Do you need to open OST files in Apple Mail or Thunderbird? If so, excellent decision! Although Thunderbird is an excellent email client, transferring your OST emails to Thunderbird might be difficult. This is a result of Apple Mail and Thunderbird not supporting the OST file format. But don’t worry; there are a few easy steps in this article that will help you through the conversion process.
How Can I Change the File Format From OST to MBOX? Techniques & Tactics!
Converting OST to MBOX can be done in two ways:
1. Using an OST to MBOX Converter from a Third Party:
The easiest and most advised approach is this one. The conversion of OST to MBOX is a specialty of several software packages. These programs have an easy-to-use interface and are capable of handling big OST files with ease. Below is a general process outline:
- Install the Softaken OST to MBOX converter after downloading it. To read numerous OST files and export them to the.mbox file format, this is a fairly basic and user-friendly utility.
- Select the OST file or files you wish to convert when the converter launches. You can choose specific files or whole directories with the majority of converters.
- Select MBOX as the format for export. Additional choices, including choosing which folders to convert or how to handle attachments, can be available with some converters.
- Get the conversion process going. Your OST data will be converted into MBOX files by the converter, which will handle the rest.
2. Manual Conversion (which Requires OST to PST Conversion Beforehand):
This method is more difficult and takes longer. To complete the procedure, the Outlook data file (OST) must be converted into a PST file and then imported into Thunderbird. Here’s a brief synopsis:
- Export the OST file to PST from Outlook. According to whatever version of Outlook you are using, the procedure can change.
- Import the PST file into Thunderbird. PST files can be handled by a Thunderbird integrated import tool.
- Convert the PST files that were imported into MBOX files: While Thunderbird is capable of handling PST data, some users choose to convert their data to the native MBOX format for the best organization. The final step to finish the operation is to convert OST to MBOX format.
Of course, using this approach is simple, but it requires that Thunderbird and Microsoft Outlook be correctly install and set up on your computer. If you wish to export OST to MBOX without Outlook, this approach will not function.
What Benefits Come with Converting OST Files to MBOX Files?
Converting your OST files to MBOX format makes sense for several reasons, particularly if you want to switch email clients:
- Improved Compatibility: Microsoft Outlook-specific OST is a proprietary format. On the other side, MBOX is an open-source format that is extensively utilize. You can import your emails into several well-known email programs, including Mozilla Thunderbird, Apple Mail, SeaMonkey, and more, by converting them to MBOX format. You have a greater choice in selecting the email application that best meets your needs because of this flexibility.
- Lower chance of corruption: OST files can get corrupt, particularly when unplan system shutdowns or hardware malfunctions occur. In general, MBOX files are stronger and less prone to these problems. You can protect your priceless email data and guarantee long-term accessibility by switching to the MBOX format.
- Simpler Archiving and Backups: MBOX files are self-contain, storing each email message separately within the file. Compare to OST files, they are therefore simpler to archive and backup. The MBOX file is easily copied to a safe place for storage.
- Potential speed gains: Using MBOX files has reportedly improved speed for certain users, especially when working with large amounts of information. This is because MBOX files are easier for email clients to process and display due to their simplified format.
- Future-proofing Your Data: Although OST is now the most widely used Outlook format, Microsoft can eventually choose to use a new format. If Outlook’s file structure changes in the future, you will always have a conveniently accessible duplicate of your data if you convert your emails to the more widely used MBOX format.
More compatibility, more data protection, simpler backups, and possible speed increases are all benefits of converting OST to MBOX. Converting to MBOX is a smart investment if you’re intending to switch email clients or just want a more secure way to store your emails.
The Cons of Converting OST to MBOX by Hand
Although there is no cost associate with the manual OST to MBOX file conversion technique, there are a few disadvantages that can make it a less than perfect option. The following justifies a reevaluation of the manual approach:
- Extensive and laborious: The manual approach requires several steps, such as exporting OST to PST and maybe converting PST to MBOX. This procedure might take a while, particularly for big datasets.
- Requires Technical Expertise: Some technical expertise is necessary to successfully use Thunderbird’s and Outlook’s export/import features. It might be a perplexing and annoying procedure if you’re not familiar with utilizing these apps.
- Increased Chance of Data Loss During: The manual conversion process, there is a higher possibility of data loss. Your priceless emails can be corrupt by mistakes made during import or export, or even by software bugs.
- Limited Functionality: Not every piece of data will be convert exactly by the manual technique. Complicated email formats, attachments, or structures cannot translate perfectly, resulting in inconsistent MBOX files after conversion.
- Not Ideal for Large Files: When dealing with really large OST files, manual conversion becomes quite impractical. The procedure can require an inordinate amount of system resources and time.
Seamless Transfer, Think About Using a Third-Party Converter
A far more dependable and effective approach to Converting offline OST to Thunderbird MBOX is provided by the Softaken OST to MBOX Converter. These instruments are made especially for this purpose and offer the following benefits:
- Quicker Conversions: When compared to manual conversion, specific software can handle big OST files much more quickly.
- Interface Simplified: The majority of converters come with intuitive interfaces that require no technical expertise.
- Enhance Accuracy: By reduce the possibility of data loss or conversion mistakes, these tools are designed to manage complicate email structures and attachments.
- Advanced features like batch conversion, filtering options, and selective conversion of particular folders are available in a lot of
converters.
Obtaining the Final Words
The free, manual approach has some appeal, but there can be more drawbacks than advantages. You can easily convert your OST emails to MBOX format by following these instructions and keeping in mind the crucial aspects. Then, you can quickly start using Thunderbird or any other MBOX-compatible email client!
Read this Blog: Export SpiceBird MBOX Files to PST Format
