PST and MSG are both email file formats. If you want to convert PST to MSG file format, there are several methods available. You can choose any option as per your requirement and suitability. But before converting a PST file into MSG file format, you must learn about these two file formats.
PST files and MSG files are both data files and store email messages. Both the file formats have their own set of characteristics and drawbacks. In some cases, PST files are more suitable than MSG files. On the other hand, you will prefer MSG files over PST files sometimes.
What is PST and MSG File Format
PST files are the file formats supported by MS Outlook, Office 365, Microsoft Exchange, Windows Message, etc. These files store mailbox items like emails, calendars, events, etc. They are for backup mailbox items. Therefore, you can restore the complete mailbox data from PST files.
An MSG file contains the message text and other metadata information like sender, recipient, date, etc. If you save a single MS Outlook email in a local drive, it will get saved as an MSG file. You can save a single Outlook message using the drag and drop technique. These files are suitable for Microsoft products.
So, in conclusion, a PST file contains many MSG files. Also, both these file formats are related to MS Outlook. In many situations, MSG files are better than PST files. So, you need to convert PST to MSG files. Therefore, let’s learn the main reasons for preferring MSG over PST files mentioned below.
Reasons to Convert PST File to MSG File Format
Several reasons lead you to convert the PST files into MSG file format. Some reasons are general, while others are specific. The specific reason differs from individual to individual. The causes that lead most of the users to convert PST to MSG file mentioned below.
- The MSG files are smaller files than PST files. An MSG file contains only one outlook email. On the other hand, a PST file contains the entire mailbox data like Inbox, Drafts, Sent, Outbox, etc. It stores all the emails of an email account.
- You can backup only specific emails from the MSG files because they contain one email. But, in the case of PST files, they have complete mailbox items. So, if you backup a PST file, it will store both necessary and unnecessary emails.
- MSG files are small in size, so they are suitable for sharing purposes. You can share valuable emails as MSG files. The PST files, on the other hand, are large and cause difficulty in sharing.
- An MSG file is more easily manageable than PST files. It is because MSG files are smaller in size. You can show a particular email message from this file. On the other hand, a PST file contains the entire mailbox data. So, you can not store specific emails.
All the above reasons emphasize the situations when you need to convert PST to MSG file format. So, now, you should learn how you can export PST to MSG.
How to Convert PST to MSG Format
There are two methods to forward PST to MSG files. One method is using the inbuilt features of the email platform. This technique is called a manual method. It is a simple and effective way of migrating the PST files to MSG files. You don’t require any additional software for the conversion.
Another way to Save PST to MSG files is by an automatic method. In this method, you use third-party software to operate. It is the simplest option and ideal for novice users. Also, the third-party software offers several additional features to facilitate the process.
Steps to Convert PST to MSG Using Manual Method
- Create a new folder in your system and open it.
- Open Outlook and login to your email ID.
- Drag the email and drop it to the desired folder.
- Repeat this procedure for every email you want to convert.
- After dropping all the emails, select them and right-click.
- Choose to Send to and then Compressed (Zipped) Folder.
- Now, all the PST files become compressed MSG files.
The above procedure does not require any additional software. You can perform these steps in MS Outlook. The manual method is simple but some users may not find it so. They want another solution for their issue. In such a situation, third-party software is the best solution. A PST to MSG Converter Software is an ideal solution for users who don’t have technical knowledge. It converts the PST to MSG files effectively.
Conclusion
MS Outlook stores mailbox items like emails, calendars, events, etc., as PST files. These files are suitable for backup. However, they are not the best in every situation. MSG files store individual email messages and offer several benefits over PST file format. So, you need to convert PST to MSG file format. Now, you can use either a manual method or an automatic conversion method. The latter option is fast and effective in the case of non-technical users. Using the Outlook Converter tool is one such alternative to transform PST files into MSG file format.