Top 03 Methods to Convert MBOX to PST in Easy Steps

Difference Between MBOX and PST Files

This table shows detailed differences between MBOX and PST file formats:

Feature	MBOX	PST
Full Name	MBOX stands for Mailbox.	PST stands for Personal Storage Table.
Developer	Originally developed for Unix systems	It is developed by Microsoft.
Primary Use	It stores email messages in a single text file.	It stores email messages, calendar events, and other items in Microsoft Outlook.
File Extension	.mbox	.pst
Supported by	Multiple email clients (e.g., Thunderbird, Apple Mail, Eudora)	Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Exchange
Structure	Plain text format	Binary format
Operating System Compatibility	Cross-platform (Windows, macOS, Linux)	Primarily Windows
Backup and Restore	Simple to backup and restore as it is a single file.	Backup and restore are supported by Outlook.
Email Storage	Stores all messages in a single text file, concatenated	Stores messages and other data in a structured format
File Size Limitation	It depends on the email client, but generally, larger files can take time to process.	Outlook 2002 and earlier: 2GB, Outlook 2003 and later: 20GB or more (configurable)
Performance	It can be slower with large volumes of emails due to a lack of indexing.	Generally faster with built-in indexing and structured storage.
Encryption Support	It depends on the email client.	It supports encryption, which means PST can be password-protected.

Benefits of Converting MBOX to PST

There are many benefits that users consider while importing MBOX Thunderbird to PST.

• PST files are less likely to crash and corrupt as compared to MBOX.
• Microsoft Outlook provides features rather than email clients who support MBOX file format.
• You can operate Outlook Data file (.pst) without an internet connection, but MBOX can’t run without the internet.
• Email Clients with the MBOX format are not preferred by organizations, because of their slow processing.
• MBOX files get easily corrupted due to internal issues that lead to file blockage.
• PST files are more secure and reliable than MBOX.

These are some benefits of PST files over MBOX file format that can’t be neglected.

How do I Convert MBOX to PST for Free?

By using these methods, you can easily convert Thunderbird to PST. The first two are the manual methods, and the last one is the professional method. You can choose any of them at your convenience. All three approaches are described in detail below.

Method 01: Converting MBOX to PST Manually Using Different Email Clients

To follow this method, make sure you have Apple Mail, Eudora, Outlook Express, and Outlook installed on your system. After all the arrangements, follow the steps given below:

Step 1:- Move Mailbox data to Apple Mail

1. Open Apple Mail in your system.
2. Select File >> Import Mailbox.
3. Choose the source of the MBOX file, then hit Continue.
4. Now, select the MBOX format on the browse location that you want to import and press Continue.
5. Import the MBOX file to complete the process and click Done.

Step 2:- Create a Mailbox Through Eudora

1. First, you have to append the MBOX file extension to the imported file.(For example:- Change xyzMBOX to xyzMBOX.mbx.)
2. Go to the Eudora Directory to move your file to the default location  (C:\Documents and Settings\Application Data\Qualcomm\Eudora).
3. Now, go to Eudora and double-click on xyzMBOX.mbx.

Step 3:- Import Mailbox into Outlook Express

1. Run the Outlook Express, go to File >> Import >> Messages.
2. Select Eudora from the presented list and hit the Next button.
3. Now Open the xyzMBOX.mbx file that you saved earlier and hit the OK button.
4. At this stage, follow the steps ahead to complete the import process.

Step 4:- Trasnfer Mailbox from Outlook Express to Outlook

1. Go to Outlook, open File >> Open & Export >> Import/Export.
2. Select the Import option to import the data from Outlook Express to Outlook.
3. Click on the import from Another file and folder and hit the Next button.
4. Select Import Internet Mail and Addresses and press Next.
5. Choose “Outlook Express 4.x, 5.x, 6.x, or window mail” and click the Next button.
6. From the Browser, click on the file to Import and Export, then press Next.
7. Click Finish after the completion of the process.

Method 02: Convert MBOX to PST Using Thunderbird & Outlook

This method requires Thunderbird and MS Outlook to be installed on your system. After that, you can follow the given steps to convert MBOX files to PST.

Step 01: Export Emails from Thunderbird into EML Format

1. Run the Thunderbird application and click on the New folder.
2. Type a new name for the folder and hit Create Folder.
3. Select the emails you wish to transfer and move them to the new folder.
4. Now, choose the Save As option and save the file in EML format.
5. Open the folder where the EML file is saved.
6. Drag & drop the file into Outlook.

Step 02: Convert the EML File into PST Format

1. Launch MS Outlook and go to File.
2. Select Open & Export, and then Import/Export.
3. From the Import/Export Wizard Window, click Export to a file and then hit Next.
4. Choose Outlook data file (.pst) and hit the Next button.
5. Browse the EML file and proceed with the Next button.
6. Provide the destination folder to save the PST file, and click the Finish button.

By simply following the above instructions, you can convert MBOX files to PST. However, there are several disadvantages to the manual method that you should be aware of before opting for it.

Limitations of Manual Methods

• The manual approach includes a  variety of applications that are quite lengthy and time-consuming.
• If you are pursuing this approach, you must have the technical expertise to deal with the process.
• This process has a lot of complexities and sometimes that leads to data loss and file crashes.
• You can only convert a single file at a time cause it doesn’t import multiple files in bulk.
• Users can experience the alteration in their data while performing the manual process.

As you know, the manual method is very complex and hence not suitable for organizations and non-technical people. As a result, we are suggesting you use the automated way to export Thunderbird to PST.

Method 03: Automated Solution to Convert MBOX to PST for Outlook

To convert email from MBOX to Outlook, we would suggest using the best MBOX to PST Converter. This software is the most reliable and 100% secure that maintains data integrity and also the original folder hierarchy. Users can convert MBOX to CSV, PDF, EML, EMLX, MSG, MBOX, HTML, TXT, MHT, and other file formats. You can also export Email data to different email clients such as Thunderbird, Office 365, IMAP Server, Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, Outlook, Opera Mail, etc. It supports every version of Windows without any complications. Moreover, users can convert multiple files at once which saves time and effort.

Follow the Given Steps to Convert MBOX Files to PST for Outlook:-

1. Download the MBOX Converter and Install it on your computer/PC.
2. Click on the Browse option, select single or Multiple folders to convert, and press the Open button.
3. In this wizard, take a Preview of your selected files to confirm your data, then hit the Next button.
4. Choose PST file format from the drop-down menu as your saving format.
5. Now, you can select a particular date range to migrate specific emails by providing data in the Mail Filter.
6. Provide a Custom Folder Name for your output folder.
7. Click on the Path to save button and assign a destination location.
8. Finally, press the Convert button to start the conversion process.
9. After the process is completed, you can Download the Report for future reference.

It is the best and simplest way to convert Thunderbird MBOX to Outlook PST in less time without any hassle.

Conclusion

In this above context, you can find the manual and professional manner to convert MBOX to PST. However, the manual approach is quite complicated and demands technical expertise. On the other hand, an automated solution is reliable and provides a user-friendly interface. Users can opt for any of the methods as per their needs but we suggest you use the professional practice. You can also try its free version to migrate emails in bulk.

Frequently Asked Questions