How to import PST to Office 365 - Step By Step Guide - Pdf Slider

Summary: Migration into Office 365 sometimes causes problems, and to overcome them, along with running the migration safely, choosing the right solution is imperative. In this blog, we will guide you to import PST to Office 365 using the manual as well as the third-party migration solution.

PST is an Outlook data file that holds the data of Outlook users. Users can access their data without an internet connection through the PST file. However, there will always be the risk of losing data due to corruption in the file and due to various other reasons. Apart from it, if you want to migrate towards Office 365 and access older data, you need a solution to import PST to your Office 365 account. Finding a reliable solution is not more accessible, and taking the wrong approach will cost you adversely.

To make the migration approachable, we will elaborate on certain strategies that will help users to complete the import of the PST files into their Office365 mailboxes.

Pre-requisites before importing PST files to Office 365

There are different ways to import PST to Office 365, but before approaching them, there are particular prerequisites that need to follow. So we have prepared a list of some of them which are essential to fulfill before opting for the solution.

• Make sure to assign the Mailbox import export role in order to start importing the PST files in Exchange online compliance portal. By default, no roles are assigned, so you assign them first before importing the PST files.
• Apart from the Mailbox Import export role, you also require to Mail Recipient role. This role is basically assigned to the Recipient management role in Exchange Online.
• You need to have the AzCopy tool to import PST to Office 365, as with the help of Azure Explorer; there is no possibility to move data.
• Recommended size to upload PST files is up to 20GB because the large size file may impact the overall process. 

Note: Kindly complete the above-listed requirements to be able to migrate PST to Office 365 account. If not, then applying the listed migration strategy is impossible. 

What are the Methods to Import PST into Office 365?

After attaining the knowledge necessary before beginning the process to import PST to Office 365, now we’ll list the strategies which you can follow.

Step: 1 Downloading AzCopy Tool & Save the SAS URL 

• Click here to sign in with the credential of an Admin in order to visit the Exchange Online compliance portal.
• Now go to the data lifecycle management, which is available on the left side menu of the compliance portal. After that, choose Microsoft 365>Microsoft 365>Import. Please make sure to have Import access permission.
• Now you must click the New + sign to start the new Import job. Mention the name of the Import job. Make sure to include small letters, numbers, underscore, and hyphens.
• After that, a new window will approach: Do you want to upload or ship the data? Kindly choose to upload your data and click on Next.
• A new window will open, and you need to choose several options. First, click on Show Import SAS URL, and you need to save the key. Also, click on download to save the Azure AzCopy tool, which is executable without the installation.

Step: 2 Moving PST files into Office 365

It’s time to import PST to Office 365 with the help of the Azure AzCopy tool. This will save the PST files in the Azure storage, which is present in Office 365.

• Open the Cmdlet or a command prompt, and then reach out to the directories where you have saved the AzCopy tool.
• Start following the below-shared command to start uploading the PST files to Office 365.

Azcopy.exe copy "< PST files location>" "<SAS URL>"

Once you will be able to follow the shared procedure, then can move the PST file. After importing the files, you will also get confirmation about the same.

Step: 3 Creation of PST file Import Mapping List

After moving the PST to an Azure storage location, you will be required to form the CSV file containing the list of mailboxes of users where you need to import the PST file. 

Step: 4 Create PST Import Job

• Go to the login page of the compliance portal and sign in through the admin credential.
• Again go to the Data lifecycle management> Microsoft 365>Import.
• Click on the + new import role.
• Provide the name for the Import job, and in the upload, your data or ship, kindly choose to upload your data files and click on Next.
• On the subsequent page, make sure to click on I’m done uploading the files and have access to the mapping file.
• In the Select the Mapping file, click on the select file button to upload the CSV file.
• Once done, also click on validate to check for any errors.
• After completing the validation process, click on the checkbox stating the terms and conditions.
• Kindly click on Save and then on the Close button.

Step: 5 Filter data and start the Import job

• Visit the Import from the compliance portal and check the import job which you have already created and also click on Import to Office 365.
• Now the filters your data wizard will appear where you have two open whether to filter the data or not. Choose accordingly.
• If you do not wish to filter the data, select import data to initiate the process.

Later on, you can quickly check out the live status of the import job by visiting the Import PST file page. 

This method we have explained to migrate PST to Office 365 has a few downsides. It requires sound technical knowledge to implement all the listed steps and consumes time to accomplish the job. So it will be better to look at the alternative approach. Now it’s time to move with our second approach, where we will explain their features and methodology to move PST.

Also, Read How to Migrate Email from G Suite to Office 365 Using Manual and Professional Method

Quicker Way to upload PST files into Office 365

We have explored the manual solution to import PST to Office 365 with the help of the network upload method. Due to the high complexity involved in them, we suggest users also look for an alternative solution. Third-party software is an excellent example of it that can help you import PST files in less time. 

Shoviv PST to Office 365 migration tool allows us to tackle the migration a lot easier because it offers better control of the overall import process. This will enable users to add on multiple PSTs of any size. It comes with an easy-to-use GUI that enables users to set up the import process easily and quickly. 

The software allows customizing the process with the help of its data filtration options. Users can choose to apply the given criteria as per their needs. Also, the user can use the folder mapping facility to make the correct data move. It also offers an incremental export option that the user can apply, and it's beneficial if they need to complete the process in a few days. However, after using it, the tool will only import the remaining data when the user resumes the import.

The process to Import PST files Using the software

• Once you open the software, click on Add PST files option.

• Select the healthy PST files option and add and load up the required files into the software. Now click on Next.

• Quickly review the added data into the software. After that, click on Office 365.

Also, Read the Best and most Secure way to Migrate GroupWise to Office 365