Convert MBOX mailboxes into Outlook PST files

Why convert MBOX to PST

MBOX file format is used for transferring and storing message databases in multiple email clients:

• Apple Mail,
• Outlook Express,
• Windows Live Mail,
• Mozilla Thunderbird,
• Eudora,
• Entourage,
• PowerMail,
• Gmail when transferring messages via Google Takeout

and others.

Microsoft Outlook does not use the MBOX format but stores messages and other mailbox items in its own PST file format. To make MBOX emails accessible to Outlook or Exchange Server, you must convert MBOX to Outlook PST format. Once converted, the mail database can be connected to Outlook.

You may need to export MBOX to PST to

• transfer the MBOX mailbox data to MS Outlook;
• share MBOX email messages with an Outlook user;
• save messages from the MBOX email client for later viewing in Outlook;
• access an MBOX mailbox when using Outlook on another computer.

The main reasons for switching from MBOX to PST data file:

• Switching to PST for Outlook gives you more options for handling your mail and guarantees greater security for your communications. Since multiple MBOX messages are stored in a single text file, there is a chance of losing all emails if the MBOX is damaged.
• PST files can be password protected for additional security.
• PST file type enables you to store not only messages in a data file, but also contacts, tasks, calendar entries, etc.

If you need to migrate MBOX email messages directly to an existing Outlook or Office 365 mailbox, or a shared folder on the Exchange Server, use Import MBOX into Outlook to do so.

Convert MBOX to PST manually

You can manually export MBOX emails and then import them to a PST format by saving individual messages in EML format.

To do this, follow these steps:

1. Save the messages from your email client in EML files. In some email applications, for example, Thunderbird, you can select several messages and use the "Save As…" feature to export them to EML:

In other programs, you will need to save MBOX emails individually in .eml format. To do so, you need to open the message's source code (raw message).

2. Open the folder with EML messages. Select all and drag and drop them to the desired Microsoft Outlook folder.

3. Go to File > Open & Export > Import/Export to export the messages to an Outlook PST.

4. Click Export to a file > Next, then Outlook Data File (.pst) > Next, select the desired folder and press Next.

5. Determine the location and name of the Outlook PST file and click Finish.

This method involves many manual actions and will only fit if you need to transfer a few messages.

This free method will take too much time if you have multiple MBOX files to export.

How to convert MBOX to PST automatically

Follow simple steps before converting MBOX to PST:

1. Lunch the utility from the Outlook ribbon or a separate application.

2. Select an MBOX file or a folder with MBOX files.

3. Check the "Include subfolders" box to keep the original folder structure of the MBOX files.

4. Specify the path and name of the file with the .pst extension. Alternatively, select an existing PST on your computer.

5. You can create multiple PSTs according to your preferences. Add a macro from the ready-made list to the file name before the .pst extension, as the picture shows.

6. If you are converting multiple MBOX files, you can save each to a separate folder.

7. To create separate folders within the final PSTs for convenient message storage, use the list of ready-made macros in the "Destination folder in PST file" field.

Advanced features of MBOX to PST converter

Use the enhanced settings on the "Advanced" tab.

1. Check "Add Internet headers" to save technical (full) message headers when converting.

2. If you are saving messages to an existing PST, you can "Mark converted messages as unread" to make them visible.

3. Use Google labels to assign Outlook categories to messages or maintain the original Gmail folder structure. Check the box to select the option you want.

4. Select the messages to convert: all messages, only with attachments, or only without attachments.

5. Exclude files larger than the specified size from the conversion process if necessary.

6. Specify the maximum PST size to split large files during conversion, which will save you from having to apply the PST splitting operation. Or leave it at 0 to not apply this option.

7. Specify a folder where you can move the processed MBOX files. This way, you can avoid duplicate messages when converting from the same location to the same PST file again.

8. Specify a folder for incorrect messages from a partially damaged MBOX to review and analyze them after conversion.

Bulk MBOX to PST conversion

The professional version of the MBOX to PST converter includes a command line application that can be used for mass migration of MBOX email databases to Microsoft Outlook and Exchange Server. This tool is useful for converting a large number of MBOX files at once, as it can work with the Windows Scheduler to automate the process.

This means you can set up various migration scenarios for multiple user mailboxes, saving you time and effort. The command line application is a convenient solution for bulk MBOX to PST conversion, as it allows you to easily migrate a large number of MBOX files in a single operation. It is also a reliable option, as it can help ensure the accuracy and integrity of the data during the conversion process.

Conclusion

Converting MBOX emails to PST for Outlook is easy with the automatic method, compared to doing it manually. To transfer messages to Outlook PST, you just need to specify the source and destination folders and run the utility.

Alternatively, you can use advanced settings and filter the messages during the conversion process, save them in separate folders and data files, and mark the converted emails. This converter software keeps the original message properties and folder hierarchy, works with any number of large files, and uses the command line for complicated migration scripts