How to Transfer PST Files into Gmail? Best Approaches

Summary: Are you searching for a solution to transfer PST files into Gmail? If yes, then now your searching ends. Here, we are going to explain the most effective ways to import PST files to Gmail. And also, discuss why we need to move PST files into Gmail. So, let’s start with a brief overview of PST and Gmail.

PST stands for Personal Storage Table. It is an Outlook data file that is created by MS Outlook on the system. The PST file stores email, contacts, notes, calendar events and other items from Outlook. The PST files are utilized to store archived data items in Outlook locally on your system. So, it is important to migrate PST files to Gmail safely and securely.

Gmail is the most widely used email client all over the world. With the help of Gmail mailbox, you can access Google calendar, contacts, sheets, docs and much more. Moreover, Gmail is an online app so you can access your data at any time on any device. Before starting the methods, we will discuss the reasons to import the PST files to Gmail.

Reasons to Transfer PST Files into Gmail

Gmail is a powerful email client while comparing with Outlook. Because It offers the universal availability of the database. There are several reasons why you need to move PST files into Gmail.

(i) Gmail provides large space to store crucial emails. On the other hand PST also tends to have a large space but these files are prone to corruption.

(ii) Generally Gmail is free and easy to use as compared to Outlook.

(iii) Gmail enables you to use various apps with a single Gmail ID.

(iv) The system includes a chat messenger that is used to chat using its amazing stickers.

(v) Gmail can be accessed through any device at any time. It does not depend on time and place.

How to Transfer PST Files into Gmail?

Many users have PST files but they want to migrate these files to Gmail. So, here we explain simple and effective methods to move PST files to Gmail. First, we discuss the manual method and after that automated method.

1. Manual method

2. Alternative method

Manual Method to Transfer PST Files to Gmail

Manual method contains two steps- Modify your Gmail account settings and Configure Gmail in Outlook.

Step 1: Modify Gmail Account Settings

• Firstly, Login your Gmail account and click on the gear icon on the top right
• Now, click on Settings
• Then under Settings, Click on Forwarding and POP/IMAP option
• In the IMAP Access section, Enable IMAP
• After that click on Save Changes
• At last, Open URL - less secure apps. And select Turn On option for less secure apps.
  
  

Step 2: Configure Gmail in Outlook

After promoting the first step successfully, we configure your Gmail account in MS Outlook.

• Firstly launch the Outlook 
• Now go to File menu and click on Add Account
• Enter the Email ID and press on Connect
• Put the password and click on Connect again
• Now Outlook will notify you for successful configuration of your Gmail account. Then, Click on Done to finish the process
  
  

Limitation of Manual Method

• Manual method is a lengthy process, so it is time consuming.
• You must have technical knowledge to transfer PST files into Gmail.
• The method requires Outlook installation in your system
• In the manual method there may be a chance of data loss.
  
  

Expert Solution to Transfer PST Files into Gmail

As the manual method to import PST file to Gmail requires MS Outlook to perform the task and there are many other limitations. Thus, we recommend you take help of alternative methods. SysTools PST Converter Tool directly converts emails, contacts, calendars, from Outlook PST to Gmail without any long procedure. The tool is capable enough to transfer PST files into Gmail without Outlook. 

Moreover, you can move PST files into multiple Gmail accounts at one click without any error.  The tool also enables you to preview PST files into multiple advanced preview modes. The software also allows you to perform selective data migration. The software supports migrating PST files of all Outlook versions.

Key Features of the Tool

In the Gmail Export options windows, you get the following options to enable and disable as per your needs.

• Create Empty Folders - The option provides offer you to disable the availability of create empty folders in Gmail
• Include Email Headers - if your email message contain email headers, you can easily remove it before the import process using this option 
• Backup Folder Name - This option provide you to change the name of your imported PST file
• Backup Email Address & Password - You need to enter your Gmail account id and password to transfer the PST files into Gmail directly
• Append into Default Folder - Using this option, you can directly move the PST files into Gmail created folder
  
  

Steps to Transfer PST Files into Gmail Without Outlook

• First of all, Download and Run the tool on your system and click on Open button
• Now Select Email Data Files and click on Outlook PST option
• Then, select a file from folder and browse the stored PST files
• Then, select the email to get a Preview tab. After that select the options in Preview tab to get a PST message preview
• Now go to Export option and Select Gmail from drop down menu
• Finally, select Save button in the Gmail Export option to start the process
  
  

Conclusion

In this article we discussed two methods to transfer PST files into Gmail. Although manual methods to migrate PST files are free of cost, there are some drawbacks. It is, therefore, best for you to use a professional method to import PST files to Gmail.