How to Import PST to Office 365 Easily and Efficiently?

If you have the same question, don’t worry. You’re not the only one. Many people who move to Microsoft 365 look for an easy way to import their Outlook PST files into Office 365. This process helps them access all their old emails, contacts, and calendars anytime, from any device. To make this process smooth and risk-free, use DRS Softech PST to Office 365 Migration Tool offer an easy solution. In this blog, we’ll explore the reasons for importing PST files into Office 365 and explain both manual and automated methods in a step-by-step format. Let’s initiate and proceed with the simplified solutions.

Basics of PST Files and Office 365 

Before we get into the methods, it’s important to understand what a PST file is and how it relates to Office 365.

A PST file (Personal Storage Table) is a type of file created by Microsoft Outlook. It stores emails, contacts, calendars, tasks, and other mailbox data locally on your system. Commonly, it is used to backup or move data between systems.

On the other hand, Office 365 (now part of Microsoft 365) is a cloud-based platform that lets you access your email and other Microsoft services online. It offers advanced security, real-time collaboration. Additionally, it offers access from anywhere. Hence, it is perfect for modern users and organizations.

With the basics covered, it’s time to understand why users choose to move their PST files to Office 365. 

Best Methods to Import PST to Office 365

No matter you are an individual user or manage a business environment, it’s important to follow a method that is both efficient and secure. In the sections below, we’ll explore the best available options to help you import your PST files into your Office 365 account with ease and accuracy.

Method 01: Import PST File to Office 365 Using Outlook

If your Office 365 account is already set up in Microsoft Outlook, you can easily import your PST file directly through Outlook’s built-in Import/Export feature. This method is good enough for individual users or small-scale imports.

• Make sure your Outlook is configured with your Office 365 account.
• After that, click on the File tab at the top left.
• Now, select Open & Export from the sidebar.
• Then, click on Import/Export.
• In the wizard that appears, select “Import from another program or file”.
• Now, choose Outlook Data File (.pst) and click Next to proceed.
• Click Browse, then find and select the PST file from your computer.
• Decide how you want to handle duplicate items (Replace, Allow, or Do not import duplicates).
• Once selected, click Next.
• Choose the folder in your Office 365 mailbox where you want to import the data.
• Lastly, click Finish to import PST to Office 365 account. 

Outlook will now import all items from the PST file into your Office 365 account.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• This method only works if your Office 365 account is added and active in Outlook.
• Along with that, large PST files may take longer to import.
• There are no filter options. So, everything in the PST will be imported.

Method 02: Using Network Upload to Upload Outlook PST into Office 365

Follow the steps below to upload your Outlook PST files into Microsoft 365 using the manual Network Upload method:

Step 1: First, Assign the Mailbox Import Export Role

• Go to the Microsoft 365 Admin Center and open the Exchange Admin Center (EAC).
• Then, navigate to Permissions >> Admin Roles.
• After that, either edit an existing role group or create a new one.
• Now, add the Mailbox Import Export role to it.
• Finally, add your admin account to the role group.

Tip: It may take a few hours for the changes to reflect.

Step 2: Next, Install the Azure AzCopy Tool

• First, download the Azure AzCopy Tool from Microsoft’s official site.
• Then, install it on the system you’ll use for uploading PST files.

Step 3: After That, Create an Import Job in Microsoft 365

• Open the Microsoft 365 Compliance Center.
• Now, go to Information Governance >> Import.
• Click on + New Import Job, give the job a name, and proceed.
• Then, select Upload your data and click Next.

Step 4: Then, Upload PST Files Using AzCopy

• Download the SAS URL provided during the import job setup.
• After that, open Command Prompt as Administrator.
• Now, run the following command:

AzCopy.exe /Source:”C:\Path\To\PSTFiles” /Dest:”https://<SAS URL>” /V:”C:\uploadlog.log”

Remember to replace the source path and SAS URL with your actual values.

Step 5: Once Done, Map PST Files to User Mailboxes

• Return to the Import Job wizard and select I have uploaded my files.
• Then, download the PST Mapping CSV Template.
• Fill in required details like: Workload, FilePath, Mailbox, TargetRootFolder, etc. 

Step 6: Now, Validate the CSV and Start the Import

• Upload the filled CSV file back into the wizard.
• Then, click Validate to check for errors.
• If all is well, click Import data to mailboxes.
• Finally, click Finish to start the process.

Step 7: Lastly, Monitor the Import Job

• Head to the Import tab in the Compliance Center.
• Now, check the status of your import job.
• Once completed, verify the data in each user’s Office 365 mailbox.

Method 03: Use PowerShell Commands to Import PST to Microsoft 365

PowerShell offers a command-line way to import PST files into Microsoft 365 mailboxes. This method is appropriate for users with advanced technical skills.

Note: This method requires Exchange Online PowerShell module access and appropriate admin permissions to import PST to Office 365.

Before You Begin

Make sure you have:

• Microsoft 365 admin credentials.
• Exchange Online PowerShell module installed.
• Mailbox Import Export permissions assigned.
• PST file available on a shared or local path.

Step 1: First, Connect to Exchange Online

• Open PowerShell and run the following command:

Connect-ExchangeOnline -UserPrincipalName admin@example.com

• Enter your Office 365 admin credentials when prompted.

Step 2: Define the PST File Location and Target Mailbox

Set the path of your PST file and the email address of the user you want to import data for:

• $sourcePath = “C:\PST\user1.pst”

• $targetMailbox = “user1@yourdomain.com”

Step 3: Create the Import Request

Use the following command to start the PST import:

• New-MailboxImportRequest -Mailbox $targetMailbox -FilePath $sourcePath -TargetRootFolder “Inbox”

You can change “Inbox” to any other folder name where you want to import PST to Office 365. 

Things to Note:

• The mailbox must not be on litigation hold or inactive during the import.
• You can automate bulk imports using loops and batch scripts.

Drawbacks of Manual PST Import

Here are some common issues you may face with manual methods:

• The process is time-consuming, especially when handling multiple PST files.
• Moreover, it requires technical skills like using PowerShell or setting up roles in Microsoft 365.
• In addition, you can’t filter data, so all emails are imported whether needed or not.
• Also, there is no preview option to check mailbox items before importing.
• Sometimes, large PST files may fail or slow down the process.
• Another issue is, there’s no way to skip duplicates, which may cause mailbox clutter. 
• These methods depend on Outlook or other tools like AzCopy, adding extra steps.

These problems make manual methods harder to use, especially for people who aren’t very technical or have a lot of data to move. To make things easier and save time, it’s better to use an automated tool that handles the entire process for you.

Method 04: Best Automated Solution to Import PST to Office 365

If you want a simple GUI-based solution, DRS Softech PST to Office 365 Migration Tool to perform PST to Office 365 migration. With its easy interface, you can migrate your Outlook data into Microsoft 365 without any hassle. You don’t need to install or configure Microsoft Outlook to use this utility. Also, it can easily handle oversized PST files. Additionally, it supports PST files from all Outlook versions, including Outlook 2021, 2019, 2016, and earlier.

Simple Steps to Import Outlook PST File to Office 365

Step 01: Download the DRS Softech PST to Office 365 Migration Tool on your system.

Step 02: You’ll now see a quick summary of the migration process. Click Continue to move to the next step.

Step 03: After that, click on Select Files or Select Folder to add your PST file(s).

Step 04: Browse your system using File Explorer and choose the PST file you want to import. Click Open to load.

Step 05: Once the files are loaded, preview mailbox items like emails, calendars, contacts, etc.

Step 06: Enter your Office 365 login credentials securely, then select the target mailbox where the PST data should be imported.

Step 07: Finally, click on the Convert button to start importing the PST file into your Office 365 account.

Additional info: If you want to move your data elsewhere, check out this detailed guide on how to import PST to Zoho Mail step-by-step.

Conclusion

We discussed different ways to import PST to Office 365, including manual methods like Outlook, PowerShell, and Network Upload. These can work, but often need technical skills and take time. For a faster and simpler experience, using an automated tool makes the process much easier, especially when handling large or multiple PST files.

Frequently Asked Questions