Everyone widely uses Gmail to exchange essential communication since it is easily available without any kind of annual maintenance. In addition, it offers ample storage space, making it one of the most preferred platforms. Gmail’s interface is designed in such a way that the status of every item is clearly mentioned in real-time, including deleted, spam, labeled, and important folders.

However, to stay updated with the technologically advanced times, users are making a switch to MS Outlook. It is undoubtedly a platform with many features including simultaneous access to multiple accounts, offline mode, more storage space, etc. But for some professionals, the situation turns out to be strange when accessibility to Gmail emails is needed in the Outlook platform. Simply put, they find it difficult to export Gmail to PST, the format used by MS Outlook. The reality is that it can be conducted quickly using a manual and an automated approach. The professional method can export Gmail to PST without Outlook, while the manual requires access to both platforms.

Manual method to export Gmail to PST format-

This approach is conducted in three significant steps. Enabling the IMAP settings in Gmail being the first one. Then, configure the Gmail account to MS Outlook. Lastly, export the Gmail messages to the desktop as a PST file.

  1. Turn on the IMAP settings-
    1. Login to your account and click on the Settings icon on the top right.
    2. Select See all settings. Save Gmail files to PST
    3. Under the Forwarding and IMAP/POP tab, change the IMAP access status to Enable IMAP. Lastly, click on Save Changes. Save Gmail files to PST
  2. Add account to Outlook-
    1. Open the Outlook application and click on File.
    2. Select Add Account. Save Gmail files to PST
    3. Type all the required credentials on the Auto Account Setup page and click on Next.
    4. Once the configuration is done, your Gmail account will appear with other Outlook accounts. Save Gmail files to PST
  3. Export Gmail messages to desktop-
    1. Open the File tab in Outlook. Click on Open & Export and then, Import/Export. Save Gmail files to PST
    2. From the Import and Export Wizard, select Export to a file and click on Next. Save Gmail files to PST
    3. Choose Outlook Data File(.pst) and click on Next to continue. Save Gmail files to PST
    4. Click on the email address and folders which need to be exported. Again, select Next. Save Gmail files to PST
    5. Click on Browse to choose a location to save this PST file on your desktop. Select Finish. Save Gmail files to PST
Why is the manual method of exporting Gmail to PST not effective?

The following shortcomings make this approach a non-effective one-

  • Clearly, it is a lengthy process that involves multiple sub-steps.
  • The user must have access to their Gmail account and Outlook application.
  • It does involve a slight risk of data loss.
  • It consumes a lot of time which is not productive.
  • This is not a suitable procedure for unskilled users.

Conclusion

Due to a variety of better features offered by Microsoft Outlook, many users are looking to export their emails from their Gmail account to PST, which is the format used by Outlook to store the user’s data. This task can be done using a manual and professional approach, and both have their own set of advantages. Individuals can export Gmail to PST without Outlook application on the desktop using the software. On the other hand, the manual approach depends on accessibility to Gmail accounts and Outlook.

An automated method to export Gmail to PST format-

To make a time-consuming approach quite possible, you can rely on an external tool with much better abilities. With this approach, users can export Gmail to PST without Outlook application. Known as Kernel for MBOX to PST Converter, the conversion of emails from Gmail to PST is made with sure shot secure data integrity and folder hierarchy. To make such conversion in a quick way, just follow these simple steps:

  1. Launch the email converter tool. The interface of the tool will look like this: Launched MBOX to PST converted software
  2. Select the Mode - Select File(s) or Select Folder option. Select mode for Gmail to PST conversion
  3. Now, click on the green + button to locate the directory containing Gmail-Webmail MBOX Files. Locate the directory containing Gmail-Webmail MBOX Files
  4. Select the files and click Open. Select MBOX file to open
  5. Then, click Finish. Click on finish
  6. A new window with emails and other mailbox data will be displayed on your screen. Finally, to save the required file, click on the Save button. Save the required file
  7. As soon as you click on the Save button, a dialog box containing the savings options will be displayed on your screen. Select PST as the Output type and click Next. Select PST as a saving option
  8. Select the desired filters to save specific data from your MBOX file and click Next. Apply filter option
  9. The next window will allow you to choose filters and saving options. However, if you don’t require to split your file and add a prefix, click Next anyways. Choose filters and saving options
  10. Browse to select the desired location to save your converted PST file. Select location to save PST file
  11. Select the desired path to save your file and click OK. Select desired path to save file
  12. Click on the Finish button. Click on finish button
  13. After saving, click OK to finish the process. Save Gmail files to PST