Outlook for Mac – How to Import PST files and Export to PST Files?

Read time 8 minutes

Outlook for Mac is the MS Outlook equivalent for the Mac environment. It works like MS Outlook, though it saves its data in OLM format, which is completely different from the PST format used by MS Outlook.

For Outlook for Mac users, it is easy to import a PST file into their application. But it is difficult for them to export their Outlook for Mac emails to PST format so that they can be accessed in MS Outlook in the Windows environment. We will discuss how Outlook for Mac users can import PST files and export OLM files to PST format.

How to import a PST file to Outlook for Mac?

For transferring messages and other items from a Windows Outlook to Mac Outlook, users can use the import feature of Outlook for Mac. Please note that only UNICODE-supported PST files can be imported into the Outlook for Mac application. Follow these steps to import PST file to Outlook-

1. Transfer the PST file to your Macintosh system.
2. On the Outlook for Mac File menu, select Import.
3. Select Outlook for Windows Data File, and then click the right arrow.
   
   Import Windows Outlook file to Mac Outlook
4. Locate the data file on your computer, and then select Import.
5. Once the import process is complete, select Done. The imported items will appear in the navigation pane listed under On My Computer.

So, here is the complete method to import PST file in Outlook 365 for Mac.

How to export OLM files to PST?

When a user needs to access the Mac Outlook data in Windows Outlook, the OLM files are required to be converted to PST format. There is a free way to convert OLM to PST file, but the process may be lengthy.

It is advised to backup OLM file first using the Export option in Outlook for Mac to save it into archive file format at the desired destination.

Follow the steps below to easily export OLM files to PST format on Mac.

1. Create the IMAP account and connect your Outlook for Mac to your IMAP account.
2. To export OLM files from Outlook for Mac to IMAP, access Outlook for Mac.
3. Choose the files that you wish to export.
4. With a right click on the selected items, navigate to Move and tap on Copy to Folder.
5. Connect Outlook for Windows to that IMAP account.
6. Go to the File menu and click on Open & Export.
7. Tap on the option Import/Export.
8. Select Export to a file and tap on Next.
9. Choose the (.pst) format and hit Next.
10. Choose all the mailbox items with OLM files. Click on Next.
11. Browse for your file destination and tap on Finish.

Why this Windows Live Mail 0x8007007A Error?

The manual process that you have just seen is quite lengthy and time-consuming. It is not a direct method too. So, it is not easy to access OLM files in MS Outlook. For an easy way out, Outlook users can try a third-party OLM to PST converter tool like Kernel for OLM to PST. In comparison to the manual method, the conversion is less time-consuming and easy while using this tool.

Let us learn how to use Kernel OLM to PST Converter to export OLM files to PST files in a swift manner.

Step 1: Launch Kernel for OLM to PST Converter software. In the opened interface, select the Single or Multiple File(s) option to convert. Click the Browse button.

Step 2: Add the OLM file from its location.

Note: You can click Search to search files on a system drive.

Step 3: After adding the required OLM file for conversion, click Next.

Step 4: The Process Information window will appear. Click Finish.

Step 5: The OLM file mailbox items will get listed. Select the required file folder from the left panel. Select the item from the list on the right panel to view its preview.

Step 6: In the next step, select the output type as PST file (MS Outlook) and click Next.

Step 7: Apply the filters provided as per your requirement on different criteria – From, To, Subject, Folder Name, Item Type, Date Range, etc.

Step 8: In Manage Recovered PST dialogue box, you can apply filters like split PST file or attach a prefix to store name. Once done, click Next.

Step 9: Now provide the destination path to save this converted PST file. Select this option if you want and click Finish.

Step 10: Finally, it will show the successful migration dialogue box after migration is completed.

Step 11: Using Find option on the toolbar, you can search OLM files on the basis of From, To, Subject, Date Range, Attachments, etc. criteria.

Hence, you experienced the migration from Outlook for Mac to Outlook for PST in the simplest way.

When Outlook for Mac is a client of Exchange, its data is available on Exchange Server too. MS Outlook can be configured to connect to this mailbox from the Windows environment. In that case, Outlook users can access the Outlook for Mac data directly.

Conclusion

In this blog, we discussed the import of Outlook PST files into Outlook for Mac application which is not difficult. However, the export of Outlook for Mac OLM files to Outlook PST file requires IMAP account configuration, which is a long process. At last, owing to the limitations of the manual procedures, a simple and efficient OLM to PST Conversion process using a professional converter tool is also described.