PST (Personal Storage Table) is a common Outlook data file format that is used to store and backup mailbox items, such as emails, attachments, contacts, calendar items, notes, tasks, etc. This file format is also used to migrate mailbox items from one Outlook profile to another or to Office 365. You can easily open the PST file in any Outlook profile or account. But sometimes, you face scenarios where you are required to open the PST file without Outlook. Some of them are:
In this post, we will see how to open PST file with and without Outlook.
Methods to Open PST with Outlook
You can easily open the PST file in Outlook using the Open Outlook Data File and Import Export options. Let’s take a detailed look at these options.
1. Open PST File using the Open Outlook Data File Option
If you just need to view PST file data without merging with the existing mailbox, you can use the Open Outlook Data File option in Outlook. Follow the below steps:
- In Outlook, go to File > Open & Export > Open Outlook Data File.
- Browse and choose the Outlook PST file that you want to open. Click Open.
This will open the PST file in Outlook. You may now view the mail items in the PST file. To close the PST file, right-click on the PST file in the left pane and choose Close “YourPSTFileName”.
Limitations of this Method
This method allows you to view and use the data in PST file but has following limitations.
- It doesn’t merge the PST file into your existing mailbox.
- Does not sync with your email data.
- Cannot open the corrupt PST file.
- Large PST files can cause performance issue.
2. Open PST File using the Import & Export Wizard
You can also open the PST file in Outlook using the Import & Export wizard. This helps you to merge PST file data into your existing mailbox. To use this option, follow the steps given below:
- In Outlook, go to File > Open & Export and choose Import/Export.
- Choose Import from another program or file and click Next.
- Choose Outlook Data File (.pst) and click Next.
- Click Browse to choose the PST file you want to open and click Next.
This will import the selected PST file into Outlook. You can now open and view the contents of the PST file.
Limitations of this Method
Here are some limitations of this method:
- Older PST files may not get imported correctly into newer Outlook versions
- It is time-consuming to import large PST files.
- It doesn’t allow you to import specific items.
- It doesn’t open the corrupt PST files.
Methods to Open PST without Outlook
If you don’t have Outlook or the PST file does not open in the Outlook client, you can use a PST viewer tool to open the file. Below, we will be discussing a few PST viewer tools that can help you to open PST file without Outlook.
1. Stellar Viewer for Outlook
Stellar Viewer for Outlook can help you open PST files without Outlook. Using this software, you can preview all the mailbox items, emails, contacts, calendars, journal, tasks, notes, etc. from the PST file. It also allows you to open damaged or corrupt PST files. You can even view the deleted emails from the corrupt PST files. The software allows you to save individual emails in EML, MSG, RTF, HTML, and PDF formats. It supports PST files created in all Outlook versions, including the latest Outlook 2021.
2. XST Reader
XST Reader is an open-source .ost and .pst file viewer tool. You can use the tool to open and view PST files without Outlook. Also, it allows you to open and preview large PST files even with minor errors or issues. In addition, the tool allows you to save the mail items to HTML file, which you can open and view in a web browser. You can save single or multiple emails at once to HTML file format.
The steps to open PST file using the XST Reader are as follows:
- Download the XST Reader‘s latest build.
- After downloading, extract the XstReader.zip file and then launch XstReader.exe.
- Click Open (at the bottom left corner of the tool’s interface) and browse to select the PST file.
- Click Open. You can expand the mail folders and click on a mail item to see its preview.
What to do If PST file is Corrupted?
Sometimes, while importing or opening a PST file in Outlook, you may encounter errors and issues, such as PST file is not an Outlook data file error, PST file can’t be opened, and others. It usually means that the PST file is damaged or corrupted. In such a case, you can use SCANPST/Inbox repair tool in Outlook to repair the PST file. However, the tool has some limitations due to which it is not effective every time. If SCANPST fails to open the damaged or corrupted PST file, then you can use Stellar Repair for Outlook. This software repairs the damaged or corrupt PST file, extracts the mail items, and saves them in a new healthy PST file. It repairs the PST file with complete integrity and consistency. Besides new PST, you may also export the mail items from the damaged PST file to an existing Outlook profile, Office 365, or live Exchange Server.
Conclusion
Above, we have discussed various methods that you can use to open PST files with or without Outlook. If you fail to open the PST file due to corruption, you can use Stellar Repair for Outlook. It can help you repair and open the corrupt PST files of any size and from any Outlook version. By using this tool, you can also recover accidentally deleted mailbox items. Further, you can save the emails and other PST file items in a new PST file and various other formats.
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