Why Converting OST to PST is Essential for Outlook Users?

Have you ever wished to share your Outlook data with your colleagues? As you might have guessed, it’s not an easy task. Since you can access OST files only via their configured account, sharing them becomes a tricky task. This is one of the most common reasons users shift their data from OST to PST files.

We’ll discuss in detail the core differences between OST and PST files. Moving ahead, we’ll talk about the reasons for converting OST files to PST and the methods to do so.

Key differences between OST and PST files

It’s essential to know the core differences that set apart OST files from PST files. This helps understand why users might want to convert their OST files to PST.

Synchronization

OST files allow users to work offline when there is no connection to the Exchange Server. All the changes are saved once the file is re-synchronized with the Exchange mailbox again.

On the other hand, PST files work online with different servers, including Exchange Server, POP3, IMAP, and webmail accounts.

Backup

Since OST files can only be accessed through the account they’re configured with, they’re not a suitable format to backup your emails.

PST files are an excellent format for backing up or migrating your emails, as they’re easily shareable. Outlook users can easily open and import multiple PST files in any Outlook profile.

Encryption

The main reason OST files can’t be accessed easily is that they’re encrypted with the MAPIEntryID GUID key. To decrypt the file, you need to have authentication from the linked MAPI profile.

On the other hand, a PST file uses the CRC32 algorithm to encrypt PST files with a password. This makes them easily importable and a good option for collaborating with colleagues.

Main reasons to convert OST to PST format

Now, let’s come to the main question: what’s the need to convert OST files to PST? There can be a variety of different reasons that drive users to shift from OST format to PST. These reasons generally stem from the challenges users face while using the OST format. Also, practical requirements differing from user to user are decisive factors in this conversion. Let’s now see the most crucial reasons for this conversion:

Easy accessibility

One of the main reasons that prompts users to convert OST files to PST is the easily accessible nature of the PST files. PST files are much more easily shared and accessed amongst colleagues since they’re independent of the Exchange Server. On the contrary, the accessibility of OST files depends on the Exchange Server’s availability. Understandably, these factors make PST a more suitable option for professionals seeking to collaborate regularly over email.

Backup and archiving

PST file format is the primary choice for Outlook users to backup their entire email data safely. Moreover, having data backed up in PST files proves to be beneficial in case the Exchange Server crashes or becomes unavailable. Converting OST files to PST secures your data from the possibility of potential data loss.

Easy data migration

Migrating from one email client to another often calls for the conversion of OST files to PST for easier transition. Given the broad compatibility of PST files with different email servers, migrating all your data from OST files to PST becomes very easy.

Efficient data recovery

Recovering data from an inaccessible or corrupt OST file is a tricky process. Thus, saving a copy of the OST file data in PST format is recommended. Apart from that, if Exchange Server crashes or goes under maintenance, it becomes very tough to access the OST file data. PST files are a great alternative in such a scenario since they work independently of the Exchange Server.

Better data management

PST files store all the emails across all the profiles in a single consolidated file. On the other hand, OST files are stored individually, thus taking up more space. Storing data in PST files allows users to easily share entire mailbox data instead of sharing emails individually.

How to convert OST to PST format?

You can convert OST files to PST format primarily in two ways: either by using Outlook's Import/Export method or by archiving OST files. These methods are perfect for converting a small number of emails. However, they might not be the suitable choice to export OST to PST in bulk. Additionally, you might ruin your emails' data structure and folder hierarchy by attempting to perform manual methods.

To avoid all the limitations and risks, we suggest you convert OST to PST using a reliable OST to PST converter. This advanced tool boasts a high-end algorithm that easily recovers data like emails, contacts, calendars, attachments, etc., from corrupt OST files. This tool also offers the ability to save recovered data in multiple output formats, including PST, MSG, EML, etc. Preserve your email’s metadata and safely convert all your OST emails!

Conclusion

Converting OST to PST greatly benefits individuals and businesses, considering PST files are widely compatible. We’ve given some of the most compelling reasons that push users to export OST to PST. Apart from that, we’ve also talked briefly about some simple methods by which you can perform this conversion. For an easy alternative, try converting OST files to PST with Kernel for OST to PST Converter.

Suhail Khan is a Digital Marketing Strategiest at KernelApps, who has a strong grasp of current marketing tools and strategies and can build a social media presence with highly engaging reading materials