How to Convert OST to EML Format Manually

Do you want to convert OST to EML to extract emails from the OST file to the EML file format? If yes, then here is the right solution for you. This blog provides complete manual steps for exporting OST files into PST format. For the quick and fast conversion process, we will also provide an automated approach using the Microsoft OST to PST Converter Tool.

Many users want to switch from one platform to another, but it is not an easy step for non-tech users. OST files in Outlook save mailbox items, i.e., emails, calendars, contacts, etc., whereas EML files save email messages as a dynamic file format. Thus, users migrate from OST to EML file formats.

About OST and EML in Brief

OST: These files are created by Outlook and are referred to as the Offline Storage Table that stores emails, contacts, calendar data, tasks, etc. When internet connectivity is not available, it helps users to work. When the Exchange connection is back, all changes made by users in offline mode are later saved to the server.

EML: An electronic mail that contains a single email with an attachment. Many email clients allow EML files to store emails, such as Thunderbird, Windows Live Mail, Outlook Express, DreamMail, eM Server, SeaMonkey, etc.

Why do Users Convert OST to EML File Format?

Users have many options available to access data from any email client. That’s why everyone wants to transfer their data from one email client to another. Migrating an Outlook OST file into EML format is not a single reason. The following are some other reasons:

1. Crash or Failure: When an MS Exchange server is attacked by a virus, it leads to an unusable or unexpected crash, system failure, and much more. Then no one was able to connect to the MS Exchange server. These types of crashes become difficult to handle and thus create several errors in Outlook profiles.
2. Deletion of Data Accidentally: When data is accidentally deleted from the Exchange server, converting OST to EML can recover deleted data from the database.
3. Data Migration: When an organization plans to shift its location, then users can gain easier access by converting OST to EML to migrate their data from one system to another.

So these are all the reasons for migrating OST to the EML file format. Now, let us move on to the steps to export OST files.

Manual Method to convert OST to EML

There are three steps, as follows:-

1. Drag and Drop OST File Data to Configured Gmail Account

Copy or move the OST data file that you want to convert to the configured Gmail account, or drag and drop it.

2. Add the same Gmail data into Thunderbird

Then, after performing the above steps, users need to add the same Gmail data to Thunderbird. After the conversion process, all the Gmail data now appears in Thunderbird.

3. Extract the EML files from Thunderbird

After the above steps, extract the EML files from Thunderbird. But how does this conversion process take place? Let’s see:

1. Choose those emails that you just transferred from Gmail to Thunderbird. You can select all by pressing the keyboard keys CTRL+A.
2. Click right-click on the selected emails and press save as an option.
3. Then those emails are automatically saved in EML file format in Thunderbird.
4. Select the folder to save those EML files, and finally, convert the OST files into EML files.

OR

1. Choose those emails that you just transferred from Gmail to Thunderbird. You can select all by pressing the keyboard keys CTRL+A.
2. Right-click on emails, then choose “Save Selected Message.” After this, select EML format.
3. Select the folder to save those EML files, and finally, convert the OST files into EML files.

So these are all the manual ways to convert OST to EML. The manual process becomes very long in the case of a large amount of data in the OST file. Therefore, a user needs to search for some other solution to overcome this drawback of a manual approach. You can use OST to PST Converter, which is one of the best utilities to directly export OST to EML files. Also, if users need to migrate OST files into other file formats, they can convert OST to PST, MSG, PDF, MBOX, etc.

Final Words

We have given all the appropriate measures to convert OST to EML manually and directly. You can go through any of the solutions according to your understanding ability. If you are a non-technical user, then it is better to go with the OST to PST Converter utility.