How to Convert Outlook PST to MSG without Outlook? – Dual Methods

Sarabjeet Kaur | outlook pst software technology | 5 minutes read | Modified on: 27-05-2025

Microsoft Outlook stores its complete data such as emails, contacts, notes, attachments, tasks, and more in PST (Personal Storage Table) format. A PST file can contain both important and unnecessary mails, so users sometimes prefer to convert Outlook PST to MSG format to extract and keep only specific, crucial email messages. MSG files allow for better organization by isolating individual email messages.

Both PST and MSG are native file formats utilized by Microsoft Outlook. When exporting an entire Outlook profile, including contacts, emails, calendars, journals, tasks, notes, and to-do lists, Outlook generates a PST file type. However, when a single email is exported, Outlook saves it as an MSG file type.

Difference between PST and MSG Files

Feature	PST File	MSG File
Full Form	Personal Storage Table	Message
File Extension	.pst	.msg
Utilized for	Saving entire Outlook database	Storing single email message
Data Contained	Tasks, Emails, Notes, Contacts, etc.	Single message with its attachments and metadata
Compatibility	Converting or backing up complete MS Outlook profile	Sharing or archiving particular email message
Creation Process	Exported through Outlook’s Import/Export feature	Drag & drop ore save as from Microsoft Outlook
Scope	Whole Outlook folders or mailbox data	One message at once

However, Outlook MSG files are not suitable for backing up entire Outlook mailboxes. They can only save individual items i.e. emails, notes, contacts, etc. as separate files. Now, let’s explore the techniques to convert Outlook PST to MSG without Outlook.

Manual Solution to Convert PST File to MSG File

In this blog post, we will cover two effective manual approaches to convert PST files to MSG files completely free of cost. These methods allow you to extract individual emails from a PST file and save them as separate MSG files. Before proceeding, be sure to review the requirements.

Requirements:

Microsoft Outlook must be installed on your PC.

Ensure that the PST file is accessible and contains emails organized in folders.

Stage1- Import PST File into MS Outlook

Install and open MS Outlook on your computer. Click on the File tab from the top menu. Pick Open & Export, then choose Import/Export.

In the Import/Export Wizard, pick Import from another program or file and tap Next.

Choose Outlook Data File (.pst) and click Next.

Click Browse to locate and select the PST file from your system, then click Next.

Pick the folder where you wish to import the data (either the same folder or a new one).

Tick Finish to complete the import procedure.

Stage2: Convert PST Emails to MSG Using Drag & Drop

Open Microsoft Outlook and navigate to the PST folder containing the emails.
Hold the CTRL key and opt for the emails you want to convert.
Make a new folder on your desktop to save the MSG files.
Drag & drop the selected emails from Outlook into the newly created desktop folder.
Open the desktop folder and you’ll see the selected emails saved as individual .msg files.

Drawbacks of Using Free Manual Way

As previously mentioned, the manual process of converting PST to MSG involves two distinct phases. While it is cost-effective, it comes with several drawbacks that users should be aware of:

Requires Outlook– You must have MS Outlook installed on your system to perform the conversion. Without it, the process cannot begin.

Limited to Individual File Conversion– The manual method allows conversion of only one PST file at a time and extracts emails individually. It’s not ideal for converting multiple PST files in bulk.

Time-Consuming– Manually selecting and dragging emails is a slow and repetitive process, especially when dealing with a large number of messages.

Requires Technical Knowledge– Users need to be familiar with Outlook’s interface and options to complete the conversion successfully.

Risk of Data Loss– There is always a potential risk of data being missed, overwritten, or lost during the manual extraction and conversion process.

A Professional Solution to Convert PST Files to MSG Format

For a more efficient and accurate PST to MSG conversion, the BitData Migration PST Converter Tool offers a top-notch alternative to the manual method. This robust PST to MSG Converter allows users to convert Outlook files to MSG, PDF, EML, MBOX, HTML, DOC, RTF, CSV, IMAP, Office 365, Exchange Server, Gmail, Windows Live Mail, Thunderbird, Outlook.com, Windows Live Mail, JPEG, PNG, TIFF, BMP, SVG, Yahoo, and several other file formats with ease.

Windows
Mac

Additional Features of Using PST to MSG Converter Tool

Supports Multiple Formats: Convert PST files not only to MSG but also to MBOX and other widely-used formats.
Email Client Migration: Easily migrate PST to Thunderbird and other email clients.
No Outlook Required: Perform conversions without needing Microsoft Outlook installed.
Maintains Data Integrity: Ensures accurate conversion without any loss or corruption of data.
User-Friendly Interface: Designed with advanced features for a smooth and enhanced user experience.
Free Demo Available: Test the software’s performance by downloading the free trial version.
Wide Compatibility: Fully compatible with all versions of Windows OS.

Step-By-Step Guide for How to Convert Outlook PST to MSG without Outlook Application

Open the Outlook Converter on your system.
Tap on “Select File(s)” or “Select Folder (s)” to load the PST files you wish to convert.
Once the files are loaded, you can preview the email data, including attachments, to ensure accuracy.
Hit on “Export” and choose MSG as the desired output format.
Specify the destination folder where the converted MSG files will be saved.
Apply filters such as date range to convert specific emails.
Click on “Convert” to begin the conversion process.
Once the conversion is complete, navigate to the specified destination folder to access your MSG files.

Quick Note: The demo edition of the Outlook to MSG Converter allows you to test its features before making a purchase. You can convert a limited number of Outlook emails to MSG format to evaluate the software’s performance and ease of use. This helps you ensure the tool meets your requirements without any cost.

Last Lines

By now, it should be clear that converting PST files to MSG format is achievable whether or not you have the Outlook desktop client installed. In this write-up, we’ve outlined two effective methods to accomplish this: a manual approach for users familiar with Outlook and a third-party tool for a faster, more user-friendly experience.

While the manual method is cost-free, it requires time, technical know-how, and MS Outlook installation. On the other hand, the powerful PST to MSG Conversion Tool is ideal for novice users and ensures fast, accurate, and hassle-free conversion without the risk of data loss.

To save your precious time as well as effort, choose the method that best suits your needs. We hope this guide has helped you successfully fix your query.