A business has shifted from a Windows environment with MS Outlook to Apple Mail on macOS. Now, to protect important past communications and project details, many teams have archived their data into a PST file. To maintain the workflow and productivity, the team seeks an efficient solution to import PST to Apple Mail. By doing this, the team members can retrieve old emails without switching back to Outlook. But, how can they make this transition possible? To find out the answers, carefully read this blog from start to end. The user has the choice to make this transition either manually or by using a professional PST Migrator Tool. Choose the right method according to your needs.
PST (Personal Storage Table) is an Outlook data file that allows users to back up their emails and other mailbox data. Apple Mail is a native email client in Apple’s ecosystem for its macOS, iOS, iPadOS and watchOS. Emails archived in a PST file can be made accessible in macOS by importing it to Apple Mail.
Why Import PST File to Apple Mail?
For businesses uing the Apple’s ecosystem, Apple Mail provides flawless synchronization with iCloud, Mac, iPhones, and iPads. All of this enhances collaboration and productivity. There are some reasons why importing PST file to Apple Mail is beneficial:
- Migrating from Windows to macOS is necessary to enable the PST file to be accessible in Apple Mail.
- Importing PST files to Mac Mail, allows emails to be available for both macOS and iOS.
- The advanced security features in Apple Mail prevent data loss against unexpected errors.
- Managing emails on an Apple device is more convenient as compared to the Outlook email application.
How to Import PST to Apple Mail?
When importing a PST file into Apple Mail, users can choose either a manual conversion process that involves multiple steps. On the other hand, a professional tool simplifies the process while ensuring smooth transition and maintaining data integrity. Here’s a detailed explanation of both methods.
Manually Import PST file to Apple Mail Using Outlook for Mac
This method is for users who are handling small and medium-sized PST files. Also, make sure that Outlook for Mac should be installed on your macOS device before initiating this process.
These are the steps to follow to begin the process:
- Open the Outlook for Mac application.
- Then, navigate to File > Import > Outlook for Windows Archive File (.pst).
- Choose your desired PST file and click on Import.
- Now, select all the emails in a folder. Drag and drop the folder in the Mac Finder Folder (this will be saved in .mbox format).
- Open the Apple Mail application and go to File > Import Mailboxes.
- After that, choose Files in MBOX format. Browse your MBOX file.
- At last, click on Continue.
Limitations: This only imports emails and not contacts and calendar events.
Import Outlook PST to Apple Mail by Manually Converting PST to MBOX
This is ideal for situations when Outlook is not installed on your macOS device. This process involves manually dragging and dropping the emails, and is therefore used for handling only a limited number of emails. To convert PST to Apple Mail account, first convert PST to MBOX to access it in Apple Mail.
Given below are the steps to import a PST File to Apple Mail account:
- Open the MS Outlook application.
- Select emails in Outlook that you would like to import.
- Now, drag and drop these emails into a folder on your desktop.
- These emails will be saved in .eml file format. Copy these EML files to a USB drive.
- Move these .eml files on a Mac using a USB drive.
- Then, open Apple Mail and create a new mailbox.
- Copy these files into it. Now, it will convert your .eml files into .mbox files.
Limitations: There might be loss of data during the transfer. The folder structure will not be maintained, attachments may not get transferred properly, etc. Formatting may not be preserved during the process.
A Professional Tool to Import PST to Apple Mail
The PST Converter Tool simplifies file migration with several conversion choices, batch conversion, and mail filtering for selective transfer. It also supports backup without attachments and creates a PDF of the attachments. Moreover, it enables direct migration to various email clients and file formats. Hence, this tool ensures a smooth, quick, and hassle-free transition.
Quick and simple steps to import PST file to Apple Mail:
- Download and launch the PST Converter Tool.
- Choose from Single file or Multiple files/folders and locate the PST file. Then, click Next.
- Now, select the files/folders from the tree-structured hierarchy and click on Next.
- Choose iCloud as the email client and enter your iCloud credentials. Click on Sign in.
- Lastly, click Convert to begin the process.
Conclusion
Email migration is key for users looking to transition to a new platform without any data loss. As we’ve discussed in this blog, Apple Mail does not directly support PST files. Therefore, a conversion process is required to import PST to Apple Mail. While manual migration is possible, they are time-consuming, requires technical effort, and has drawbacks. Also, it may sometimes not transfer all the data. While using PST Converter Tool, ensure a complete and hassle-free migration. This tool offers diverse functionalities, which makes the migration faster and error-free while ensuring data integrity.
Related Post: Import MBOX to Apple Mail Account.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q- Can I import a PST file into Apple Mail?
Ans- Yes, we can import PST to Apple Mail. But, there is no direct migration. As we know, Apple Mail does not support PST files natively. Therefore, to access a PST file in Apple Mail, we first have to convert it to either EML or MBOX file format. This can be done either manually or by using a PST Converter Tool.
Q- How do I import PST emails into iCloud?
Ans- Open Mail app on Mac. File > Import Mailboxes > EML/MBOX format. Choose the PST file > Continue. Enable iCloud account in the Mail app. Create a new mailbox and drag and drop your imported emails into this iCloud folder.
If the user does not want to follow this lengthy procedure, use a professional tool to import Outlook PST to Apple Mail.
