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If you are among millions of people who use Outlook applications for email communication, you may have come across OST and PST files. These data storage files save the mailbox items such as email messages, calendars, contacts, and notes. Both these files are stored in your system and are helpful in recovering mailbox items when any corruption occurs.
Still, many Outlook users are confused about OST and PST. They don’t know exactly what they are and how OST and PST are different from each other. Now, you need not worry; this expert blog on Outlook OST vs PST will guide you to get detailed information about both data files and help you understand the differences between OST and PST.
What is an OST file?
An OST file (Offline Storage Table) is a data file used by Outlook to store a copy of mailbox data from an Exchange Server. It allows users to access their emails, calendar events, contacts, and other items even when they are not connected to the server. OST files synchronize changes with the server when reconnected and saved in a system with the.ost extension. If you are facing any issue with your local OST file location, you can simply change the location of the OST file in Outlook.
Suggested software to access OST file’s data in Outlook. Try Kernel for OST to PST Converter to convert OST file to PST format.
What is a PST file?
A PST (Personal Storage Table) is an Outlook data file format used to store emails, contacts, calendar entries, and other data locally on a computer. It serves as a personal mailbox archive, allowing users to organize, backup, and manage their email data independently from the mail server. PST files can be created, imported, and exported, enabling data transfer and synchronization across different Outlook installations. It makes accessing and working with email information easier across multiple devices and even in offline mode.
Now it’s time to know what is difference between OST and PST in Outlook.
OST vs PST: major differences
If you are still confused between these two data files, you need not worry, as here we listed the major differences between OST and PST files.
| OST(Offline Storage Table) | PST(Personal Storage Table) |
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Difference between OST and PST files based on common criteria
| Criteria | OST | PST |
|---|---|---|
| Dependency | The OST files can’t be moved from the Exchange server independently. | Possible to move and separately make a database Outlook file. |
| Server Support | It only supports an Exchange server | It supports Exchange Server and other mail servers, also |
| Security | Encrypted using MAPIEntryID GUID key | Not encrypted and is easy to access through a third-party tool |
| Error or Damage | Hard to get corrupted and damaged | Easily get corrupt or damaged |
| Import | Only access using the original MAPI profile | Easy to import into any Outlook account |
| Online/Offline | It supports offline access to the mailbox | It supports online access to mailbox items |
| Portability | Server dependent and can’t be ported | It is portable and can be saved anywhere on any local system |
| Synchronization | Data automatically get synced after restoring the internet connection | Not possible to sync automatically |
| Benefits | Users keep working with domains irrespective of server availability | It works great when users want to have a backup |
How to access inaccessible and corrupt OST files?
To easily access the mailbox items ofcorrupted or damaged OST files, you need to convert them into PST. In such a situation, we recommend using an automated tool named Kernel for OST to PST converter, which is a reliable option to quickly convert OST to PST and save OST emails to Gmail, Outlook.com, and other IMAP servers efficiently.
You can use this PST converter tool to save the data from theft or corruption as it converts the PST files into various file formats such as DBX, MBOX, MSG, EML, TXT, RTF, HTML, and MHTML. It easily converts corrupt OST files to the desired formats.The tool also helps you recover your deleted emails with complete data integrity.
Conclusion
Whether it’s OST vs PST, MS Outlook keeps all information using both these file formats. OST has its own importance as it allows offline access to mailbox data; one can easily send new messages even when the system is offline or disconnected from the Exchange Server. OST files are highly encrypted, whereas PST files are easy to access without a password using a third-party tool. Still, one can access the OST file and convert OST to PST format or export it to live Exchange or Office 365 by using a Kernel for OST to PST Converter.
A- To choose any one among both these data files, you must be clear about your preferences. If you want to back up Outlook items on your system, you must use PST files. But, if you have an Exchange account and want to work offline without network connectivity, you must prefer OST files.
A- OST and PST refer to file formats used by Microsoft Outlook to store data such as emails, contacts & calendar entries. OST stands for Offline Storage Table & is used to store data in an offline mode while PST stands for Personal Storage Table & is used to store data in a personal folder that can be accessed by multiple devices.
