Tool

There are many tools available in the market which help you to migrate PST files to Office 365 directly without any burden. One of a professional tool which is designed to solve your problem is Free PST to Office 365 migration tool. In this software, you just need to follow few steps to export the Outlook PST data files in Office 365.

Advantages of the Professional Tool

1. Can import multiple PST files with admin and user accounts.
2. An incremental import facility is available in this tool.
3. Date filter is available to migrate selective data.
4. Import mails from PST to Office 365 shared account using the admin account.
5. Can include / exclude the deleted and sent items.
6. Can import data into three different option.
7. Compatible with all Microsoft Outlook versions.

Step to Import Mails From PST to Office 365

1. Download the tool- Office 365 import tool
2. Open the import tool and log in with Credentials.
3. Add the PST file path to import the file.
4. Authenticate it with the email address.
5. Select Categories, Incremental Import and attach Outlook PST file if required.
6. Click to Import and import process will start.

NOTE – The above tool comes with the demo version as well you can try the demo version and then you can use it according to your needs. If you find this software valuable then you can buy it and can import any size of PST file in Office 365. You need to buy this software once then you can use it any number times.

Conclusion

In this blog, we discussed Office 365, PST files and three methods to import mails from PST to Office 365. You can go through any method which you fit best for you. After reading this blog, make sure that you choose the best method to follow to get the best solution for the problem.

A technical writer with experience to fix issues faced by technical users like how to Import Pst to Office 365.