How to Open PST File in Apple Mail with Attachments?

  author
Sophia
Published: Aug 2, 2024 • 6 Minutes Reading

Mac Mail is the preferred email client for many Mac users, while Outlook remains a popular choice for managing emails, contacts, and schedules. Many users look for ways to import Outlook PST files into Mac Mail due to various needs and reasons.

In this article, we provide quick and effective solutions to import PST files into Mac Mail easily and securely. Outlook can crash due to various reasons like malware attacks, improper system termination, and cyber-attacks. If you need to back up your data to another reliable email program like Mac Mail, the process can be challenging due to the different file formats used by Outlook and Mac Mail.

To simplify this conversion process, our article offers result-oriented approaches to open PST File in Apple Mail with attachments.

Table of Contents Hide

Prominent Reasons to Open PST File in Apple Mail

  • Switch from Windows to Mac: One essential aspect of this transition is migrating Outlook email, contacts, and calendar information to the Mac’s native email client, Apple Mail. Users find it necessary to move their Outlook data to smoothly continue their email management on the new operating system.
  • Data Backup: By transferring emails, contacts, and calendar information from Outlook to Mac Mail, users create a secondary copy of their essential data.This backup helps protect against data loss due to hardware failures, software issues, or accidental deletions.
  • PST File Corruption: When an Outlook PST file becomes corrupted or inaccessible, importing it into Mac Mail can potentially recover valuable email data. By converting the PST file to Mac Mail, users may recover lost emails, contacts, and calendar information that would otherwise be unrecoverable.
  • Accessing Data on Multiple Devices: Many users require access to their email, contacts, and calendar information from both their Windows PC and Mac devices. By importing Outlook data into Mac Mail, individuals can smoothly synchronize their information and access it conveniently across different platforms.
  • Preference for Mac Mail: Many people find Mac Mail’s user interface and features to be more instinctive and efficient than Outlook’s. The choice of an email client often depends on personal workflow and aesthetic preferences. Some users might just favor the overall experience that Mac Mail provides.
  • Free Email Client: Mac Mail comes pre-installed, so there’s no need for an additional purchase. Users can manage their emails without any extra costs for email management software
  • Data Security: Mac Mail provides strong security measures to protect sensitive email information. This provides users with an extra layer of security against potential threats, ensuring their data remains confidential.

How to open PST File in Apple Mail Manually?

1 – Open Outlook Email Program on your Mac.
2 – Then, go to File -> Import.
3 – Select Outlook Data Files (.pst or .olm) and click Continue.
4 – Choose Outlook for Windows Data File (.pst) and click the forward arrow.
5 – Browse and select your PST file, then click Import.
6 – Once import is complete, click Done.
7 – Drag the imported PST folder from Outlook to your Mac desktop. This will convert it to MBOX format.
8 – Open Apple Mail and go to File -> Import Mailboxes.
9 – Select Files in mbox format, then click Continue.
10 – Choose the converted MBOX file and click Import

Challenges in Opening PST File in Apple Mail Manually

While it’s technically possible to import PST files into Apple Mail, it’s not a straightforward process.The manual method is lengthy and complex, requiring significant technical expertise to complete. Here’s why

  • Direct Import Not Supported: Apple Mail doesn’t directly support importing PST files. This means you’ll need to convert the PST file to a compatible format before importing.
  • Data Loss Potential: Manual conversion methods might result in data loss or corruption, especially for large PST files.
  • Time-Consuming: The conversion and import process can be time-consuming, particularly for large PST files with numerous emails, contacts, and other data.
  • Attachment Issues: Some attachment types might not transfer correctly during the conversion process, leading to missing or corrupted attachments in Apple Mail.
  • Email Structure: The structure of folders and emails in PST and MBOX formats (commonly used for conversion) can differ, potentially affecting the organization of your data in Apple Mail.

Helpful Tip

Online PST Viewer – A Hassle-Free Solution. To simplify things for users, we offers a quick and easy way to access your Outlook data without requiring additional software or email clients. Simply select your PST file to the online platform and instantly view its contents.

Users just need to follow the below mentioned 3 simple steps:

  1. Go to the online solutions webpage and click on the “Select Files” button to choose PST files.
  2. Browse for the PST files on your local system storage and select them to get the preview of all data.
  3. Now, click on the particular email message to access its contents, scroll down, and click on the attachment to download it to your system.
The Online PST Viewer prioritizes the utmost security of your personal data. Unlike other solutions that require you to upload sensitive information to remote servers, our tool allows you to access and view your PST files directly within your web browser. This eliminates the risk of data breaches and ensures that your private information remains under your complete control. Users can effortlessly view emails, contacts, calendars, and attachments without compromising data security, as the tool processes files locally. Its user-friendly interface ensures easy navigation, while, it supports for both ANSI and UNICODE PST file formats ensures wide-ranging usability. 

As an alternative, for users who prefer offline software for enhanced privacy, faster processing, and additional features, we recommend the MacUncle PST File Converter. This tool offers complete control over data, uninterrupted access, and greater stability, supporting a wide range of file formats and more customization options compared to online alternatives. Verified by experts and highly recommended for both personal and professional use, it allows Microsoft Outlook users to effortlessly export all data from PST files to over 16+ different file formats, with unlimited usage for all available export options.

Additionally, for Windows, we recommend the expert-approved BitRecover PST File Converter. This professional software enables users to convert their PST files into over 30+ common file formats and directly import them into their preferred email clients. The tool preserves the original header properties and folder structure of the PST files during the conversion process.

open PST file in Apple Mail

Also Read: How to Open PST File in Thunderbird with Attachments?

Conclusion

Successfully transferring your Outlook data to Mac Mail is now more accessible than ever. By understanding the challenges of manual conversion and exploring both online and offline solutions, you can choose the method that best suits your needs. Whether you opt for the convenience of an online viewer or the control of a dedicated conversion tool, you can confidently migrate your PST files without losing valuable data.

Remember, selecting the right approach depends on factors like file size, data sensitivity, and personal preference. By carefully considering these factors, you can ensure a smooth transition to Mac Mail and optimize your email management experience.