How to Convert MBOX to PST Without Losing the Data Integrity

MBOX is a file format that is used to save emails by many email clients, including Apple Mail, Thunderbird, Eudora, Spicebird, etc. These emails are not perfect for enterprises, and they choose a better option, Microsoft Outlook, for data management and many more. When shifting to Outlook, users need to convert MBOX to PST so that data becomes accessible in Outlook. In this blog, we will discuss how to convert the MBOX file into PST. Before diving into that, we need to know why we need to do the conversion.

Why Do We Need to Convert MBOX to PST?

Converting MBOX to PST becomes crucial when users shift from MBOX-supported email clients to Outlook. Here's a more detailed breakdown of the reasons to convert MBOX to PST:

1. MBOX files require an Internet connection to perform tasks, but there is no need for such a connection with Outlook PST.
2. Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft 365, and Teams are integrated seamlessly and are commonly used in enterprise environments.
3. Outlook offers calendar and task integration, contact management, meeting scheduling, and advanced rules and filters; many older or open-source clients lack these enterprise-grade features.
4. Outlook works well with cloud-based services like Outlook.com, Exchange Online, and OneDrive.
5. Outlook supports advanced encryption, multi-factor authentication, and compliance tools needed by organizations.
6. Open-source clients like Thunderbird might not meet corporate IT security policies.
7. Eudora and older Apple Mail versions are discontinued or not actively developed.
8. Users move to modern, actively supported platforms to avoid bugs, compatibility issues, or data loss.

Methods to Convert to MBOX to PST

There are a couple of methods available to convert MBOX to PST; we can choose a manual approach that has some cons that we will discuss later or an automatic solution to achieve productivity and keep the data intact.

Manual Approach to Convert MBOX to PST

Step 1: Save MBOX Emails as EML Files

To start the process, we need to extract individual emails from your MBOX file and save them in the .eml format. This is best done using Mozilla Thunderbird:

• First, open Thunderbird and make sure your MBOX file has already been imported.
• Next, select all the emails (Ctrl + A) that you want to convert.
• Then, right-click on the selection, choose Save as, and select a folder on your computer to save the emails as .eml files.

At this point, your MBOX emails are safely exported as individual EML files and ready for the next phase.

Step 2: Drag and Drop EML Files into Outlook

Now that you have EML files, the next step is to bring them into Microsoft Outlook:

• Open Microsoft Outlook.
• Next, create a new folder in Outlook.
• Open the folder where your .eml files were saved.
• Now, select all .eml files, then drag and drop them into the Outlook folder.

As a result, the EML emails will be added to Outlook with their content and attachments preserved.

Step 3: Export Emails to a PST File

Finally, once your emails are available in Outlook, you can export them as a PST file:

• In Outlook, go to File > Open & Export > Import/Export.
• Next, select Export to a file and click Next.
• Then, choose Outlook Data File (.pst) and click Next.
• Now, select the folder where the EML emails were added.
• Finally, choose a destination to save your PST file and click Finish.

At this stage, you've successfully converted MBOX to PST by using manual techniques.

The drawback of the Manual Approach

1. It's a time-consuming process.
2. Manual techniques can alter the data formatting or complete data loss.
3. This technique requires technical expertise to convert MBOX to PST.
4. It can not convert the multiple MBOX files to PST.

As you can see, manual methods have drawbacks, so they need an automated solution to convert MBOX to PST, which requires less effort and keeps data intact.

Using Shoviv Software to Convert MBOX to PST

Users can go with Shoviv MBOX to PST Converter if the manual technique seems complicated. The tool allows users to select multiple MBOX files and convert them into PST without altering the data integrity. It provides many features and options so users get the results they want. The software can accept the MBOX files of more than twenty email platforms and convert them into PST, EML, MSG, and Office 365. A demo tool facility is available to learn the tools' capabilities before buying them.

Conclusion

Conversion from MBOX to PST files is an easy task if you have a reliable solution, like the Shoviv MBOX to PST Converter Tool. This software works without any restrictions when converting MBOX to PST file format. Moreover, users will not face any complications when working with this professional solution.
To understand the detailed working procedure of this tool, you can try its free trial version and process the first 50 items from each folder of the MBOX files.