Open EDB File without Exchange Server | Time-tested Ways

Updated On - January 25, 2023 by Nasir Khan | Reading Time: 5 minutes

EDB is an acronym for Exchange server database; as you know, it stores the Exchange data as a backup. However, the EDB files get stored on the server, and if it gets orphaned or disconnected from the Exchange server, you cannot preview them easily. Recently, I have come across several users asking for a reliable way to open EDB file without Exchange Server, and if you’re also one of them, here is a guide for you.

This article will describe all the possible ways available to open an EDB file (even corrupted once) without any Exchange Server.

Why do users need to open EDB files without Exchange Server?

There are a number of situations where you might need to access an Exchange Database File (EDB) without using an Exchange Server. An Exchange administrator can access all EDB files and mailboxes (EAC) through the Exchange Admin Center. However, the EDB file becomes offline and inaccessible when the Exchange server goes down or EDB dismounts due to issues like a hardware fault, dirty shutdown, malware incursion, etc. When an Exchange server is decommissioned, you cannot access EDB files; for the same, you have to find another way to open EDB files without an Exchange server.

The EAC cannot be used to gain access to an offline EDB file. To access EDB files, you’ve to Mount an offline EDB to an Exchange server, it sounds easy, but it’s a time-consuming process that often fails, especially if the EDB is corrupted.

Three Methods to Open EDB Files Without Exchange Server

Before we look at the solution side, let us have a quick overview of two default Mailboxes that are generated on the Exchange Server.

1. Public folder (pub.edb): Keep files in the rich-text format in the RTF file format
2. Private folder (priv.edb): Keeps all default messages and attachments.

There are two distinct options that can help you open EDB files. The first method employs the Microsoft Exchange Server Mailbox Merge Wizard (Exmerge.exe). ExMerge requires an active Exchange Server in order to successfully extract a PST file from a mailbox. Another option is to buy using the Exchange admin center. The following are explanations of these methods.

1st Method: By Using Microsoft ExMerge.exe tool

Exchange administrators can merge data from one Exchange server’s mailboxes into the mailboxes of another Exchange server with the help of ExMerge.exe. The program allows you to export your EDB data to a personal folder (.pst) file, which can then be imported into Outlook.

Please Note: The ExMerge tool only works with Exchange 2000, Exchange 2003, and Exchange 5.5. Also, the tool is not available on Microsoft’s official site, so you need to download it from CNET.

Steps to Use the ExMerge Tool to Open EDB Files without Exchange

1. Type “ExMerge.exe” into the Google search bar, then click “Download.”
2. Launch the ExMerge.exe installer and navigate to the desired extraction folder.
3. Third, choose ‘OK’ to extract
4. Select the radio button adjacent to the “Extract information from an Exchange Server mailbox” option and then click Next.
5. Now go to the Import procedure tab and select the Archive data to target store option, and click on the OK.
6. Click the “Message Details” button, type in the information, and then click “OK.”
7. Select the mailbox you need to export into PST file format and click Next.
8. Next, select the destination to save the resultant file and click Export.
9. Once the export process is finished, click Finish.

A usable PST file has been produced. You can access all the information in the EDB file by importing it into your personal Outlook account.

2nd Method: open EDB files by Using Exchange Admin Center (EAC)

Using the Exchange Admin Center, we also have to convert EDB to PST file format. Pursue the following steps:

• To begin, make a new shared folder.
• To modify the Shared Folder and Security Level settings, select the Permissions tab.
• Afterward, navigate to Organization Management -> Exchange Admin Centre.
• Finally, click the Permissions tab, double-click Receipt Management, and select Add to Role.
• Following, select the mailbox import items and click on the OK button.
• Now go back to the Exchange admin center and select the export to a PST file option.
• Once the process is complete, click on the Finish option.

Limitations of the Manual method

Now that we’ve seen how to open EDB files without Exchange server manually. let’s look at what’s bad about them.

• Using the EAC to export mailboxes to PST takes time because you have to export each mailbox by hand and wait for the conversion to finish.
• The ExMerge utility is no longer supported, so Exchange 2010 and 2007 users who want to export an EDB file to a PST file must use PowerShell scripts.
• These methods won’t work if your Exchange database file is damaged, goes offline, or is unmounted. (For the manual methods to work, the database file needs to be in good shape.)

To get around these limits, you can use Regain EDB to PST converter to open, view, and export your email data from the EDB to PST format.

3rd method: Reliable Way to Open EDB files Without Exchange Server

Regain EDB to PST converter tool is a highly recommended tool for Exchange administrators as it can recover corrupted EDB files and open them in no time. The tool is restriction-free and very easy to use. Let me describe its step-by-step process before diving into its features:

Free Download100% Secure Buy NowPrice: $99

• Step1: Install and open the Regain EDB to PST converter tool in your tool.
• Step2: Click on the Open option and add the EDB files you want to open.
• Step3: Now, you can preview all your EDB file data and select the mailboxes that you want to export.
• Step4: Now click on the Export option and select a file format to store the EDB file data.
• Step5: Finally, click Next, and the software will start exporting your EDB files into the selected file format.

As you can see, the tool’s steps are easy to accomplish, making opening an EDB file without Exchange a matter of seconds. Now let’s dive into its feature so you’ll know why you should keep this tool on your software list.

Why Pick Regain EDB to PST Converter to Open EDB Files?

• Add and export EDB to PST files in bulk and without limitations.
• The utility supports not just PST but also EML, MBOX, MSG, PDF, VCF, HTML, and a slew of other formats for converting EDB.
• The EDB file format can be imported into Office 365, Gmail, Yahoo, Exchange Server, and the Amazon Work email platform.
• Provides a comprehensive glimpse of newly inserted EDB file data before converting to the required format or uploading to the server.
• You can upload EDB files of any size; the software places no limits on this.
• With its PST split function, you can divide the final PST file into sections of any size you like.
• Incorporated with an easy-to-use graphical user interface, making it the go-to option for everyone using it, including newcomers.
• Regain Software provides a free trial version to ensure the tool is suitable for your needs.
• We provide free, round-the-clock technical support to every user in case they get stuck or have questions.

Essentially the database of an Exchange server, an EDB file includes each user’s mailbox contents. The Exchange admin center or ExMerge can be used to extract and export an EDB to PST. After that, which can then be opened and viewed outside of Exchange. However, the database file must be healthy and mounted on the server for either of these approaches to work. Regain EDB to PST converter is a must-have Exchange recovery tool that can safely open EDB file without an Exchange server, even if they are corrupted once.