How to Move PST File in Archive Mailbox? Step-By-Step Guide

Having problems managing your PST file? Why not store it in an archive mailbox? So, here I am to help you in this situation. In this article, I will explain how to import PST files to archive mailboxes in Office 365. So, read the complete guide.

Know About PST File

Everybody knows that the PST file (Personal Storage Table) is an Outlook data file. A file that is solely created to store MS Outlook data. Here, you can store any kind of data, including emails, contacts, calendars, tasks, and other Outlook-related items. Normally, this file is used to locally store your data. But, there can be some reason where saving them in local storage is not possible. Thus, moving them to the archive mailbox will be a great solution. But, what exactly is the archive mailbox?

Usually, all the day-to-day data of your data is stored in the primary mailbox. This mailbox contains crucial data, less important data, old data, and new data. So, managing them is very difficult. For this reason, Microsoft offers archive mailbox, a place where you can move your data from your primary mailbox to an additional mailbox, i.e., Archive Mailbox. The main purpose of this is to keep or hold your data for a longer period of time.

In this, you can move data that you don’t need right now, but in the future, you may require access to data. So, if you want to archive your PST file in the archive mailbox. We have methods that you can use.

Note: In-Place Archive Mailbox vs. Archive Folder

In-Place Archive Mailbox is a an additional storage mailbox that appears along side the primary mailbox. By enabling In-Place Archive mailbox and setting up required retention policies, your email data automatically moves in Archive mailbox. Which helps you keep your regular mailbox clutter free.

On the other hand Archive folder is a standard folder which appearers within the mailbox, and is created by default. It is not a seperate mailbox, but a virtual folder used to organized the data within same mailbox. Offering a logical seperation using folder strucutre.

Prerequisite of Importing PST to Archive Mailbox

Before going through the steps to move your file to the archive mailbox. Make sure of certain permissions you must fulfil.

• Enable the Archive Mailbox. Ensure that your archive mailbox is activated for the user account. So that they can easily import the PST file.
• Prepare your PST file; it must be stored in a location that you can easily access during the procedure.
• In one of the methods, you need an Outlook application. So, make sure you have it installed on your device.
• Ensure that you have sufficient permissions to access and modify the archive mailbox.

After that, I am going to share with you all the possible ways to move the PST file in the Archive mailbox.

Import PST File in Archive Mailbox Using Network Upload Method

The easiest way to import the PST file is the Network Upload technique. Here, we are going to directly upload the file using Microsoft Purview Compliance Center. Then, you can easily move it to the archive mailbox. To know how to do it, follow the steps below.

1. Log in to the Microsoft Purview Compliance Center, check if there is an import section in the Information Governance section or not.
2. Then, click on the Start new PST import job. Follow the instructions to create a SAS URL.
3. After that, download AzCopy from the official site.
4. Open the AzCopy on your device, and start uploading the PST file by this command: azcopy copy “actual location path of your PST file” “SAS_URL” –recursive.
5. After opening your file in Azure. Go to the Compliance Center. Then, click on Create a PST import mapping file.
6. Select your user mailboxes and archive mailboxes. Also, add the email address and the location of your PST where you want your files.
7. Once you create the mapping file, download it and review it.
8. Again, in Purview Compliance Center, click New import job.
9. Properly follow the instructions to import the mapping file. Also, select the PST file.
10. Confirm the settings and hit the Start import button.

Now, your PST file will import the archive mailbox according to the mapping file. So, wait till it is done. The above method can work in moving your file if it is smaller in size. If you have a large PST file, then it would be easy to use the next method.

Import PST to Archive Mailbox with Drive Shipping

To import a large PST file, drive shipping is a nice option. To do this, follow the steps below.

1. First, create a folder in your local drive for your PST file that you want to import.
2. Make sure that you check any necessary PST file. Once everything is fine, prepare your hard drive.
3. Ensure that your hard drive is encrypted to ensure your data is protected while you ship it.
4. Also, move the folder to a spacious hard drive for a smooth process.
5. In your Microsoft Purview Compliance portal, go to the Import section.
6. Select the Drive Shipping option. Then, follow the instructions to provide the required details such as how many drives you want to ship and the size of the PST file.
7. Also, provide the shipping address and necessary label.
8. Label your package with a shipping label. Choose the trusted courier service.
9. When Microsoft receives your encrypted drive. Unlock the drive using the encryption key or password you provided.
10. Then, extract the PST file and upload it to Azure Storage.
11. After that, carefully follow the process to import the extracted file into the archive mailbox.

Upload PST File in Archive Mailbox with Outlook

If the archive mailbox is enabled, then you can easily move your file to the mailbox.

1. Sign in to your Outlook application
2. Click on the Open & Export >> Import/Export button.
3. Choose Import from another program or file. Click on the PST file.
4. Select the Archive Mailbox, then import it.

So, here are the solutions to open PST file to O365 Archive Mailbox. If you don’t have MS Outlook and you may be having trouble using network and drive shipping methods. Then, we have another solution that you can easily use and securely import your files.

How to Move PST File in Archive Mailbox by Professional Method

Manual methods can be a challenge for some people, especially those who don’t have any technical knowledge. For this reason, a professional tool is great. SysTools Office 365 Import Tool is an excellent choice to import your PST file. This specialized tool is very simple to use, and users do not have any issues importing the file. Because of its simple interface. Follow the steps below to import your file.

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Steps to Import PST to Archive Mailbox

Step 1. The first step is to download and install the software. To run the process, activate the software by clicking the Activate button.

Step 2. After you are done activating the software. Now, click on the Outlook option from the Source section. From the destination tab, choose the MS365 Archive button.

Step 3. Choose the email option and set the date range if you want to export selected emails. Press the Next button.

Step 4. Now, you are going to upload a PST file in your tool by browsing through your hard drive.

Step 5. Validate that you are using the correct PST file and that you have given permission to the software to import the file. Hit the Next button.

Step 6. Enter the correct email address and application ID. Also, validate the account details.

Step 7. Now, choose which user account you want to import the files. Click on Fetch users if you already have the list of user accounts on your computer.

Step 8. If not, first, click on the Download Template option. Add your source users, then Import Users.

Step 9. Make sure that you also validate your user account. Then, lastly, hit the Start Import button.

When the software completely uploads your files. Go to your account and see if your data file is in the Archive mailbox or not. So, here are the methods to easily move your Outlook PST file to in Archive Mailbox.

Concluding Words

Importing PST file into the archive mailbox is a great way to not only save space on your local storage. But also, securely store your data in the future. That’s why, in this article, I have given you 4 possible methods to import PST to archive mailboxes. If you have the required permissions, you can easily use Outlook. But, if you don’t have one, then the two manual methods: Drive shipping and Network Upload, can also help you to store your data.

But, the easiest way to import your file is with the professional tool because of how effortlessly it imports the file in just a few minutes without any technical expertise.

Read Also:

• How to Migrate Outlook Emails to Office 365?
• How to Import PST Calendar to Office 365?