Numerous users are unable to open OST files if Outlook isn't working efficiently or the attached profile is unavailable. OST files are offline copies of mailbox data, and if disconnected from their original account, Outlook cannot access them. This frequently makes critical emails unavailable and causes frustration. Let us discuss efficient ways to open OST files in PDF and restore access to your email information.

Why Convert OST file to PDF format?

• PDF documents can be easily accessed on any operating system or device without Outlook or any email client.

• Conversion of OST emails to PDF produces solid backups of crucial emails and attachments for use in finance, law, or the workplace.

• PDF is a non-editable format that is safe, and since it maintains original content, it is perfect to share official or confidential data.

• PDFs are OS-independent, hence you can open your emails in Windows, Mac, Linux, and even cell phones.

• Your emails and their attachments can be saved together intact, retaining formatting, images, hyperlinks, and metadata.

• OST files rely on the original Outlook account for opening, but once converted into PDF, you can read your emails without Exchange or Outlook.

• Most software enables you to convert numerous OST files to PDF simultaneously, which saves effort and time for big mailboxes.

Keeping the advantages of OST file conversion to PDF in mind, let's examine the manual process you can attempt for opening orphaned OST files in PDF-even though it has some significant limitations.

#1. Convert OST to PDF- Manual Method

• Open Outlook and ensure that it is linked to the profile for your OST file.

• Go to the Mail section and select the email you wish to export into PDF.

• Click the File menu on top, then choose Print from the panel.

• In the Printer dropdown menu, select Microsoft Print to PDF as the printer.

• Press the Print button to initiate the export.

• Select a location to save the PDF, give it a file name, and select Save to complete.

Limitations of Manual Approach

1. Needs Outlook to be installed and the OST file to be associated with its original profile.

2. Saves only a single email at a time, rendering it inconvenient for bulk mailboxes or massive conversion.

3. Attachments are not necessarily exported along with the PDF, based on Outlook's print settings and version.

4. It does not convert orphaned, damaged, or inaccessible OST files because Outlook is unable to open them.

5. Manual process is tedious and labor-intensive, with higher chances of errors or lost emails.

6. There are no advanced options for filtering, batch processing, or maintaining folder structure and metadata.

#2. Smart Solution to Bulk Save OST file in PDF format with Attachments

MailsWare OST Converter Toolkit provides a simple means of OST file conversion to PDF, in both single and batch mode with a single click. This application maintains the original formatting of emails, attachments, and data integrity during the process. It operates separately from Outlook, so it's perfect if you don't have access to your Outlook account. Whether you want to convert a few emails or an entire mailbox, this converter offers a quick, reliable, and versatile solution for your OST to PDF requirements.

Key Steps to Change OST in PDF format

• Download and install the OST to PDF Converter on your system.

• Upload your Outlook OST files by selecting either the "Select Files" or "Select Folder" option for individual or batch upload.

• Navigate through the mailbox folders and select only those you wish to convert.

• Choose PDF as your saving option from the available options.

• Now, you can utilize the filter settings to implement advanced options, such as date range or specific criteria, for selective conversion.

• Set your desired destination folder, file naming customization, or save files to the source location.

Notable Features of OST Converter Toolkit

• The software is capable of automatically locating OST files from your set Outlook profile, and therefore you would not require finding the file path if Microsoft Outlook is already installed.

• Alternatively, you can also add OST files manually from any directory on your machine.

• Exports OST emails to PDF along with all the attachments, such as both normal and inline files.

• No Microsoft Outlook or Adobe Acrobat installation is required for running this software.

• It can perform bulk OST conversion to PDF with no limitation of file sizes.

Key Takeaways

Converting OST to PDF is an effective method to view your emails when Outlook or the original profile is not available. PDFs are easy to share or archive, open on any device, and maintain your email formatting and attachments. Manual processes have significant shortcomings, but committed OST to PDF converter utilities provide rapid, batch conversion without access to Outlook, allowing for easy retrieval and maintenance of your email records.