What is the easiest way to convert PST files into different formats?

PST files are primarily associated with Microsoft Outlook, but there are many situations where you may need the information stored inside them in a different format. For example, you might want to save emails as PDF for archival, EML for individual message handling, MBOX for another email application, or CSV when the goal is to analyze structured email information.

The main challenge is that a PST doesn't contain only emails. It can also include contacts, calendars, tasks, notes, journals, attachments, and custom folders. Therefore, choosing a converter that can handle the complete mailbox is more useful than using separate tools for different data types.

Before converting, I would first check whether the software supports batch processing. If you have multiple PST files, processing them individually can become time-consuming. It is also useful to have a preview option so you can inspect folders and attachments before selecting what should be converted.

SysInfo PST Converter supports adding single or multiple PST/OST files and provides output options including PST, MBOX, EML, MSG, PDF, CSV, PNG, JSON, DOCX, VCF, and ICS. It can also migrate PST data directly to platforms such as Office 365, Google Workspace, Gmail, and IMAP accounts.

Another useful feature is selective conversion. You may not always need the complete archive. The software provides date-range filtering and folder selection, allowing users to focus on particular mailbox data instead of converting everything. It also provides duplicate-email filtering based on fields such as To, From, Subject, Bcc, and Body.

Attachments and folder hierarchy are also important. When converting business mailboxes, losing the original organization can make the resulting data difficult to manage. The SysInfo tool states that it maintains the mailbox hierarchy and provides options for managing attachments separately or within the converted data.

A practical workflow would be to load the PST files, preview the required folders, apply date or duplicate filters, choose the destination format, and then begin the conversion. This gives you more control over the output and avoids creating unnecessary copies of data.

So, the easiest method isn't necessarily the one with the fewest clicks. A good PST converter should support multiple formats, batch processing, selective filters, attachments, and the different Outlook mailbox components you actually need.