How to Import PST File to IMAP Account – Easy Steps

Written By Mithilesh Tata
Updated on January 25th, 2022

Trying to import PST to IMAP account? Read more to find out suitable approaches for importing PST to IMAP.

IMAP or Internet Mail Access Protocol is one of the most popular email protocols to access the email messages stored on the mail server. By using IMAP, you can access your email account from multiple devices. For example, when you sign in to Microsoft Outlook, this email client connects to the server using IMAP.

Primarily, the only header is shown whereby you can decide which email needs to be opened. When you click on any email, only that is downloaded, and you can read them easily. IMAP is very fast and resourceful. IMAP does not transfer your mails from the server to the computer, but instead, it synchronizes the emails on the server with your computer or the device through which you are logged in.

Main features of IMAP

Mail can be accessed from any device through an email server
Downloads the email when it is clicked upon
IMAP is very fast and hence shows all the emails simultaneously
Attachment of emails are downloaded manually, only if required
If data is erased from the device, then it can again be backed up by an email server
It saves local disk space
It can also be used offline.

Methods to import PST to IMAP

IMAP protocol only supports email syncing, and other data items like calendars, contacts, tasks, notes, etc., are not stored or synced with the IMAP mail server. Initially, the PST file needs to be created to import PST to an IMAP account. To create a PST file that includes all the data items, try the following steps:

Launch Microsoft Outlook
Go to the File menu
Now click on Open & Export
Select the Import/Export button
Select Export to a file and click Next.
Choose Personal Folder File(.pst) and click on Next.
Now in the Export Personal Folders, check if Include subfolders are selected. Hence contacts and calendars will be exported too.
Save the exported file and click on Finish.

This PST file will now be saved in the IMAP email server as IMAP is set as the default server type.

Automatic method to import PST to IMAP account

Microsoft always provides in-built solutions to the problems like conversion of PST to IMAP, etc. However, solely relying on these solutions can lead to disastrous results like data loss. Hence it would help for professional utility software like Aryson’s Outlook PST Converter for safe and reliable data transfer utility. This PST file converter transfers Outlook to IMAP, Gmail, Thunderbird, Yahoo, Hotmail, Zimbra, etc. Other features of PST File Converter are as follows:

Successfully migrate from Outlook to IMAP, Gmail, Thunderbird, Hotmail, Yahoo, Zimbra, etc.
Convert PST to EML, PDF, TXT, MSG, MBOX, HTML, EMLX, MHTML, etc. file formats with ease and no hassle.
Batch conversion of multiple and single personal folder files to save time and effort of the user.
Split a file of more than 500 MB into small pieces of MBOX.
Direct export feature to import Outlook PST to Gmail, Yahoo, Thunderbird, IMAP, Hotmail, Zimbra, etc.
Two conversion modes: Single and Multiple.
Smart Date-Range feature to sort email items by providing start and the end date.
Self-intuitive and easy-to-use GUI for converting the PST file into other file formats without any expertise.
Free PST converter available to evaluate the features and working of the utility software.

5/5 - (1 vote)

About The Author:

Mithilesh Tata

Mithilesh Tata is dedicated to making the lives of his customers as simple as possible. He enjoys learning about new applications and utilities that can help people protect their data. Mithilesh also has a strong grasp on email migration & data recovery. He enjoys validating every component of the software, technical materials, and anything else that has to do with his working life.

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