Best Solution to Import PST to Apple Mail: The Ultimate Guide

Nowadays, users switch from Windows to Mac and face several issues accessing their previous PST files in Apple Mail. The common issues that arise while converting are missing attachments, broken formatting, and incomplete imports due to different operating systems. In this blog, we will discuss how you can import PST to Apple Mail using the traditional methods and the advanced PST Migration Tool. This will help you import all your emails, attachments, and folders safely without any data loss.

Reasons Why You Should Convert PST to Apple Mail

The PST (Personal Storage Table) file format is used by Outlook to store users’ data locally. It also stores copies of Outlook messages, contacts, and calendar on the computer.

Apple Mail is the default or built-in email client of Mac that helps store data in bulk. To move your email data from Windows to Mac, Apple Mail is considered one of the best compatible options. 

Below are some factors why import Outlook PST to Apple Mail is important:

• It migrates multiple files in one go and maintains the folder hierarchy.
• Apple Mail keeps data integrity preserved during and after PST migration.
• Work flawlessly with other Apple apps like Calendar, Contacts, and Reminders.
• You can read, compose, and organize emails without an internet connection.
• It manages multiple emails from different providers ( Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo) in a single inbox.

Furthermore, below we will discuss the methods that help convert PST files to Apple Mail.

Traditional Method to Import PST to Apple Mail

To convert PST files to Apple Mail for free, you can choose the manual method. But make sure you complete this before the process:

• Export all your Outlook data to the PST files.
• Then, transfer all your data from your Windows system to a USB or external device.
• Use the drive to save PST files on your Mac OS.

Steps to Convert PST to Mac Mail

Step 1: Import PST to Outlook for Mac

1. First, open Outlook on the MacBook and click on the File menu.
2. Now, select the Import option, then select Outlook for Windows archive file(.pst).
3. Click the Continue button, and then use the explorer to locate the PST file that you want to import.
4. Further, click Import to start the process.

Step 2: Convert PST to MBOX File

1. Open the Outlook application for Mac and locate the PST file you recently imported. You should find it in the data folder of Outlook.
2. Then, click and hold the PST file. The exported MBOX files can then be saved to your desktop or another location by dragging them there.
3. Outlook will automatically convert the PST file to the MBOX file format when you drag and drop it.

Step 3: Import MBOX Files to Apple Mail

1. Initially, launch Apple Mail.
2. Then, select File >> Mailbox Import.
3. Choose Files in MBOX format (Apple Mail can frequently handle MBOX files, even when they are not strictly MBOX).
4. After that, find the Outlook Message Item File you made, then pick it.
5. Then, click Next and adhere to the on-screen instructions for final transfer.

The process of the manual conversion is finished. During the conversion, you may find some difficulties that are discussed below:

• It does not allow bulk conversion.
• This will not work with large PST files.
• While converting the files, you may face formatting problems and data loss.
• It is a time-consuming process, and you have to repeat the steps for every conversion.

Advanced Method to Import PST to Apple Mail

For seamless conversion of your PST files to Apple Mail, you can use the PST Migration Tool. This will provide you with various advanced features that minimize your time and effort. The valuable features of this tool are discussed as follows:

• It has a Date Filter option that will allow you to perform selective migration.
• A user can easily understand the tool because of its self-explanatory interface.
• You can preview your data before migration to verify its integrity.
• Remove Duplicate emails from the folders with structure preserved.
• It will allow you to convert emails in bulk without data loss.

Steps to convert PST to Mac Mail

1. First, download, install the SysInfo PST Migration Tool on your system.
2. Then, run as an administrator and select the File/Folder, and click Next.
3. Further, choose the PST file/folder you want to import and click Next.
4. After that, select the file from the tree structure and click Next.
5. Now,  select MBOX as the file format and apply filters, and click Next.
6. Lastly, choose the Destination to save the file and click the Convert button.

Note: Import MBOX files to Apple Mail using the steps below: 1. Start Apple Mail and visit File >> Import Mailboxes. 2. Choose the MBOX file to import and finish Import.

Pro Tip:

Download the Demo Version of  PST Converter for free. This will help you to better understand the advanced features that will ease your work. Additionally, it will allow you to convert 50 emails per folder for free.

Conclusion

Here, we discussed the importance of conversion with two methodologies that will help you import PST to Apple Mail. Both the traditional method and the advanced method are discussed with their limitations and benefits. SysInfo PST Migration Tool is a risk-free solution to migrate PST files to multiple file formats and email clients in bulk. 

Frequently Asked Questions