Using ExMerge to migrate EDB to PST

Written By Ravi Singh
Approved By Shaun Hardneck
Updated on 29 Jan 2024
Min Reading 5 Min

In this article, we have discussed the ExMerge utility, which is available in Exchange 2007 and earlier versions. You will learn how to use it to export the user mailboxes to PST format and then import the PST files in Exchange Server 2010 and later versions or Office 365 to complete the mailbox migration. You may also use an EDB to PST converter to save time and directly export the mailboxes from Exchange 2007 database to a later version or Office 365 in a few clicks.

Free Download100% Secure

The Exchange server database contains emails, contacts, calendar items, journal etc of exchange account users. This data is stored in files with the extension EDB. Sometimes you may need to import your mailbox content from Exchange EDB to PST file. There could be many reasons why you would want to export mailboxes directly from the Exchange Server to PST. You may be updating your hosted Exchange environment or you could be moving to a different Exchange organization. This help comes in the form of automated tools. Such tools can not only export data from EDB files to PST but also migrate all EDB data to Live Exchange Server and Office 365. Subsequently, users can access their Exchange server account data on their desktop/laptops through Outlook. A variety of EDB to PST migration tools are available online. In fact Microsoft also offers one such great tool - ExMerge Utility.

ExMerge Utility

The ExMerge.exe Utility basically provides merger of Exchange server mailboxes. It extracts data from mailboxes on one Exchange server and then merges it into mailboxes on another Exchange Server. It also performs the task of copying data from a source Exchange server file (EDB) into a PST file (MS Outlook archive file) and then merge the data in the PST file into mailboxes on the destination server. This ability to merge data among Exchange server mailboxes makes it a competent tool to consider for recovering from disasters like corruption.

Migrating EDB to PST

Following steps show how you can manually migrate data from EDB file to PST file using ExMerge:

If you do not already have the installer for ExMerge.exe, download it from this link:

Download Details

Install the utility by running it as administrator.
Run ExMerge and login to your Exchange server account with Exchange administrator rights.
You will see a window with the following options:

Extract and Import (One Step Procedure)
Extract or Import (Two Step Procedure)

Select Extract or Import (Two Step Procedure) and then click on Next.

You will see a window with the following options:

Extract data from an Exchange Server mailbox
Import data into an Exchange Server mailbox

Select Extract data from an Exchange Server mailbox and then click on Next.

You will see a window with the title Data Selection Criteria. This window has a number of tabs on it. Click the Import Procedure tab. Then select Archive data to target store and then click on OK.

You will see the Message Details tab on the same window. Fill in the required details and then click on OK.
Now you will see a window which lists all the mailboxes which are available on the server. Select the desired mailbox and then click on Next.
Next you will be asked to specify the target directory. Browse to where you want to store the migrated PST and then click on Next.
Finally you will witness the migration as it progresses. When the process completed, you will be prompted with a message. Click on the Finish button to exit the utility.

Limitations of ExMerge

Though the ExMerge Utility is a one-step solution for migrating safely from EDB files to PST files, it has some limitations. Following are some of the points where ExMerge fails to impress:

ExMerge cannot work with mailbox sizes greater than 2GB
Since it does not have a mailbox store, this utility cannot be used on front-end servers
It works only with a private folder on Exchange server. Public folders are not supported
If the permissions are not correct, ExMerge fails to extract data. However, this limitation can be overcome by creating a new service account.
If User is using Exchange Server 2007 then ExMerge fails.
ExMerge is a lengthy and time consuming utility.
Risk of data loss.

Third Party Tools

If ExMerge.exe fails to perform EDB to PST migration, and to overcome its limitations, try out Stellar Converter for EDB. This amazing software efficiently converts on-line as well as off-line EDB files to equivalent PST. It helps you extract all your important emails, contacts, attachments, sent items etc. The software supports MS Exchange 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007, 2003, 2000 and 5.5 versions.