Summary
If you are looking for a suitable solution to easily export Outlook OST emails with attachments to MBOX then you are in the right place. Here we have described the differences between Outlook OST and MBOX along with a complete solution to export Outlook OST to MBOX with attachments. We also describe the best third-party tool that makes it easy to perform the migration from OST to MBOX file effortlessly. So read this blog from start to end and know the best solution.
Difference Between Outlook and MBOX file
Both Outlook and MBOX files are widely used for email management, but they have some major differences which are mentioned below:-
Outlook OST | MBOX |
Outlook is a popular email client developed by Microsoft that is part of the Microsoft Office suite. It offers a wide range of features and functionalities, including email organization, calendar management, task tracking, and more. | MBOX file is a common mailbox format that can be used by various email clients on different platforms. It stores emails in a single text file, making it easy to migrate between different email clients. |
Outlook OST file is comfortable to work with Microsoft Outlook, Office 365, and Exchange Server. | MBOX file on the other hand is supported by more than 30 email client applications like Apple Mail, SpiceMail, Entourage, Pocommail, Google Takeout, Mozilla Thunderbird, SeaMonkey, etc. |
MS Outlook is not a free email client because it is a part of MS Office and MS Office has a pricing module according to plans introduced by Microsoft. | MBOX files are supported by more than email clients and these are freeware email clients. |
Why Do We Need to Export Outlook OST Emails to MBOX File?
- Cross-Platform Compatibility:- MBOX is a widely supported format, and exporting OST emails to MBOX can make it easier to access and manage emails on different operating systems or email clients.
- Data Storage:- It is a common practice to store emails in MBOX format to save storage space and maintain an organized email history.
- Compatibility with Email Servers:- Email servers and hosting providers have better compatibility with the MBOX format, making it a preferred choice for storing email data.
- Data Backup and Recovery:- Creating a backup of OST emails in MBOX format can be a way to ensure data integrity and facilitate recovery in case of data loss or corruption.
- Easier to Move Emails: MBOX files are not system-dependent files and are easy to carry on any storage media, move to another computer, and access them without any special application needed.
Manual Methods to Export Outlook OST Emails to MBOX
In this manual method, we explained the two steps that help you to export Outlook OST to MBOX with attachments.
- Step 1:- Export OST to PST using Microsoft Outlook
- Step 2:- Export PST file in MBOX using Thunderbird
Step 1. Export OST to PST using Microsoft Outlook
- First of all, establish the Outlook application on your computer and laptop.
- Open the application, click on the “File” option from the menu bar, and then select the “Open and Export” option.
- Now click on the “Import/Export” option and select the “Export to a File” option from the Import/Export wizard.
- After selecting “Export to a File” option, press on the “Next” option.
- On the next screen select the “Outlook Data File (.pst)” option and then click “Next”.
- Now select the email folder you want to export and tap on the “Next” option.
- Next, choose the saving location to export PST and then click on the “Include subfolders” checkbox option.
- After that tap on the “Finish” button icon and wait for the export process to complete.
Step 2:- Export PST file in MBOX using Thunderbird
- Open Mozilla Thunderbird on your computer or laptop.
- Tap the Thunderbird menu bar icon and then tap the Tools option.
- Then, choose the “Import” option to import the Outlook PST file.
- Then select the Mail item, and tap on the “Next” icon.
- Now choose the file type as Outlook and click on the “Next” icon.
- After clicking the “Next” icon your PST file will be successfully imported into MBOX file. Now click on the “Finish” option.
Note:- It is not easy for every user to convert OST files to MBOX with manual methods, it will take many attempts to run the manual methods and during the manual conversion process, you may lose your important OST emails.
Also Read:- How to Export Offline OST to PST?
Professional Help to Export Outlook OST Emails with Attachments to MBOX File
Enstella Systems is a great provider of email conversion solutions, and its OST to PST Converter Software is design to simplify the process of exporting Outlook OST emails to MBOX. Using this utility you can instantly convert Outlook files to multiple file formats like PST, EML, EMLX, MBOX, Thunderbird, MSG, VCard, ICS, HTML, MHTML, etc. This application can also migrate Outlook OST files to Office365, Outlook.com, Yahoo Mail, IMAP servers, and Gmail.
Follow Simple Steps to Export OST to MBOX with Attachments
- First of all, install and open Enstella OST Recovery Software on your computer.

- Next, Tap the “Select OST” option, choose one of the “Single or Bulk OST conversion options” and then tap the “Next” icon.

- Now Tap on the “Select OST file” option and then tap the “Start Scanning” Option.

- After that, the “preview panel” will open.

- Now select the required folder that you want to export and tap on the “Save OST” option.

- Next Screen, Tap the “Export to MBOX” option, tap the “Browse” option, and select the saving location.

- Finally, tap on the “Convert” option to perform OST to MBOX conversion.

Best Features of this Software
- Recover or Repair Encrypted OST File:- The OST Recovery Software is designed specially to fix, repair, and recover orphaned OST files effortlessly and provide various options to migrate it.
- Convert OST File into 13+ other file formats:- Enstella OST to PST Converter tool has more than 13+ types of file formats for migration. Users can avail of the features and instantly convert OST to PST, EML, EMLX, MSG, MBOX, Thunderbird, HTML, MHTML, vCard, ICS, etc.
- Import OST to Cloud-based emails client application: Users can easily migrate OST to cloud-based email systems like Office 365, Yahoo Mail, Gmail, Outlook.com, and IMAP servers.
- Supported MS Outlook:- This OST Recovery Software is supported with all versions of Outlook applications like 2000, 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, etc. However, it does not require Outlook installation to convert and recover OST files.
- Free version:- The trial edition of the software is offere by Enstella Systems for quick evaluation to the users. Download and use the free version of OST Recovery tool to know the performance and results of the program without paying anything and easily convert up to 25 items per folder from the OST file.
Conclusion
In the above blog post, we have described step-by-step guidance on both manual and automatic methods to export Outlook OST emails with attachments to MBOX. However, manual methods have many limitations, and it is not certain that they will give accurate results. You can adopt any method you wish, but we always recommend using the professional tool Enstella OST Recovery Software to export OST to MBOX.