Free Method to Import PST to Office 365 Archive Mailbox

A company may not keep its former employees’ mailbox active. Therefore, to keep their emails accessible, their mailbox is exported as a PST file. One can then import PST to Archive mailbox in multiple ways. This can be done by using Outlook, network upload, and drive shipping methods. Also, if you want a quick result, use a dedicated PST to Office 365 Migration Tool. Read this blog till the end, to better understand why and how we can make this migration smooth and easy. 

Need to Import PST to Office 365 Archive Mailbox

1. Office 365’s In-place archive feature offers a flexible, scalable, cloud-based storage solution for securely archiving emails. 
2. Transferring PST files to Office 365 archive mailbox enhances data security, guarantees regular backups and improves accessibility.
3. The user can access archived emails on any device at any time using Outlook’s Web app or desktop apps.
4. By archiving emails in Office 365 confirms security features like eDiscovery, Data Loss Prevention (DLP), ATP, etc.
5. Lastly, importing PST files to archive mailbox eliminates the risk of performance issues and data corruption. 

How to Import PST to Archive Mailbox

There are three free methods for importing PST to Office 365 Archive Mailbox. First one, is quite simple and involves easy steps. To perform the second method, one needs a good technical understanding of PowerShell. And, the last method is the most secure one, but is not cost-effective. One can also use PST to Office 365 Migration Tool. It comes with various functionalities like deleting duplicate emails, batch conversion, mail filter option, and much more. Let’s first walk through the methods.

Import PST to Office 365 Archive Mailbox Using Outlook

To begin with, make sure your Online Archive is hosted on Exchange Online or Exchange Server. 

Further, follow the given steps below:

1. Open Outlook and check if archive mailbox is enabled.
2. Next, go to File > Open & Export > Import from another program or file. Click Next.
3. Open Outlook Data File > Next.
4. Search and select your PST file. Then, click Open.
5. The folder opens up on the left side of Outlook. It contains your PST file.
6. Now, select the emails that you want to archive. Click Next.
7. Now your emails will start to upload to Archive Mailbox in O365.

Limitations: Moving data in bulk may take a while and require a lot of human effort. Also, it is only applicable when dealing with a few or small PST files.

Import PST to Office 365 In-place Archive Mailbox Using Network Upload

This method is suitable for enterprise environments where IT administrators have full control over the entire migration process. Ensure the Online Archive (In-Place Archive) is enabled for the mailbox before importing. 

Now, perform the following steps one by one:

Step 1: Create Import/Export role in Office 365

1. Open Microsoft 365 application and sign in with your credentials.
2. Go to Import Service > Data Migration.
3. Now, click on + sign and choose Upload email messages (PST files).
4. You need to create a storage account to import for the first time. 
5. After that, copy the Show Network Upload SAS URL. 

Step 2: Create SAS URL

1. Log in to the Office 365 account.
2. Now, go to Compliance > Data lifecycle management > Microsoft 365.
3. Import/Export Wizard page opens up. Choose Import > +New import job. Enter your job name > Next.
4. Then, select Upload your data and click Next.
5. Click on Show network upload SAS URL. Copy this URL.

Step 3: Download AzCopy

1. Download AzCopy and extract the AzCopy zip file and double-click it to complete the setup.
2. Open Command Prompt. 
3. First, go to the directory where you have downloaded the zip file.
4. Then, run this command:

azcopy.exe copy “<Source location of PST files>” “<SAS URL>”

5. Now, create PST import mapping file in CSV format.

Step 4: Create PST import job

1. Follow the steps as mentioned in Step 2(2).
2. The Import data page opens up, choose “I’m done uploading my files” and “I have access to the mapping file”.
3. Click Next. 
4. Choose +Select mapping file and add your CSV file. Then, click Validate.
5. Lastly, click Save > Close.

Step 5: Start PST import job

1. Go back to import in Purview portal.
2. Choose your import job and select Import to Office 365.
3. Now, filter your data as per your needs and click Next. 

Limitations: This method to import PST to Office 365 Archive Mailbox requires technical expertise in PowerShell knowledge. Also, uploading large PST files may require a lot of time. 

Import PST to Archive Mailbox (Office 365) Using Drive Shipping 

This process is ideal for large migrations when network uploads are not attainable because of limited bandwidth. 

Steps to import PST to Office 365 In-place Archive Mailbox:

1. Copy your PST files to a BitLocker encrypted hard drive.
2. Now, navigate to Office 365.
3. Go to Security & Compliance > Import > +New import job.
4. Choose “Hard drives to one of our physical locations”. 
5. Now, ship your hard drive to the Microsoft Centre.
6. Microsoft will validate your PST file.

Limitations:  This whole process takes around 7-10 days. Also, physically shipping the hard drive carries the risk of damage and theft.

Import PST to Archive Mailbox Using a Professional Tool

Importing many PST files manually can be a slow and tedious process. They are often impractical for large-scale migrations. Therefore, an efficient and structured approach is required. PST to Office 365 Migration Tool offers a fast, automated solution, allowing bulk imports while maintaining data integrity, folder structure and eliminating duplicate emails. 

Use this step-by-step approach to import PST File to Archive Mailbox:

1. First, download and install PST to Office 365 Migration Tool.
2. Go to Restore > Continue.
3. Choose Select OST/PST > PST.
4. After that, choose either from Select Single File or Select Folder. 
5. Locate and choose your desired file and open it. Then, click Next. 
6. Further select your file and click Next.
7. Go to Saves/Backup/Migrate As option and select Office 365.
8. Now, log in with your Office 365 username > Sign In. 
9. Choose the additional features and click on Next.
10. Lastly, select the mailbox in which you want to import and click Convert.

Conclusion

This blog will solve your query regarding how to import PST to Archive Mailbox. We have covered three ways. Few of them are slow, complex, and time-consuming. On the other hand, Drive Shipping method is the best choice for smarter, faster, and seamless migration. The only disadvantage of this method is that it includes shipping cost and hard drive cost. Talking about the professional tool, PST to Office 365 Migration Tool, is the most reliable option. One can migrate PST to Office 365 Archive Mailbox in bulk with no data loss. However, the choice depends on what you need. 

Related Post: Upload PST to Exchange Online Mailbox.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q- How do I import PST files into Outlook 365?

Ans- These are the following steps to begin with the migration:

1. First, open the Outlook application and check if the archive mailbox is enabled.
2. Next, navigate to File > Open & Export > Import from another program or file and click Next.
3. Then, open Outlook Data File > Next.
4. Search and select the PST file and then, click Open.
5. Now, select the emails that you want to archive and click Next.

Q- How do I Import PST files into Office 365 Shared Mailbox?

Ans- This is the step-by-step approach to initiate the process:

1. Visit Microsoft Purview Portal and copy the SAS URL and download AzCopy.
2. After this, upload your PST files using Command Prompt.
3. Then, create a PST import mapping file in the CSV file format.
4. Create the PST import job by again visiting the Microsoft Purview portal.
5. Lastly, start the PST import job.

If you want a faster and smarter solution, go for professional PST to Office 365 Migration Tool. It converts PST to Office 365 Archived Mailbox quickly and error-free.