A Complete Guide to Import OST to Office 365 with Attachments
User Query: “I’m looking for a solution to move my old OST file created by an earlier Outlook profile to my new Office 365 account with all of its attachments and folder structure intact. What is the best method to import it safely into Office 356?”
Summary: The process to import an OST file into Office 365 can be challenging for many users. OST files were created to work only with their associated Outlook profile, resulting in challenges when directly migrating them. Fortunately, a perfect method is available to upload your entire OST mailbox to Office 365 and access your data from anywhere. In this article, we’ll discuss some best methods to import OST to Office 365. Also, a dedicated MacSonik OST to PST Converter Tool, which will greatly simplify the process while keeping your data safe.
Why Users Import OST File into Outlook 365?
There are many reasons why a user need to migrate their OST files to the Office 365 format. However, there are benefits users get after conversion discussed below:
- Once OST files are converted to a cloud-supported format, their data can be accessed from any device using Office 365.
- OST files are associated with a specific Outlook profile or Exchange server. Therefore, the migration helps restore access even if the profile is deleted.
- Lost, damaged, or inaccessible OST files can be imported into Office 365, which helps users retrieve important emails and attachments.
- Office 365 provides secure cloud storage, advanced search, and long-term accessibility, which avoids data corruption or loss.
- After import OST to Office 365 makes backup, compliance, and synchronization much easier for both personal and business use.
Manual Method to Import OST Files to Outlook 365
There is no direct option to upload OST files into Office 365. Therefore, we’ll use the manual method to complete the migration. Follow the given steps to complete the process manually:
Step 1: Export OST Data to PST in Outlook
- First, open Outlook on your system and click the File tab.
- Next, go to Options, then select Advanced.
- After that, under the Export section, click Export → Choose Export to a File → Outlook Data File (.pst).
- Further, select the mailbox or folders you want to export.
- Pick a destination to save the new PST file and click Finish to create your PST file.
Step 2: Import the PST File into Office 365
- Now, login to Microsoft 365 Admin Center and go to Compliance.
- Then, choose Information Governance (or Import, depending on your version) and open Data Lifecycle Management and choose Import PST Files.
- After that, create a new import job and upload your PST file.
- After uploading, map the PST to the user’s mailbox and complete the import process, and wait.
- Once done, the emails will appear in your Office 365 mailbox with attachments.
Limitations of the manual Method
- It’s important to have Microsoft Outlook; you can’t export OSTs to PSTs without it.
- If your OST file is damaged, encrypted, or orphaned, the process won’t be successful.
- Using the Import Wizard to upload a large PST can be a slow process.
- Some of the folder structures, metadata, and attachments might be missing or damaged when you upload the PST file.
- Uploading multiple OST files manually is laborious and takes a long time.
- A damaged OST cannot be exported; it needs to be recovered first.
Automated Tool to Import OST to Office 365
If you want a hassle-free import OST Emails to Office 365, just go with the dedicated Emaildiver OST to PST Converter Tool. It’s fast, safe, and you don’t lose a thing. Your emails, attachments, and folder structure all stay intact. The whole process runs right on your own computer, so your data stays private.
You also get some useful features, like bulk uploads, options to pick and choose what you move, and filters to zero in on exactly the data you want. The tool also comes with options to import OST to Thunderbird and other file formats and email clients.
Steps to Migrate OST to Office 365 PST
- First, install and launch the converter tool on your system.
- After that, click on Select File or Select Folder to select and open your OST files, and click Next.
- Now, expand the tree structure and select your desired emails and folders for conversion, preview them, and click Next.
- Moving on, choose the PST format from the list of available File Formats and apply the desired advanced features and filters.
- Finally, choose the Path to save your PST files and click Convert to start the conversion process.
Once the conversion is complete, import the PST file into your Office 365 account, and your migration will be complete without any problem.
Conclusion
To sum up, there is no process of importing your OST files to Office 365 directly. It’s a complicated process for non-technical users, which forces them to search for a simple and effective solution. Therefore, this article discusses methods to solve users’ problems. While the manual method we discussed in this article is effective, it’s not good for business or professional purposes. Hence, we recommend users choose the professional OST to PST Converter Tool to import OST to Office 365. Additionally, the tool features advanced functions that make the conversion process easy and safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ans. Yes, you can import multiple OST files in bulk using an advanced OST to PST converter that supports batch uploading and ensures consistent data transfer.
Ans. EmailDiver OST to PST Converter tool ensures secure, accurate migration with attachment preservation, folder structure maintenance, and direct Office 365 login support.
Ans. Transfer OST to Office 365 by converting it to PST and importing manually, or use a professional OST to PST Converter tool for direct, seamless migration.
Ans. Yes, the professional OST to PST converter allows direct uploads without requiring Outlook, even when the OST file is orphaned, inaccessible, or from a deleted profile.
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