How Do I Import A PST File into Zimbra Mail Server? – Get Instant Approach

Sarabjeet Kaur | outlook pst software technology | 5 minutes read | Modified on: 22-05-2025
how do i import a pst file into zimbra mail server

“I am facing various challenges while conversing from PST to Zimbra. Can anyone guide me on how to import Outlook PST file to Zimbra Mail? I’m unsure of the correct process.”

“How do I import a PST file into Zimbra Mail Server? Is there any method available within the Zimbra client?”

These are common questions regularly seen in forum discussions. Many users experience frustration when attempting to move emails from PST to Zimbra.

But no need to worry anymore there’s a simple and direct solution. You can easily import PST files into Zimbra Webmail or the Zimbra Desktop Client using an amazing application.

This write-up will guide you on how to convert Outlook email to Zimbra Mail, enabling you to effortlessly migrate your Outlook mailbox database to Zimbra Desktop client. Let’s dive into the best methods.

Key Reasons to Import PST to Zimbra Webmail

There are various reasons why users choose to import PST files into their Zimbra Webmail accounts. As web-based email clients continue to grow in popularity, Zimbra stands out due to its powerful features and user-centric design. Here are some of the main reasons behind the migration:

  • Zimbra’s calendar feature streamlines team coordination, making it easier to manage project deadlines, set appointments, and stay on top of tasks. It’s especially useful for organizations relying on shared schedules.
  • Zimbra Webmail offers powerful tools for organizing, filtering, and deleting emails. Its advanced spam filter system efficiently detects and eliminates suspicious messages. With customizable spam settings, users can significantly reduce time wasted on managing unwanted emails.
  • Zimbra Webmail offers document storage functionality, enabling users to store and access essential files from any location. This cloud-based storage promotes seamless collaboration and remote work efficiency.
  • Zimbra Mail Desktop Client includes a built-in email backup feature that allows users to safeguard important messages. Users can configure the backup frequency according to their needs, ensuring that no crucial data is lost.

Dual Techniques to Import PST to Zimbra Mail Server

Now that you understand the benefits of moving your Outlook emails to Zimbra, the next step is learning how to make the switch. There are dual main approaches to importing Outlook PST files into Zimbra Mail: manual method and automated tool. In this section, we’ll walk you through two do-it-yourself methods which permits you to perform the PST to Zimbra migration without any trouble.

Let’s explore both methods and see which one suits your requirements best.   

Solution 1- Manual Way to Import A PST File into Zimbra Mail Server

#1: Export Calendar from MS Outlook

  1. Run Microsoft Outlook on your Windows system.
  2. Navigate to the Calendar you want to export.
  3. Click the File tab in the top menu.
  4. Select Save Calendar from the dropdown options.
  5. Choose a destination folder to save the file and enter a name for the calendar under the File Name field.
  6. A summary window will appear showing details like Date Range and Calendar Name. If the default settings are fine, skip to Step 7. If you want to customize the export, click on More Options.
  7. In the More Options section, set a specific Date Range if needed.
  8. Press OK, then hit Save to export the calendar as an .ics (iCalendar) file.

Now that you have the .ics file, it’s time to import it into Zimbra Desktop.

Step 2: Import the ICS Calendar File into Zimbra Desktop

  • Open the Zimbra Desktop application.
  • Click on the Preferences tab at the top.
  • In the left panel, select Import/Export.
  • Under the Import section, click Browse and locate the ICS file you exported from Outlook.
  • Choose whether to import the calendar into a new calendar folder or an existing one.
  • Click OK, then hit the Import button.
  • Once the import completes, click OK to finish.

Your Outlook calendar events are now successfully imported into Zimbra Desktop.

Manual Method- Limitations

  • Only one calendar can be imported at a time.
  • Recurring events or reminders may not work correctly.
  • No automatic sync changes in Outlook won’t update in Zimbra.
  • Must be done on a Windows PC with Outlook installed.
  • Some calendar formatting or details may be lost during transfer.

Solution 2- How to Import Outlook PST File to Zimbra Mail Using Professional Outlook to Zimbra Converter

The BitData Migration PST Converter offers a smart, secure, and user-friendly solution for users looking to import PST files into the Zimbra Mail Client. This powerful PST to TGZ Converter enables the smooth export of all Outlook data including emails, contacts, calendars, tasks, journals, notes, and attachments into Zimbra-supported TGZ file format.

Direct Steps for How Do I Import A PST File into Zimbra Mail Server

  1. Download the Outlook to TGZ Converter on your operating system.
  2. Press on “Add Files” or “Add Folders” option to upload the Outlook PST files/folder you wish to convert into the Zimbra (TGZ) file format.
  3. Once the files are loaded, a Preview option will be available. This enables you to view the certain PST files or folders. Select the files you need to import and press the Export tab to continue.
  4. After ticking Export, a new window will pop up with various output options. Pick Zimbra as the saving file type, and apply any related options as needed. Choose the destination path and hit on the Convert to proceed.
  5. The program will finish the conversion task in a few seconds. Once the conversion is done, a dialog box will appear with a “Conversion Successful” message.

Additional Features of PST to Zimbra Migration Tool

  • Complete Folder Structure Preservation: Maintains the original hierarchy of folders during the migration process.
  • 100% Data Integrity: Ensures no data loss or corruption while converting even large PST files.
  • Preview Before Migration: Allows users to preview PST file content and selectively export desired items.
  • Supports All PST Types: Compatible with both ANSI and Unicode PST files.
  • User-Friendly Interface: Simple, intuitive UI that requires no technical expertise ideal for both novice and home users.
  • Wide Compatibility: Works with all Microsoft Outlook versions and is fully compatible with Windows & macOS editions.

A free demo edition is available that lets users export a limited number of items per folder to test functionality before purchasing the license version.

Final Verdict

Considering the user’s need to import Outlook PST file to Zimbra Mail Server, this blog post outlined a manual method to migrate emails from PST to Zimbra Desktop. However, this approach requires the Outlook program, making it less convenient for users without Outlook installed.

To overcome this limitation, we also introduced an expert way using PST to Zimbra Tool. The key advantage of this utility is that it allows users to perform the conversion without requiring the Microsoft Outlook program. It only needs the PST file to extract and convert calendar or contact data into a Zimbra-supported format, making the process faster and more reliable.