How to Convert PST File to EML? Top Solutions
Organizations usually back up or archive their email data in a PST file. But sometimes they do not have Outlook installed on their systems to retrieve them. This raises a question: how to access the PST archive. For this, the best solution is to convert PST file to EML to access them in free mail apps. Now, there are free solutions for small-scale conversions. But for a large number of PST file conversions, an automated tool, PST to EML Converter, is recommended.
User-Query: “I have an Outlook PST file that contains important emails, and I need to convert them into EML format. I’m looking for a method that preserves email content, attachments, and metadata during the conversion. What are the best ways to change PST files to EML, and can this be done for specific folders or date ranges?”
Various Reasons to Convert PST to EML
Below are a few reasons why users consider processing the PST file conversions to EML format. Take a look:
- Sometimes Outlook isn’t accessible and therefore, the PST file needs to be converted to EML to freely access it.
- With EML files, it is convenient to share only the specific emails rather than sending the entire PST file.
- If the users want to create a lightweight backup, they can convert their PST to EML to easily store them.
- For an easy email migration, users usually prefer converting the PST file to EML format.
- EML format is widely supported and is compatible with email clients like Windows Mail, Apple Mail, Thunderbird, and others.
Learn How to Convert PST File to EML Format?
After understanding why users convert their PST files to EML format, let’s move ahead. Next, we will execute the solutions both manually and automatically using a tool.
Method 01: Using MS Outlook
It is the simplest manual method that involves the drag-and-drop technique to export PST to EML. We will first open the PST file in Outlook and then drag and drop it locally. The emails will be saved as an EML file individually.
The following are the instructions to begin the process:
- Launch MS Outlook on your system.
- Now, open the desired PST file and head to the File menu.
- Click on Open & Export > Import/Export > Outlook Data File (.pst).
- After that, browse the PST file, open it, and select the folders you want to convert.
- Next, open File Explorer and select a destination folder to save the EML files.
- Drag the emails from the Outlook PST folder and drop them into a local folder.
- The emails will be saved as an .eml file.
Limitations: This process is not suitable for bulk PST file conversions. Hence, converting large PST files will be a time-consuming process. The drag-and-drop method also increases the chances of human errors.
Method 02: Via Mozilla Thunderbird
This method uses the Thunderbird application as an intermediate tool to export the emails in EML format. We’ll access the PST data from Outlook through an IMAP protocol to convert Outlook PST to EML.
Look at the following step-by-step process to begin with:
- Install and launch the Thunderbird application.
- Now, add an IMAP-enabled email account to it.
- After that, open Outlook, load the PST file, and drag and drop emails from the PST file to the IMAP folder.
- Next, open Thunderbird and search for and install ImportExportTools NG.
- Select the emails in Thunderbird, right-click on them, and select ImportExportTools NG.
- Choose Export all messages in the folder > EML format and pick a destination path to save the EML files.
Limitations: The syncing process will depend upon a stable internet connection and the mailbox size. Also, a few of the emails will be skipped or modified during the synchronization.
Top-Notch Utility to Convert PST File to EML Format
The MacSonik PST to EML Converter is designed for those who need a reliable solution to convert PST files to an EML format. This tool also converts PST to PDF to access it anywhere and anytime. It is equipped with comprehensive features that provide error-free results. Also, it guarantees 100% data authenticity while maintaining the original folder structure. In addition to this, it supports over 10 additional export formats and migrates directly to popular email clients.
Simple steps to convert PST to EML:
- Launch the MacSonik PST to EML converter.
- After that, pick the Single File/Multiple Files option and click Next.
- Then, go to the Select Files option, browse the PST file, and open it to add it.
- Next, in the left-side panel, expand the folders, select the files, and preview them.
- Now, choose File Formats and select EML from the available options.
- Apply the additional filters to customize the process.
- Lastly, click Path To Save to choose the destination location and hit Convert.
Conclusion
In this blog, we have outlined the complete process to convert PST file to EML format. The manual techniques work well for limited conversions; they are not suitable for large conversions. Alternatively, a professional MacSonik PST to EML Converter stands out as a preferable choice among enterprises. Now, to ensure the software meets the business requirements, download its trial version.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. It is possible to convert large PST files to EML format both manually and via a professional tool. With the manual approach, the process will take a lot of effort and time. But by using a professional converter tool, it will quickly convert the PST files to EML format.
To convert Outlook PST files to EML within a specific date range, open the PST file in Outlook and apply a date filter using the search or advanced find options. Once the required emails are displayed, select them and drag-and-drop the messages to a local folder to save them as EML files.
PST to EML conversion does not work directly on macOS because Outlook for Mac does not support opening PST files. To perform the conversion, users must first access the PST file on a Windows system or use an intermediate method, then export the emails to EML format for use on macOS.
