How to Export Google Vault to PST? Step-by-Step
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If you want to export Google Vault to PST format but are not getting the right solution, then don’t worry, you have come to the right article. Today we will explain how to use Google Vault’s native features to export your email and chat data directly to a PST file for the Microsoft Outlook client—without spending money.
If you had landed on some other article, they might have asked you to buy their software. However, since Google Vault natively gives you the option to export its email, chat, and groups data directly into PST format, you can often do this manually. However, for users who have Google Vault exported data in other formats (like MBOX) and need to convert it, or for users who need advanced local file restructuring, third-party software can be helpful.
Google Vault eDiscovery program serves as a powerful retention and export tool for organizations. We will explain its true capabilities in the next section. Continue reading this article and follow the step-by-step instructions to export Google Vault to PST file.
Best Features of Google Vault
Google Vault is a tool that allows retention, archiving, and eDiscovery for Google Workspace, but it is not a backup solution. It does not allow organizations to restore their data directly. However, it enables you to preserve, search, and export data using Google Workspace. You can export Google Vault to PST using:
- Gmail (Export data to PST or MBOX)
- Google Drive (Export in native formats such as DOCX, PDF, ZIP)
- Google Groups (Export to PST or MBOX)
- Google Chat (Export to PST or MBOX)
- Classic Hangouts (Historical data only)
- Google Meet (Export recorded meetings as MP4)
- Google Voice (Export details of calls, voicemails, texts)
Note: Only Gmail, Chat, and Groups data can be exported in PST format. Drive files and Meeting recordings are exported in their respective native formats.
Read Similar: Two Ways to Migrate Google Vault to Office 365
Reasons to Export Google Vault to PST File
Let us know about the reasons due to why users want to convert Google Vault data to PST files:
- Many users wish to import Google Vault data to Outlook accounts. The PST file format is supported by Microsoft Outlook, as is well known. So, every user first export Google Vault data into PST format and then import it into an Outlook account.
- Users must export the data in the event that they need a certain archived data file back locally for auditing or compliance purposes.
You can export this communication data in PST format with the help of Google Vault. Let us now know how this task can be accomplished very easily.
Read Similar: Export Office 365 Emails to PST Using 4 Methods
#1 Manual Way to Export Google Vault Emails to PST File
There is a native, manual solution available to export Google Vault to PST format. It is very easy to use Google Vault to export archive emails from Google Vault. If you follow our mentioned steps, you will be able to initiate your data export in about 5 minutes (though processing large organizational datasets on Google’s servers can take anywhere from a few hours to several days).
How to Export Google Vault Emails to PST Format?
- Login to your Google Vault account and choose the Matters option.
- Select the Create option to create a new matter in Google Vault.
- Give a name to matter and hit the Create button.
- Select a service from which you want to export emails i.e., Gmail, Groups, or Chat.
- Now this is time to choose a data source from multiple choices like All data, held data, and unprocessed data.
- Select an entry as per export needs from All accounts, specific accounts, and organizational units.
- Enter a specific email address to export data, use filters, and press the Search button.
- Now you can see your email data and choose the Save option to continue.
- Enter the name of Save Query and press Ok.
- Next, choose the Count option to count your emails and mailboxes.
- After that, click the Export button as shown in the figure.
- Enter a name for Google Vault exported PST file.
- Choose PST as a saving option from the drop-down.
- Hit the Download button to export Google Vault to PST format.
Limitations:
- Exporting large Google Vault data to PST can take days.
- You will receive a fixed-size PST file of Google Vault data.
- It provides limited PST file support.
- It can modify or spoil original folder hierarchies.
Recommended: Best Tool to Export Gmail to PST Format
#2 Automated Way to Export Google Vault Data to PST with Ease
If you previously retrieved data from Google Vault in MBOX or ZIP format and now need to convert that extracted data into a PST file, or if you need to split massive PST files into smaller chunks, you can use BitRecover Vault Converter Wizard. This software is very easy to use, and any non-technical user can use it very easily.
This is an all-in-one solution that supports all Google Vault exported file extensions. This Google Vault to PST Export Tool provides 35+ saving options, you can choose any option according to your choice.
How to Export Google Vault to Outlook PST? Quick Steps
- Launch Google Vault to PST Export Tool and add Google Vault data in the software panel.
- Select the required folders and items and press the Next button.
- Choose PST as a saving option from the listed options.
- Use advanced filters to convert selective Google Vault data to PST files.
- Enable the Split PST option and choose the maximum size for the resultant PST.
- If you are using Outlook in a foreign language, then enable the change language option to rename folders under the PST file.
- Set the destination path to store exported PST file and click the Convert button.
- Google Vault to PST conversion process is running, please wait.
- The process to export Google Vault to PST has been completed.
- The software will open the destination folder at last, now you can get the resultant PST file.
- Run the MS Outlook client and choose the Open Outlook Data File option to access PST under Outlook.
Manual Method Vs Professional Method
- Google Vault natively allows you to export emails and chats in *.pst and *.mbox formats. Professional software is useful to export Google Vault to PST.
- The manual method in Google Vault provides comprehensive search capabilities, allowing you to use all advanced Gmail search operators (Date Range, From, To, Subject, Has Attachment, Labels, etc.) before exporting. Professional software allows you to filter previously exported local files by similar metadata without needing Google Admin access.
- The manual method automatically splits massive exports if they exceed 1 GB for PST files. The professional software permits you to custom-choose maximum sizes for the output file like 2 GB, 5 GB, 10 GB, and 20 GB.
- There are no additional local restructuring settings available in the manual method, while the software provides you the option to change language, ignore system folder hierarchy, and separate PST per user from a bulk export.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q 1: My Google Vault subscription has ended, and I have several Google Workspace accounts. Is there any way to export emails in PST format?
A: Yes, follow these steps to export Google Workspace emails to PST files without Google Vault.
Q 2: Does your software allow to convert Google Vault to Outlook with all email attributes?
A: Yes, this software maintains complete email items during the export process.
Q 3: Does your software create Unicode PST files?
A: Yes, the tool creates Unicode PST files that are compatible with Outlook 2024, 2021, 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007, and 2003.
Conclusion
In this article, we have explained the manual solution to natively export Google Vault to PST format, with the help of which you will get your work done without spending any money. We also recommended Google Vault to PST Export Tool in this article, if you need to convert historical MBOX exports or restructure massive PST files locally.
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