How to Extract Contacts from OST File? Guide
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Are you looking to extract contacts from OST file? Users want it for backup migration, recovery, or accessing important contact information. However, the process can be difficult if the original Outlook profile is unavailable or the OST file is orphaned. In this guide, we will cover different ways to extract contacts from an OST file, including manual Outlook methods and professional methods.
OST files hold synchronized mailbox data and offer offline access to emails, contacts, calendars, tasks and more.
Quick Steps to Extract Contacts from OST File
The manual method works for extracting a few contacts and offers limited output formats and does not directly support vCard (VCF) export. For bulk extraction, BitRecover OST Converter Software can extract OST contacts and save them as VCF, CSV or PST. It supports ANSI and Unicode OST files and various Outlook versions like 2024, 2021, 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010 and 2007.
Understand Reasons to Recover Contacts from Outlook OST File
Recover contacts from OST files may become necessary due to various reasons:
- Data Backup: Extracting contacts from OST file allows you to create a backup of your contact information. This backup can be essential in case of data loss or corruption.
- Data Migration: When switching to a new email client or a different version of Outlook, you may need to migrate your contacts. This migration process becomes simplified, after retrieving contacts from OST file to standard formats.
- Contacts Recovery: OST files can be corrupted due to several reasons such as hardware failures or software issues. Sometimes users want to export contacts from corrupted OST files to recover inaccessible contact data.
- Offline Access: You can use extracted contacts offline, even when you’re not connected to the Exchange Server. This can be useful for users who need to access contact information in remote or offline situations.
- Selective Sharing: Sometimes, you may want to share specific contacts with others without giving them access to your entire mailbox. Hence, to extract contacts from OST file seems helpful and has selective sharing capabilities.
Manual Way to Export Contacts from OST File via Outlook
#Method 1. Retrieve Contacts from OST file
- Run the Microsoft Outlook client and choose File.
- Choose Open & Export >> Import/Export option.
- Select Export to a file and click Next.
- Choose Outlook Data File (.pst) and press Next.
- Select Contacts from available items and Next.
- Browse the destination path to store the output file.
- Enable do not export duplicate items and Finish.
- You can add a password optionally and click OK.
- The process to extract contacts from OST file is running.
- Retrieve exported contacts from the selected destination.
#Method 2. Recover Contacts from OST file
- Launch MS Outlook and choose the File option.
- Select Open & Export >> Import/Export to continue.
- Choose Export to a file option and click Next.
- Select Comma Separated Values and Next.
- Select the Contacts folder and press Next.
- Use the Browse button to set the destination path and click Next.
- Map custom fields if required accordingly.
- Click the Finish button to extract contacts from OST to CSV format.
- Get the resultant Contacts.csv file from the destination path.
Limitation of Manual Method
- Microsoft Outlook should be installed and running condition on your computer to extract contacts from OST file.
- You can extract contacts from Outlook OST files only from configured accounts.
- The manual methods don’t allow to recover contacts from OST files in batch.
- Non-technical users may face problems while extracting contacts from OST file.
- The manual techniques permit exporting contacts from Outlook OST file to PST and CSV formats. But most users have a desire to export OST contacts to vCard because this is the standard format for contacts.
#Method 3. How to Extract Contacts from Outlook OST File?
- Launch the OST contacts export tool and add OST file(s) in the software using Select Files or Select Folders.
- Select contacts from the software panel and click the Next button.
- Use filter options to retrieve specific contacts from OST file.
- Choose a saving option, recommended from CSV, vCard, or PST.
- Browse the destination path to store extracted contacts.
- Click the Next button to extract contacts from OST file.
- Contacts exported successfully, see the pop-up message of completion.
- Last, the OST contacts export tool automatically opens the destination path so you can easily get the resultant data.
OST Contacts Export Tool Features
- The software allows extracting contacts from multiple OST files at once for a fast process.
- Provides a separate Recovery Mode option to repair corrupted OST files to extract contacts.
- OST contacts export tool offers several saving options to store exported contacts.
- The tool automatically loads Outlook *.ost files into the panel for the extraction of OST contacts.
- The software preserves all contact components throughout extracting contacts from OST files.
- The utility has a user-friendly GUI to be easily operated by both technical and novice users.
- There is no requirement to install Outlook on the computer to perform this process.
Closing Thoughts
In the above write-up, we have learned 3 different ways to extract contacts. If Microsoft Outlook is installed on pc, then you can use the manual method to extract contacts from OST file free of cost. For orphaned OST files, you can use the above-mentioned software that is recommended by experts.
You can try the free demo version of this software for evaluation purposes. With this, you will be able to extract a few OST contacts from each folder. To perform the unlimited extraction, purchase the licensed version of the software. Although this utility has an easy conversion process, if you still have queries regarding this, just contact our technical support team.
Question and Answer
Que 1: How to extract contacts from OST file free?
Ans: Follow above methods to recover contacts from OST file free of cost.
- Open Microsoft Outlook and Choose File.
- Choose Open & Export>>Import/Export option.
- Now click Export to a file and click Next.
- Choose Outlook Data File(.pst) and press Next.
- Select Contacts from available items and Next.
- Browse destination path to keep the output file.
- Enable do not export duplicate items and Finish.
- Users can add password optionally and click OK.
- export contacts from OST to PST process is running.
- Retrieve it from the selected destination.
Que 2: Can I retrieve contacts from OST file, which is disconnected from Outlook?
Ans: Yes, the tool supports both orphaned and configured Outlook OST files so don’t worry.
Que 3: How do I export my entire contact list from the OST file?
Ans: To export the entire contact list from an OST file, use the Outlook import/export feature if your profile is active, otherwise you can use Pro Solution to extract contacts in formats like CSV or vCard without required Outlook.
Que 4: Are contacts stored in an OST file?
Ans: Yes, OST file stored contacts if you’re using an Exchange, Microsoft 365 or IMAP account in Outlook. It stores a local copy of the mailbox data including emails, contacts, calendars and to access it offline without requiring connectivity.
Ques 5: I want to recover contacts from a corrupted OST file. What is the best way to do so?
Ans: If OST file is corrupted or inaccessible, recovering it through Outlook may not work. In such case, Users can use the dedicated OST Contacts Export tool to extract contacts and other mailbox data from corrupted OST files. It preserves contact names, email addresses, phone numbers, and other available information.
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