PST is indeed one of the widely used file formats in the realm of email management. In many cases, individuals who wish to migrate IMAP mailboxes to Outlook or access data from other email servers using Outlook will typically convert that data into PST format. This allows them to seamlessly access and manage their email data through Microsoft Outlook.
Nevertheless, opening a PST file with MS Outlook can be somewhat perplexing for some users. In this informative article, we will delve into various methods for successfully opening PST files using MS Outlook.
Methods to Open PST File in Outlook
Outlook users can indeed open PST files in MS Outlook with relative ease. However, it's important to note that the process for opening a PST file in Outlook may vary slightly depending on the version of MS Outlook you are using. In this guide, we will provide instructions on how to open a PST file in Outlook for the versions 2010, 2013, 2016, and 2019.
The process of opening a PST file is quite similar in Outlook 2010 and later versions. For example, in Outlook 2010, you can access PST file data through two different methods: the "Open and Import" option and the "Add Data Files" option. Besides these manual approaches using Outlook, there are also third-party tools available that enable you to open and view PST files without relying on MS Outlook. These tools provide additional flexibility for accessing and managing PST file data.
We will discuss each of the above methods in a more detailed manner.
To open a PST file with this method, follow these steps;
- Open MS Outlook, and go to the “File” tab.
- Now, choose the Open option from the menu, and then select Import.
Note: In Outlook 2013/ 2016/ 2019, these actions are followed by clicking Open/Export, and then selecting Import/Export option. - A new wizard will appear on the screen, select “Import from another program or file” and click “Next.”
- In the next wizard, select Outlook data file and click Next.
- Now, select the PST file that you want to import in Outlook with the Browse option and click Next.
- In the next step, select the folder you want to import, select whether you want to import these items into the current folder or the same folder, and click Finish to complete the process.
Note: With this method, the PST file will be imported to your Outlook mailbox.
This way you can quickly import a PST file to MS Outlook 2010.
To add a PST file with this method, follow these steps;
- Open MS Outlook, and go to the File tab.
- Click the Account Settings option, and then select Account settings from the drop-down menu.
- In the new dialogue box, select the Data Files tab and hit the Add button.
- Browse the location and select the PST file that you want to open in Outlook and click OK.
- The PST file has been added to Outlook, you can check it after adding it like this:
Hit the Close button to end the process and view its content in MS Outlook. This is the easiest method to open a PST file in MS Outlook 2010.
The manual methods for opening PST files can indeed be time-consuming and complex, and they also necessitate the presence of MS Outlook on your system. Moreover, if you do not have MS Outlook but still need to access a PST file, utilizing an automated solution becomes the most efficient approach. With a reputable third-party tool, you can open and view the contents of a PST file even without the need for MS Outlook. This not only saves you time and effort but also eliminates the need to purchase MS Outlook, providing a more cost-effective solution.
Kernel Outlook PST Viewer is widely recognized as one of the top tools for opening PST files without requiring the Outlook application. This tool is capable of displaying data even from a corrupt PST file, offering a valuable solution for users facing PST-related issues. Additionally, you can download this tool free of charge. Let's delve into how this tool operates:
- Launch the tool. Select the mode to open files (you can select single as well as multiple files at the same time). Click Browse to select a PST file.
- Select the PST file and click Open.
- Click Next after the PST file is added to the tool.
- The tool will provide you the Process Information; read it, and click Finish to start the process.
- The tool automatically starts processing the mailbox items of the PST file.
- After processing each file and folder, it will provide you a preview of the mailbox items inside the PST file.
Thus, you can view the PST file content without MS Outlook.
Conclusion
Manual methods for opening PST files can indeed be somewhat time-consuming and complex. Furthermore, these manual methods may not allow you to view the contents of a corrupt PST file within Outlook. When dealing with damaged or corrupt PST files, turning to third-party tools is often the most effective course of action. Kernel Outlook PST Viewer offers a user-friendly interface and a wide range of functionalities, making it a valuable tool for opening both corrupt and healthy PST files with ease.
