Microsoft Outlook users often have to deal with multiple PST files, especially if they have been using the program for a while. These files can become cluttered and difficult to manage over time. One way to solve this problem is to merge PST or join these PST files into one. In this article, we will show you how to merge PST files from multiple Outlook inboxes in MS Outlook.
Keep reading for more information.
Why Would You Need to Merge PST Files?
One of the most important files on your computer is your PST file. This file stores all of your email messages, contacts, calendar items, and other data. If you use Outlook to manage your email, then your PST file is especially important.
Over time, your PST file can become quite large, making it difficult to manage. In some cases, you may even need to split your PST file into multiple smaller files in order to store it. If you find yourself in this situation, you may be wondering how to merge PST files.
There are a few reasons why you might need to merge PST files:
- If you have multiple PST files from different Outlook accounts, you may want to consolidate them into a single file.
- If you have deleted items in one PST file that you want to recover from another file, merging the two files will give you access to those deleted items.
- If you have two copies of the same PST file (for example, on your computer and on a backup drive), merging the two files will ensure that they are identical.
There are also a few specific reasons you may need to migrate PST files:
- Migration to a new email client: If you are migrating from Outlook to a new email client, you may need to merge PST files in order to transfer all of your data.
- Migration to a new computer: If you are moving your Outlook data to a new computer, you may again need to merge PST files in order for all of your data to be transferred.
- Merging multiple Outlook accounts: If you have multiple Outlook accounts that you want to consolidate into a single account, merging PST files is one way to do this.
- Upgrading to a newer version of Outlook: When you upgrade to newer Outlook versions, your old PST files may not be compatible with the new software. In this case, you will need to merge PST files in order to use them with the new software.
Whatever your reason for wanting to merge PST files may be, there are a few different ways to do it.
If you want to merge two PST files in Outlook 2016, it is the same as if you were to merge PST files in Outlook 2010. However, if you want to merge two or more PST files on an older version of Outlook, then you need to do it manually.
How to Merge PST Files for Free
The method is quite simple. All you need to do is open, create a new PST file and import data from both the PST files you want to merge into this new PST file. Alternatively, you can import data from the second PST file into the first one, but in this case, the first file will contain the merge result and the original PST file will be modified. Of course, you can backup the first PST file and this will allow you to avoid this problem.
- Run Microsoft Outlook and create new empty PST file.
- Click File > Open & Export > Import/Export > Import from another program or file > Outlook Data File (*.pst)
- Specify first pst file to import data from and select the newly created PST file as target.
- Repeat the same for second pst file you have.
- In a result your new PST file will contain the result of two pst files merge.
As you can see, merging pst files is easy and can be done if you have Outlook installed on your PC, without having to buy any software. The method also works with free trial version of Outlook, so there is no need to buy an Office pack to merge PST files. Below we will describe the process of merging pst files more detailed.
How to Combine Outlook PST Files Manually
Although Outlook provides a built-in tool for combining PST files, the process can be complex and may not always work as expected. For this reason, many users prefer to combine PST files manually.
There are a few basic methods for combining PST files manually:
1) Combining Outlook PST Files Within Outlook
The first method is to use the built-in Import/Export tool in Outlook. This method is best if you want to combine files from different accounts into a single file.
The limitations of this method include:
- The process can be complex and time-consuming
- You cannot merge files that are open in Outlook
- All data in the files will be imported into your current Outlook profile, which may not be what you want
To use this method open Outlook and:
- Select File > Open & Export > Import/Export.
- In the window that appears, select “Import from another program or file” and click Next.
- On the next screen, select “Outlook Data File (.pst)” and click Next.
- Select the PST files that you want to combine. To select multiple files, hold down the Ctrl key while you click each file. Once you have selected all of the files you want to combine, click Next.
- On the next screen, select the option to “Replace duplicates with items imported” and click Finish.
Outlook will now import the selected PST files into your account. Once the process is complete, you will have a single PST file containing all of your data.
2) Importing Outlook Data to a New PST File
Another method for manually combining PST files is to create a new PST file and import your data into it. This method is best if you only want to combine data from a few PST files.
To use this method, open Outlook and navigate to the File tab. In the menu that appears, select New > Outlook Data File.
In the window that appears, select “Open and Export” and click the Import/Export button.
In the window that appears, select “Import from another program or file” and click Next.
On the next screen, select “Outlook Data File (.pst)” from the Import and Export Wizard and click “Next”.
Once you reach this page, you will be able to browse through the different PST files and select the ones you want to import into your new file. After you have selected all of the original PST files you want to include, click Next.
On the next screen, choose a name and location for your new PST file. Then, click Finish.
Outlook will now import your data into the new PST file. Once the process is complete, you will have a single PST file containing your combined Outlook data.
Keep in mind that this method will not delete your old PST files. If you want to get rid of them, you will need to delete them manually. Also remember that if you are consolidating multiple accounts into a single PST file, you may need to set up Outlook to access your new file.
Use this method to merge email attachment.
How to Merge Outlook Data Files Using Software
If you want to avoid the hassle of manually combining PST files, there are a few third-party tools that can do it for you. These tools will automatically combine your PST files and, in most cases, will even delete your old files for you.
One tool that can be used to combine PST files is Kernel Merge PST. This tool can be used to merge multiple PST files into a single file, as well as to repair and recover corrupt or damaged PST files.
To use this tool, simply download and install the software. Once you have installed the software, open it and select the PST files that you want to merge. Then, choose a location for your new file and click “Merge”.
Then, hit Next and select the files that you wish to merge on the next page.
After you have selected all of the files, click Finish.
The software will now start merging your PST files. Once the process is complete, you will have a single PST file containing everything you needed to merge together.
If you don’t want to use Kernel Merge PST, there are a few other software that you can use to merge or join PST files:
- Stellar Merge PST
- Advik PST Converter
- Systools PST Merger Tool
- KDETools PST Merge Tool
- MailsDaddy PST Merge and Join Tool
Conclusion
When it comes to managing your Outlook data, there are a few different options available to you. If you want to merge multiple Outlook source PST files into a single file, you can do so manually or by using third-party software.
Both methods have their own advantages and disadvantages, so it’s important to choose the one that’s right for you. If you want a quick and easy solution, using third-party software is probably your best bet. However, if you don’t mind taking the time to do it yourself, manual merging can be a good option.
No matter which method you choose, consolidating your PST files can help you keep your Outlook data organized and make it easier to manage.