Directly Import Outlook OST to Apple Mail – Full Guide

Nowadays, one of the most popular queries is to import OST to Apple Mail. OST (offline storage table) is a file that contains a copy of Outlook mailbox data that allows a user to access their files offline. However, Apple Mail has become a widely used and popular email client because of its ease of use, robustness, and integration with other devices. Because of that, many users have been migrated and others want to migrate to Apple Mail, looking for a simple and user-friendly experience. Here arises a challenge, how to import OST files to Apple Mail. Fortunately, there is a specialized software (OST to PST Converter) that will overcome your challenge.

In this blog, we will provide you with enough knowledge to import OST files in Apple Mail. 

Reasons to Import Outlook OST file to Apple Mail

Here are some reasons to import Outlook OST to Apple Mail. Some of them are listed below:

• To switch from Outlook to Apple Mail, as it is a secure email client.
• Users import their OST files to Apple Mail to consolidate all email accounts into one easy-to-manageable account.
•  To avoid data loss from accidental deletion of important emails on the Outlook account, importing to Apple Mail can help recover them.

How to Import OST to Apple Mail?

Importing OST files in Apple Mail is a troublesome process. Direct import of Outlook OST to Apple Mail is not possible. Here, we will explore two methods: the automated method, which directly import Outlook OST to Apple Mail, and the manual method. Below are the methods that show all the steps in detail.

#1 Manual method to import OST to Apple Mail

Importing OST to Apple Mail includes three steps, 

1. Export OST file to PST file
2. Convert the PST file to MBOX file
3. Import MBOX into Apple Mail

Now we will go through the three steps in detail to give you the necessary knowledge about Import OST File in Apple Mail.

Step 1. Export OST file to PST file

To export your OST files to PST, follow the below steps:

• First, Run the Microsoft Outlook on your device.
• Go to the “File” menu and select “Open and Export” → “Import/Export”.
• In the “Import/Export” window, select “Export to a file” and click “Next”.
• Choose “Outlook Data File (.pst)” as the file type and click Next.
• Select the folder you want to export from Outlook.
• Then, set the Name and destination for the exported file and click “Finish”.

Step 2. Convert the PST file to MBOX file

To convert PST to MBOX file, follow these steps:

• Run Microsoft Outlook, and then import the PST file into it.
• Next, run the Thunderbird application, tap on Tools, and select Import options. 
• Now choose Mail and hit Next.
• Then, opt for Outlook from the list and click Next.
• You will see an Outlook Import folder containing all the emails under Local Folders.
• Now close the Import window.
• Next, open Thunderbird and install the ImportExportTools NG extension.
• Go to Tools → Import Export Tools → Export all the Folders.
• set the destination to save the file and click “Select Folder”.
• Finally, you got the MBOX file consisting of all PST mailboxes.

Step 3. Import MBOX into Apple Mail

• First, Go to the File on Apple Mail.
• Then, choose Import Mailboxes.
• Now, select the option “Files in .mbox format” and click continue.
• After that, browse and select the MBOX file, it will start the import.

Once the MBOX file is imported into Apple Mail, the user will be able to import the OST file into Apple Mail. We have shown you the manual method, but there are some limitations to using this method.

Drawbacks of Manual Methods

Performing the manual method has lots of limitations, we will describe some of them:

• Risk of data loss — Importing manually may lead to data loss, especially when a user does not have any prior knowledge about data importation.
• Time-consuming — The process requires user effort that could be prone to error and time taking.
• Hierarchy of folders — Manual import doesn’t keep user data in the hierarchical manner of the nested folders, and attachments.

#2 Professional Method to Import Outlook OST to Apple Mail

The OST to PST Converter simplifies the process of importing an OST file to Apple Mail in a couple of steps. Its simple user interface ensures that a user of any level can easily complete the conversion without any data loss. In addition, users can safely remove duplicate emails, offer bulk import of tons of emails, and support for various file formats and email clients.

Steps to Import OST to Apple Mail

• First, download and run OST to PST Converter on the user’s device.
• Next, choose the Single/Multiple Files option to add an OST file.
• Then, select the OST file to add it.
• After that, you can see the files/folders under the preview panel.
• Next, choose the Apple Mail client from the drop-down menu.
• Afterwards, you need to authenticate your Apple Mail account to move further.
• Finally, hit the Convert button to initiate the conversion.

Conclusion

In this article, we provide step-by-step guidance on importing OST to Apple Mail. Importing an OST file to Apple Mail may seem challenging, but it can be accomplished easily with the right software. Previously, we discussed a manual method, but it does not directly import OST into Apple Mail. The manual method is associated with some issues that can lead to data loss. You are free to choose either of the methods discussed in the blog, but we recommend using the OST to PST Converter for direct import into Apple Mail.

Also Read: Open OST File Without Outlook