Thursday, 16 September 2010

Converting PST files to Linux MBOX format

You want to upgrade from Outlook to Thunderbird and you've changed from Windows to Linux as a desktop. If you have control over a mail server running dovecot, you are in luck.

The tool that you need is the very handy libpst library, although if you run Kubuntu or Ubuntu then this is available on synaptic.

Simply export your Outlook mail into a pst file. Let's call the file mailBackup.pst. Now copy the file to your email server or linux desktop.

It is important to create a directory to work in because for each folder in the PST (Outlook) file, there will be a mbox file created with the same name. Cd into this directory and keep emailBackup.pst in the directory above it.

Now simply run:
   readpst ../emailBackup.pst

The Outlook file will be converted into a series of mbox files. If you run Dovecot, these can be put into your mail directory (be careful not to overwrite existing files!) and you will be able to access them with Thunderbird or your webmail software (I recommend horde).

You are also able to open mbox files in Thunderbird.
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28 comments:

  1. Stephen Lembert25 July 2012 at 10:34

    Use Stellar MBOX to PST Converter to convert mbox files of various email clients to Outlook PST. More info. is available here:
    http://www.stellaroutlooktools.com/scan/mbox-to-pst.php

    ReplyDelete
  2. dfgfdsgdfgsdfg12 November 2013 at 10:24

    No, don't use stellaroutlook crap - it's commercial closed source rubbish.

    Use the 'libpst' tools as mention in this article.

    Long live open source!

    ReplyDelete
  3. safetys25 July 2014 at 20:33

    Try MBOX to PST converter software. Free download or read the most important features of Products here
    http://mboxtopsttools.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Kaye R. Jenkins29 August 2014 at 07:13

    Here is world’s number one application (MBOX to PST Converter Tool) that can convert all Mailboxes of MBOX files to PST, MSG and EML format within few actions. Software provides reasonable and safe way for carrying out MBOX to Outlook Conversion procedure: -
    http://www.filesrecoverytool.com/mbox-to-pst-converter.html

    ReplyDelete
  5. Damian Higgins4 September 2014 at 11:54

    If you want to switch your important emails and other data of MBOX formatted mail client to Outlook PST format without losing ant data, then you should try to use a MBOX to PST Converter application to solve your problem. I would like to suggest you such a software named as MBOX to PST Converter. You can get more details along with a free trial from here: http://www.filesrepairtool.com/mbox-to-pst-converter.html/

    ReplyDelete
  6. Stanley D. Middleton15 September 2014 at 06:06

    Let me share another tool for your readers. it is very handy and easy to use. And does every job an email converter should.-- http://www.mboxtopstconverter.pcrecoverytools.com/

    ReplyDelete
  7. Markmohan30 September 2014 at 05:59

    Hello,
    There are some more effective and reliable third party software also present in Web that can easily convert MBOX to PST files, I would also like to suggest such a tool called Kernel for MBOX to PST Converter . You can download this software as a free trial from here http://www.mboxtopst.org/

    ReplyDelete
  8. johnbarker9 July 2015 at 10:18

    I would like to recommend freeware MBOX to PST converter tool that can convert OperaMail, Pocomail, Mozillamail, Spicebird, SeaMonkey, Mutt, ClawsMail, Entourage, Thunderbird, Turnpike, Apple Mail, Eudora, Mulberry, Netscape, Gnu Mail, Sylpheed, MailCopa, Berkeley, Earthlink, The BAT, Evolution, Cone, Chaso Intellect etc MBOX files to PST, MSG and EML formats.

    Here you can find more information: http://www.recoverfilesdownload.com/mbox-to-pst-converter.html

    ReplyDelete
  9. Michael McNally17 August 2015 at 21:58

    Did not work for me. I get a message, 1 items done, 1 items skipped. There is nothing but the original PST file in my folder, and nothing in the subfolder created as outlined above.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Richard Wright31 August 2015 at 08:27

    Using third party mbox to pst conversion tool you can instantly convert Apple mail mbox file to MS Outlook pst file successfully. To know more about:- http://www.mannatsoftware.com/stellar-phoenix-mbox-to-pst-converter.html

    ReplyDelete
  11. Jake orton2 October 2015 at 17:21

    I would also like to suggest here another tool, which is well known as MBOX to PST Converter. You can download a free download of this software from here... http://www.mozesoft.com/mbox-to-pst-converter.html or https://softcart.wordpress.com/mbox-to-pst-converter-software/

    ReplyDelete
  12. paulspmiths13 January 2016 at 07:51

    MBOX to PST Converter is an apt utility for migration from Eudora to Outlook PST files. It allows simple access to all the mailboxes by importing these files.

    Read more:- http://www.softmagnat.com/mbox-to-pst-converter.html

    ReplyDelete
  13. Olaf Burch15 May 2016 at 13:19

    Yes, MBOX to PST Converter is the best third party email conversion tool which makes the easy and secures this complicated email migration process. Most of the users avoid email migration due to data loss and modified message text formatting. But this tool clears your all doubts by providing outstanding result. To know more about tool, visit https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-convert-mbox-pst-file-ms-outlook-puneet-bhatt

    ReplyDelete
  14. sandra diaz28 July 2016 at 12:33

    Since Converting MBOX file to PST file is quite tedious and time consuming task, but can be done easily with the help of third party tool. There are multiple Software available near you, but the problem is how to use them, so I would like to suggest you one of the best tool to convert MBOX file to PST within minutes. Go with SysTools MBOX to Outlook Converter for safe and efficient conversion
    Try here: https://www.systoolsgroup.com/mbox-to-outlook-converter.html

    ReplyDelete
  15. Andrew Condon6 September 2016 at 21:40

    Addition:

    PST Extractor Pro - http://www.uslsoftware.com/pst-to-mbox-converter-free-trial/

    ReplyDelete
  16. Sahil Verma24 December 2016 at 19:55

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Sahil Verma24 December 2016 at 19:56

    To convert PST to MBOX one need to use third party converter for this type of conversions. As there are many converter available one have a plenty of converter to go with and choose the best suitable for them.

    For best migration tool for this type of conversion read at:

    http://sahilsmlin.blogspot.in/2016/12/convert-pst-to-mbox-for-mac.html

    ReplyDelete
  18. Oki Erie Rinaldi6 March 2017 at 06:56

    If you can have it for free, why do you have to pay for the same thing?
    `readpst` is enough to do this.
    I recommend Roundcube for webmail client.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Bella Simpson17 March 2017 at 11:53

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Bella Simpson17 March 2017 at 11:56

    For converting Outlook PST files to MBOX, you can give a try to PST Exporter tool. This utility provides easy and instant migration of PST files to MBOX with all the details accurately saved.

    More information is available at :
    http://www.downloadtechtools.com/pst-to-mbox.html

    ReplyDelete
  21. willsion will25 April 2017 at 07:53

    You can convert and transfer EML in Outlook PST file type, by just take help of this EML 2 PST Conversion Software. It is handy to operate in all Windows OS plus has secured algorithm for conversion process. Please visit our website http://www.osttopstapp.com/eml-to-pst.html

    ReplyDelete
  22. Abrienne Jonethan19 February 2018 at 08:47

    Read this article to import PST file into MBOX,
    https://sysinfotools.com/blog/export-outlook-emails-to-thunderbird/

    ReplyDelete
  23. Robin Thapa27 November 2018 at 13:28

    Nowadays, many tools are available on the internet which helps you convert MBOX file into Outlook PST. You can also check third-party software which helps you convert MBOX files into multiple formats like PST, EML, MSG, HTML. This tool also exports MBOX file to Office 365 and Live Exchange Server.
    Read More: http://www.bitdataconversion.com/mbox-to-pst-converter.html

    ReplyDelete
  24. taramalik1 January 2019 at 12:42

    PST is a common file format of MS Outlook for Windows. It is not supported by apple mail or any other email clients . If you are looking to access your MS Outlook database to Thunderbird or any other email clients, then you need a MAC PST to MBOX Converter for this Conversion. This tool helps to export all your data in pst format.
    You can easily install this app in your Mac. Try free demo version of this tool to know about its working , after assurance you can go for paid one, which has many advanced features.
    For more details :- https://www.toolscrunch.com/mac-pst-to-mbox-converter.html

    ReplyDelete
  25. Anil Kr. D26 April 2019 at 09:52

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Anil Kr. D26 April 2019 at 09:55

    Download free evaluation version to convert MBOX file to PST file type. This is easy to use solution that provides multiple conversion options.

    Visit: http://www.axblaze.com/products/mboxtopst-converter.html

    ReplyDelete
  27. Tracy Miller22 May 2019 at 07:17

    Try this effortless solution named ZOOK PST to MBOX Converter for perfect MBOX to PST conversion. It allows you to migrate Outlook PST data items into MBOX format without losing any data items.

    For More Info visit: - https://www.zooksoftware.com/ost-to-pst/

    ReplyDelete
  28. Unknown26 November 2019 at 07:24

    You posted good content about converting PST files to Linux MBOX format. Let me share another tool for your readers. it is very handy and easy to use like Convert MBOX to PST.

    ReplyDelete

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