If you want to change your email client from Microsoft Outlook to a new one that supports MBOX file format, you may need to convert PST file to MBOX format. MBOX is a standard file format used by various email clients like Mozilla Thunderbird, Apple Mail, and many others. In this article, we will discuss the steps to export PST to MBOX format.
Table of Contents
Method to Convert PST file to MBOX format
Part 1: Export PST file from Microsoft Outlook
Before exporting PST to MBOX format, you need to export it from Microsoft Outlook. Here are the steps to do it:
Step 1. Open Microsoft Outlook on your computer.
Step 2. Go to the “File” tab on the top left.
Step 3. Click “Open & Export” and select “Import/Export” from the list.
Step 4. Select “Export to a file” and click “Next”.
Step 5. Select “Outlook Data File (.pst)” and click “Next”.
Step 6. Select the folder you want to export and click “Next”.
Step 7. Choose the location where you want to save the exported file and click “Finish”.
Step 8. Enter a name for the exported file and click “OK”.
Part 2: Convert PST file to MBOX format with a converter tool
After exporting the PST file from Microsoft Outlook, you can use a conversion tool to convert it to MBOX format. There are various converter tools available online like Yota PST to MBOX Converter Tool that can do the job for you. Moreover, this software allows you to open PST file in Gmail account and open PST file in Thunderbird profile directly.
Here is how you can use this effective tool to convert PST to MBOX format:
Step 1. Download and install Yota PST to MBOX converter tool on your computer.
Step 2. Click Open > Email Data Files > select Outlook PST file. 
Step 3. Preview emails with attachments before conversion. You can also apply filter according to our choice.
Step 4. Hit the Export option and select MBOX format from the multiple file formats.
Step 5. Choose the output folder where you want to save the converted MBOX file and click Save.
Once the conversion is complete, you can import the MBOX file to your new email client.
Part 3: Import MBOX file to New Email Client
Once you convert PST file to MBOX format, you can import the MBOX file into your new email client. Here are the steps to do this in Mozilla Thunderbird:
Step 1. Open Mozilla Thunderbird on your computer.
Step 2. Go to the “Tools” menu and select “Import”.
Step 3. Select “Mail” and click “Next”.
Step 4. Select “MBOX format files” and click “Next”.
Step 5. Select the MBOX file you want to import and click “Open”.
Step 6. Select the folder where you want to import the MBOX file and click “Next”.
Step 7. Click “Finish” to complete the import process.
Also Read: Import Emails to Gmail from PST File
Why Convert PST to MBOX File Format?
PST (Personal Storage Table) is a proprietary file format used by Microsoft Outlook to store emails, contacts, calendar,s and other data. MBOX, on the other hand, is an open-source file format used by several email clients including Thunderbird, Apple Mail, and many more. There are several reasons why one might want to convert PST file to MBOX:
- Cross-Platform Compatibility: MBOX is a universally accepted file format that can be opened and read by multiple email clients on different platforms such as Windows, macOS, and Linux. In contrast, PST files are exclusive to Microsoft Outlook and cannot be opened by other email clients.
- Migration: Suppose you are switching from Microsoft Outlook to a new email client like Thunderbird, which uses MBOX as the default file format. In this case, you need to convert your existing PST files to MBOX format in order to import them into Thunderbird.
- Storage and Archiving: PST files can grow to a significant size over time, causing performance issues in Outlook. MBOX files, on the other hand, are comparatively lightweight and easy to manage. Hence, exporting PST to MBOX can help in efficient email storage and archiving.
- Backup: Creating a backup of your Outlook data is essential to avoid data loss due to hardware failure or other unforeseen circumstances. Converting PST files to MBOX can be an effective way to take a backup of your Outlook data and save it in an open format that can be easily restored with any email client that supports MBOX.
To sum up, PST file to MBOX conversion can offer cross-platform compatibility, help with migration, help with storage and archiving, and backup your Outlook data.
Final Thoughts
Exporting Outlook PST to MBOX format is a simple process that can be done using a conversion tool. By following the steps mentioned in this article, you can easily convert PST file to MBOX format and import them into your new email client. This helps you switch to a new email client without losing your important emails and data.
Read More: Can Thunderbird Import PST File
