If you are looking a way for how to import Exchange Server mailbox to PST! Then not to worry, the blog will guide you the proper solution that will definitely help you to import Exchange to PST. The following segment provided the way to create new mailbox export, view export outcome and perform the changes in export that are unsuccessful or still continuing.
The first and foremost step is to have proper permissions with the user whom you are exporting mailboxes. To do the same, you need Mailbox Import Export role allocated to user by adding role in Exchange Admin Center, go to Permissions and hit Admin Roles, now Add Import/Export role and add user in group. It is not an instant process, so one need to wait few minutes till role is completely assigned.
Once the above process finished, another step is creating share on server where one will save imported PST file. A user need to create share on a device or server as one cannot export PST file, for e.g. D:\PSTFiles\, here one need to provide export with UNC path, such as, \srv01\pst and it is necessary to assign Exchange Trusted Subsystem group with entire permissions to the folder and share. Alternatively, to create a share, use admin share such as \srv01\d$\pst.
As per the above mentioned steps, you are all set to export. In all apps and in earlier Exchange versions, there are mainly two ways to export mailbox i.e.
- Exchange Admin Center
- Powershell Command
Exchange to PST Exchange Admin Center
After logged into Exchange Admin Center i.e. EAC, you will see Recipient option present on left side menu and mailboxes.
- Go to more button available near refresh button.
- Click Export to a PST file feature.
The window will open and ask for mailbox that need to export and the method exporting mailbox content or archive mailbox. Click Next.
Now, another window will ask complete UNC path for PST file such as \srv01\pst\my.user.pst and click Next. Once this is done, another window appears which will ask the choice to receive a notification by email when operation completes and to whom. When all done, hit Finish. The process start and unfortunately, there is not an appropriate way to check export progress at this phase. There will only be notification viewer where you can check the update of export.
Exchange to PST using Powershell Command
In order check the status of export, one need to make use of Powershell command i.e. Get-MailboxExportRequest
There are some things which are missing from Exchange such as date range and folders inclusion/exclusion. And luckily, these are offered by Powershell Command using New-MailboxExportRequest. The default command to perform the same is:
New-MailboxExportRequest –Mailbox my.user –FilePath\srv01\pst\my.user.pst
This is general command that mimics the one from GUI. Now, in order to add some generic filtering, use IncludeFolder option to include multiple folders in the mailbox. To filter more than one folder, use comma and specify multiple ones.
New-MailboxExportRequest –Mailbox my.user –FilePath\srv01\pst\myuser.pst –IncludeFolder “#Inbox#”, “#Projects#”
For exclusion of folder, replace command IncludesFolder with Exclude Folder as shown:
New-MailboxExportRequest –Mailbox my.user –FilePath\srv01\pst\myuser.pst –ExcludeFolder “#Spam#”, “#RSS#”
A user can also make use of –ContentFilter option to utilize date range facility. There are many ways to perform this. It is executed as:
New-MailboxExportRequest –Mailbox my.user –FilePath\srv01\pst\myuser.pst –Content Filter {(Received –gt ‘01/01/2020’)}
The command will export all list of emails later than first January 2020. Below is another example where date range is given and the method will export the emails to PST comes under that specified range.
New-MailboxExportRequest –Mailbox my.user –FilePath\srv01\pst\myuser.pst –Content Filter {(Received –lt ‘01/01/2020) –and(Received –gt’01/01/2019)}
After this is done and processing starts, you will see the outcome and export progress using Get-MailboxExportRequest Powershell Command, although this will display in progress, complete or successful. In case, having few mailboxes, do it for every user. But, in case of having large number of mailboxes to export, use Get-Mailbox with pipe and New-MailboxExportRequest command. The process will load complete mailboxes and for every line, the command will export mailboxes. Also, perform the process by keeping the server performance in mind as heavy export process can hamper drive performance.
Exchange to PST using Exchange Migration Tool
At times, such type of commands and methods quite be annoying. Moreover, it is only possible for users having technical skills. Thus, third party applications introduced which are way easier than all these complex steps and commands. By utilizing Exchange Migration Tool, you can directly import Exchange mailbox to PST with emails, attachments, contacts, calendar and other items. Even, the software supports bulk conversion without altering the originality of data. The tool provides multiple filter options, freedom to set destination path as per need, allows to exclude deleted items and many more. By applying these features, one can get PST file in an advance way.
In addition, freeware version of the tool is available that allows to know the software working and features of the tool. The free demo allows to import first 25 files from Exchange mailbox to PST free of cost.