PST file is the native file format of Outlook, which stores the entire mailbox data like emails, attachments, contacts, calendars, notes, etc. It’s the common backup and archive format for majority of organizations. But a common challenge that’s faced by many is to view PST files without needing to access Outlook.
Fortunately, there are other ways to browse PST files without Outlook access. We present to you a detailed guide about some of the most effective ways to open PST files without needing to access Outlook. We also discuss the benefits of using a dedicated PST file viewer, outlining its advanced features for easier and more reliable access.
Why Users Need to View PST file Without Outlook?
Understanding the potential reasons behind the need to view PST files is important before moving forward with the methods. Given below are the most common scenarios:
- Can’t access Outlook: You might be working on a new system that doesn’t have Outlook installed. Another possibility can be that your Outlook profile is inaccessible, or your PST file is orphaned.
- Using different email clients: If you’re using any other email client as your primary email client, such as Mozilla Thunderbird, Apple Mail, or a web-based service like Gmail, you still need a way to import your PST data.
- Corrupted Outlook Profile: Sometimes, Outlook itself may be corrupted or fail to start, but the underlying PST file remains intact. You need an external tool to recover the data.
- Quick Data Retrieval: Installing and configuring Outlook can be time-consuming. If you only need to quickly find and extract a single email or attachment, a lightweight is a far more efficient solution.
Methods to view PST file without Outlook
It’s a widely known fact that PST files can’t be opened without Outlook easily. There are still some workarounds that you can try, such as using the GWMMO tool, Thunderbird add-ins or a reliable tool. Let’s see each method in detail.
Method 1: View PST file using the GWMMO tool
Users can browse PST file without Outlook access with the help of the GWMMO tool. GWMMO, which stands for Google Workspace Migration for Microsoft Outlook, is a tool developed by Google to help users import their data to Google Workspace. Follow the steps below for this process:
- Install and open the GWMMO tool on your system.
- Input the credentials of your Google account and click on Continue.
- Click on Allow to give permission to the GWMMO tool to see, edit, and share your data.
- Choose From PST File(s) option and select either Migrate all data or Migrate only new data Click on Next to proceed.
- Select all the data that’s to be migrated and apply the date filter as needed.
- Finally click on Migrate to start the import process.
- Once all your data is imported successfully, you’ll be able to view PST files in your Gmail account.
Method 2: View PST files using Thunderbird
Thunderbird allows users to import files from different platforms easily. Follow the steps below to view PST files in Thunderbird:
- Open Thunderbird and click on the menu in the top right corner.
- Select Tools > Import from the list.
- Choose the Import from Outlook option and click on Continue.
- Tick all the mailbox items that you wish to import and click on Continue.
- Review the data to be imported and click on Start Import.
- Once the import is completed successfully, open and view all your PST files.
Method 3: Use a free PST Viewer
The safest and easiest way to view PST files without Outlook is to open them using a professional PST Viewer tool. A reliable tool like KDR Free PST Viewer easily opens healthy or damaged PST files, while keeping their file structure intact. Here are the 3 easy steps to use this free software:
Step 1: Install and launch KDR Free PST Viewer.
Step 2: Click on Browse to add PST files to the software and click on Next.
Step 3: Choose the required PST files and click on Open and view PST files.
Conclusion
Trying to open PST files without Outlook is a challenge, but it’s not impossible. The best method to open PST files depends on your specific set of requirements. Manual methods work fine if you want to briefly browse PST file without Outlook. However, to avoid the risk of file damage or data corruption, using a professional software to open a PST file without Outlook is recommended. KDR Free PST Viewer is a powerful free tool that allows users to view healthy and corrupt PST files easily.
Frequently Asked Questions
A. Yes, you can view PST files either via manual methods like importing to Thunderbird or use a reliable tool to open PST files without any risks.
A. One of the best free software to open PST file without Outlook is KDR Free PST file Viewer, as it allows users to view corrupt or healthy PST files in their original formatting.
A. Unfortunately, Outlook for Mac does not support opening and viewing PST files. Since Mac’s Outlook supports OLM format, viewing PST files gets difficult.
A. Yes, users can easily open encrypted PST files with the help of a software. Using a PST file viewer software makes sure that your file’s metadata and structure remain unchanged.
A. Either your PST file is too large in size, or it is highly corrupted. It is suggested to stop using manual methods to view PST files to avoid further damage.
A. Yes, free tools downloaded from reliable and official websites like KDR Free PST Viewer Tool are generally safe to use. Just make sure to scan the downloaded files first.
