How to Import PST to Microsoft 365 (Office 365): Complete Guide

In today’s digital age, email has become an essential tool for communication in both personal and professional settings. With the increasing popularity of cloud-based services, many organizations are opting to migrate their email data to Office 365 for its reliability, scalability, and security features. However, migrating email data can be a daunting task, especially when dealing with large amounts of data. One crucial aspect of this process is to import PST to Office 365.

In this blog, we will guide you through the steps required for PST to Office 365 Migration and ensure a seamless migration process. Whether you are an IT professional or a small business owner, this guide will provide you with the knowledge and skills required to successfully migrate your email data to Office 365.

Explanation of PST files and Office 365

PST (Personal Storage Table) is a file format used by Microsoft Outlook to store email messages, calendar events, contacts, and other data. PST files are commonly used to backup or archive email data, or to migrate data from one Outlook installation to another.

Office 365 is a cloud-based subscription service offered by Microsoft that includes a range of productivity applications, such as Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Office 365 provides users with access to their email, contacts, and calendars from anywhere, on any device with an internet connection.

What Is PST Import to Microsoft 365?

PST import to Microsoft 365 is the process of transferring emails and other Outlook data stored in PST files to Exchange Online mailboxes. It helps users and organizations move archived or locally stored Outlook data to the cloud for easier access and management.

Why do I need to import PST to Office 365?

PST Import to Office 365 platform will help you to avoid PST file errors and corruption problems. Office 365 also has many user-centric features you should not ignore.

1. Access from anywhere: Office 365, a cloud service, allows you to access data from any device, at any time, from any location, as long as there is an internet connection.
2. Collaboration platforms: Office 365 allows users to access email, calendars, documents, contacts, and other information from any device or browser. This allows users to share files within a team or collaborate between members.
3. Security: It has an attractive feature set and built-in security. Users can also remotely delete their data from their systems if they are lost or stolen.
4. Always up to date: It can automatically update. You don’t need to wait for the server to down when you switch to Office 365. Everything is automatically updated and done efficiently in such cases.

Prerequisites Steps before PST Import to Office 365:

Before importing PST files to Office 365, there are several requirements that must be met, including:

• Permissions: You need the Mailbox Import Export and Mail Recipients roles, or Global Administrator access.
• PST Size: Each PST file should be 20 GB or smaller.
• PST Format: Both ANSI and Unicode PST files are supported.
• Message Size: Items larger than 150 MB are not imported.
• Folder Limit: PST files cannot contain 300 or more levels of nested folders.
• Target Mailbox: PST data can be imported into supported Microsoft 365 mailboxes, including primary and archive mailboxes. PST files cannot be imported into public folders.

Manual Methods to Import PST files to Microsoft 365

Here we discuss 4 methods for PST Import to Microsoft 365. Three methods are completely Free and Fourth is Professional tool. You can use any method for Microsoft 365 migration.

1. Import /Export Method
2. Network Upload Method
3. Drive Shipping Method
4. Regain PST to Office 365 Migration (Professional tool)

Method1: – Import/Export Method to Import PST into Office 365

First, configure your Microsoft Office 365 account in MS Outlook to manually import PST into Office 365. Next, follow these steps:

1. Click on Save, then go to the Export & Open option. Click on it and select Import/Export option.
2. Select Import From Another Program in the Export Wizard and click on the Next button
3. Select Outlook File (.pst), then click on Next tab.
4. Use the Browse option to locate the Outlook PST file. Select it and click on Next.
5. Select the options that you wish to use and then click the Next. Note: Enter the password to unlock your PST file. Click OK.

6. The Import Outlook data file wizard will now appear. Here, select the Import items in the same folder and choose the Microsoft 365 mailbox. Click on Finish tab.

This manual method is extremely short and you should not worry. These methods are also worth a closer examination.

Method2: Import PST to Microsoft 365 Using Network Upload

The Network Upload method is the best and most efficient way to transfer PST to Office 365 accounts. With the Azure AzCopy tool, administrators can import all their PST files into Microsoft Office 365 accounts. Before importing to Microsoft 365, the PST file must be saved to a shared folder or file server in your organization. These are the steps to use for network upload:

1. Open the Import page.
2. Obtain the SAS URL/access key.
3. Download the supported version of AzCopy.
4. Upload PST files.
5. Create a PST import mapping CSV.
6. Create the import job.
7. Analyze/filter the data.
8. Start the import.

Limitations of Network Upload

• Requires a stable and high-speed internet connection.
• Uploading large PST files can take significant time.
• Requires technical knowledge to use the AzCopy command-line tool.
• Each PST file should be 20 GB or smaller.
• Requires Microsoft 365 permissions and a mapping CSV file.
• Import speed can vary depending on network and Microsoft 365 processing.

Method3: Import PST to Microsoft 365 Using Drive Shipping

This Drive Shipping method allows you to import PST data into Microsoft 365 using a secure storage key. It also includes a PST import tool. This method involves copying your PST data onto a hard drive, and then sending it to one or more Microsoft 365 physical locations. Below are the steps to use Drive Shipping.

1. Prepare a Hard Drive: Connect a supported hard drive to your computer.
2. Download the PST Import Tool: Download Microsoft’s PST Import tool from the Microsoft Purview portal.
3. Copy PST Files: Use the tool to copy your PST files to the encrypted hard drive.
4. Create Mapping File: Create a CSV file mapping each PST file to the required Microsoft 365 mailbox.
5. Create Import Job: Create a PST import job in the Microsoft Purview portal and upload the mapping file.
6. Ship the Drive: Send the encrypted hard drive to Microsoft using the provided shipping instructions.
7. Import PST Data: After Microsoft uploads the PST files, review the data and start the import into the selected Microsoft 365 mailboxes.

The process of importing PST to Office 365 takes approximately 1-2 weeks. Every organization can’t wait that long if they need to upload their PST to Microsoft 365 immediately. There are some limitations to this method that you should consider before proceeding with this workaround.

Drawbacks:

1. This Drive Shipping option is currently available in the United Kingdom, Brazil, the United States of East Asia, Australia, India, Canada, Republic of Korea. Japan, Southeast Asia, and Europe.
2. It might not be available through Microsoft Products & Services Agreements (MPSA). It’s only available through the MS Enterprise Agreement (EA)
3. To upload PST file to Microsoft 365 OWA, the drive shipping cost is $ 2 USD/ GB. If you send 1TB worth of PST files, it should cost around $ 2,000
4. Only 10 hard drives may be used as the ship for one import job.
5. This manual method takes a lot of time and will not import data items larger than 150MB.
6. Outlook PST files with 300 or more nested folders will not be imported.

Exchange administrators also have to deal with the problem to import multiple PST files to Microsoft 365. They would then need to use automated tool for PST Import to Office 365 account.

Method4: Regain PST to Office 365 Migration (Professional Tool)

To simplify the tedious and time-consuming PST import task, it would be helpful to use a professional tool. Regain PST to Office 365 migration is an amazing tool, available online for such an implementation. The Import PST to Office 365 software provides the best way to import PST files into one or more Microsoft Office 365.

Free Download100% Secure Buy NowPrice: $39

Steps to Import PST to Office 365 are as follows;

• Step 1: Start Regain PST to Office 365 Migration tool in your system. This screen shows the home screen of the tool in the same way as shown below.
• Step 2: Select the PST file, you wish to import into your MS Office 365 account.
• Step 3: Select Office 365 as the server type. After entering your login details, click connect to select Office 365 as the server type.
• Step 4: Start the migration process.
• The software successfully imported PST files to Office 365. Click the Exit button.

Why choose Professional tool?

This Regain PST Import to Office 365 Tool has many incredible features. These are just a few of the many features available in this Tool.

• Import Complete Data – This PST to Office 365 migration tool allows you complete freedom to import complete mailboxes from PST Files such as Inbox and Sent Mails.
• Attachment Files: This tool allows you to add attachment files to your emails. You can then access all of your Office 365 data easily.
• There is no file size limit: The Import PST to Office 365 account tool does not have a file size limit. Upload unlimited files at unlimited times.
• Graphical user interface: This tool has a graphical user interface that allows even non-technical users to use it during the process. The process is so simple that anyone can use it without needing any technical knowledge.
• Windows OS Support: This software can be installed on nearly all versions of MS Outlook as well as Windows OS, such Windows 11, 10, 8, 7 and Windows Vista. This tool can be used on both 32-bit as well as 64-bit computers.

Video Tutorial to Import PST to Office 365 Using Regain Software – Watch Now!

Conclusion

Import PST to Office 365 is a straightforward process when the necessary requirements are met. This guide will provide step-by-step instructions on how to prepare for the import, upload the PST files to Azure, create import jobs, monitor the import progress, and complete the import. By following this guide, organizations can successfully migrate their email data to Office 365 and take advantage of the benefits of cloud-based email management.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ques1. I got PST files of different sizes and different Outlook versions. Can I process them all simultaneously?

Ans. Yes, you can simultaneously import all your PST files to Office 365 mailboxes without concern about their version and size. The tool is specially coded for professionals and is considered one of the secured solutions for Office 365 users.

Ques2. I have both types of PST files, ANSI and Unicode, and some of them are of Outlook 2003 version. Can I use the tool?

Ans. The tool is compatible with all Outlook versions and both types of PST files. Moreover, you can use the tool with any Windows operating system.

Ques3. Is there any PST file size or number restriction on importing PST files in a single go?

Ans. We’ve developed the tool using a highly advanced algorithm, which makes this tool limitless. You can process any PST files without any size restriction.

Ques4. I have around 200 PST files, and we’re an organization with over 100 employees. Which license should I bring?

Ans. As per your requirement, the best deal for you is to purchase the technical license, as it has no mailbox number restriction.

Ques5. What is the best method to import PST files into Office 365?

Ans. It is completely depends on your needs and your technical skill. Microsoft offers the Network Upload and Drive Shipping methods. You can use these methods, we have already describe the steps in the blog. If you don’t want to take any risk of data loss then consider Professional Regain PST to Office 365 Importer tool.

Ques6. How long does it take to import PST files into Office 365?

Ans. The migration time depends on PST size, number of files, network speed, and Microsoft 365 processing. Using a dedicated migration tool such as Regain PST to Office 365 Migration Tool can simplify the migration process and help manage bulk PST migrations efficiently.

Ques7. Do I need admin rights to import PST files?

Ans. Yes, you need admin permissions in Office 365 to use the Exchange Admin Center or PowerShell for importing PST files.

Ques8. Will importing a PST file overwrite my Office 365 data?

Ans. No, importing PST files adds data without replacing existing emails or folders unless you set it to do so.

Ques9. Can I import PST files to Office 365 without Outlook?

Ans. Yes, you can use the Office 365 Import Service to import PST files without Outlook. But tool like Regain PST to Office 365 Migrator make it more easier.

Ques10. Are my attachments imported with the PST file?

Ans. Yes, all attachments and email metadata (e.g., sender, timestamps) are retained during the import process.

Ques11. What should I do if the import process fails?

Ans. Check for file corruption, size limits, or connectivity issues. A reliable tool like Regain PST to Office 365 Migration can help avoid these problems.

Ques12. How do I bulk import PST files to Microsoft 365?

Ans. Microsoft 365 supports bulk PST import through Network Upload or Drive Shipping. For a simpler migration, Regain PST to Office 365 Migration Tool allows users to add and migrate multiple PST files directly to Microsoft 365.

Ques13. What is the maximum PST size for Microsoft 365 import?

Ans. Microsoft recommends keeping individual PST files at 20 GB or smaller for the PST import process. For larger PST files, you may need to split them before importing.

Ques14. Can I import PST directly into an Online Archive?

Ans. Yes. Microsoft 365 supports importing PST data into an Online Archive when the appropriate archive option is specified in the import mapping. Regain PST to Microsoft 365 Migration Tool can also migrate PST data to supported Microsoft 365 archive mailboxes.

Ques15. Can I import PST files into an inactive mailbox?

Ans. Yes, PST data can be imported into an inactive mailbox when the mailbox meets Microsoft’s requirements. For supported migration scenarios, Regain PST to Office 365 Migration Tool can provide an alternative way to migrate PST data to Microsoft 365.

Ques16. Can I filter emails before importing PST to Microsoft 365?

Ans. Yes. Microsoft 365 provides filtering options through Intelligent Import. Alternatively, Regain PST to Office 365 Migration Tool provides filtering options to selectively migrate PST data based on supported criteria.