Import OST to IMAP Account Quickly Without Any Data Loss

  

Mark Regan
Published: February 16th, 2026 • 8 Min Read

Have you ever suddenly needed to use your Outlook email ID in another web-based email client to send an important email, and you didn’t know how to import OST to IMAP? Then, you don’t need to worry about this situation and your OST files.

Many users like you are not aware of how to transfer Outlook data to IMAP, and they are unable to import OST to IMAP. The main problem occurs due to IMAP, because IMAP stores emails on the server, which requires enabling sync; on the other hand, the OST files are local offline cache files of the linked Outlook profile. Because of this, they cannot be directly opened. Therefore, OST files must be converted before import to IMAP account.

In this blog post, we are going to tell you the reasons for cross-platform migration. We are using three manual solutions and an automatic solution to migrate emails from an active Outlook profile to IMAP format. Moreover, this blog will also assist you in moving Outlook data to IMAP in bulk without losing any data. This guide will assist you in moving OST files to IMAP without any risks, even if your OST file is orphaned. Read this blog post completely to the end to find the best solution to get Outlook data into IMAP format.

So, let’s understand the major reasons for migration of the OST file to IMAP.

Common Reasons for Import OST to IMAP

There are many reasons why users might need to convert an OST file to IMAP, some of which are listed below.

• Data Recovery: OST files can be orphaned, corrupted, and easily inaccessible if any accident happens with your computer and server, such as accidental shutdown of the computer and server crashes. Due to this, migrating to IMAP helps users to keep their important data safe.
• Collaboration: The IMAP format help user to share their data within teams, and makes collaboration easy for all users in the team as compared to OST files. Which is because users transfer OST to IMAP.
• Device Accessibility: IMAP makes email access easy from any device or operating system, because this is the portable format of keeping the emails, and it does not require an email application to open on any device. Due to this, users move OST to IMAP.
• Storage Management: OST stores data locally in the computer system, which can be deleted or lost easily due to any system failure or any virus attacks, whereas IMAP keeps data safe on the server, which reduces the risk of data loss from any system crashes.

These were the major reasons why users migrate OST files to an IMAP account. The migration is important for both individual users and organizations that are looking for break-free and secure email communication.

We hope that from the beginning till now, you understood the problems and reasons behind the problems. Let’s see the solution to import OST to IMAP in the upcoming sections.

Transfer OST to IMAP with Manual Solutions

To manually move your OST files to IMAP account, you must follow the methods listed below carefully.

1st Method: Using Drag and Drop

1. Open Microsoft Outlook on your computer PC.
2. Go to the “file” menu from the navigation bar.
3. After that, click on the “add account” button to add your IMAP account in Outlook.
4. Now, configure your IMAP account with the Outlook application.
5. Enter your IMAP account “ID” and “password” and click on the “add” button.
6. After that, create a “new folder” in your IMAP account.
7. Then, drag and drop your OST mailbox data inside the “new folder.”
8. Finally, wait for Outlook to sync emails with the IMAP server.
9. Done! You have successfully imported your OST data into IMAP.

2nd Method: Export OST in PST Format

1. Open the Outlook application on your desktop computer.
2. Click on the “navigation bar” and select the “File” option.
3. Select the “Open & Export” option and choose “Import/Export.”
4. After that, select “Export to a file,” click “next” and choose “Outlook Data File (.pst).”
5. Then, click on the “Next,” select the new folders you created in the IMAP account, and set a destination.
6. Finally, click on the “Finish” button.
7. Your OST files are imported into the PST format.

Note: To use this process, first configure your IMAP account with the Outlook application, as described in the 1st method. Additionally, to access the OST files in to IMAP supported web-based email client, you will have to convert OST to PST using the 2nd method mentioned above.

3rd Method: Backup OST File to IMAP Server

1. Open Microsoft Outlook on your Windows PC.
2. Configure your IMAP account with Outlook. (Avoid if you have already configured)
3. Then, go to the Outlook account mailbox and select the emails.
4. After that, right-click on the “mailbox folder” and click on the “Copy” button.
5. Then, go to the newly configured “IMAP” account.
6. Create a “new folder” here and “paste” the copied mailbox data inside the “folder.”
7. Lastly, wait for Outlook to sync with the email server.
8. Done! You have completely moved your OST files to IMAP.

Note: To configure your IMAP account with Outlook, check out the process described in to 1st method.

After using all the tested methods, you can easily import OST to IMAP. But these methods have some limitations that you must be aware of before using all three methods.

Limitations of Manual Solutions

• All three of the described methods are time-consuming and lengthy.
• The methods are not useful in case of the transfer of bulk or large email folder data at the same time.
• To use all three methods, you must have Microsoft Outlook installed on your computer.
• In the manual copying or drag-and-drop process, emails or folders might accidentally be skipped.
• OST files may be corrupted in Outlook during the use of the drag-and-drop or copy process. That leads to incomplete migration.
• If the users don’t know how to configure IMAP with Outlook, that leads data loss or account corruption.
• The drag-and-drop and copy methods only work for accessible OST data.
• Using the above method, you cannot import orphaned OST files directly without conversion.
• Some data types, such as calendar items, contacts, and tasks, might migrate.
• Large size of OST files may slow down your Outlook application or freeze your computer system during the import process.
• To use any of the methods, the users need to have basic tech knowledge.

These were the limitations of using the manual solutions to move OST to IMAP. To overcome these limitations, you can try the next solution described in the next section.

Automatic Way to Import OST to IMAP

As we already tried all the described manual methods above to move OST files to IMAP format, but their limitations make the manual process time-consuming and risky. However, to import OST files into IMAP format safely, you can use the automated OST to IMAP transfer tool BitRecover OST Converter Wizard. This tool can convert OST files into IMAP in just a few clicks with complete data integrity. It allows users to made conversion selectively from specific emails and folders.

Quick Steps of Automatic Solution

1. Open the application on your Windows Operating System and click Next.
2. Choose the “convert configured Outlook mailbox data” option and click Next.
   
3. Then, select the mailbox folders from the preview option and click Next.
   
4. Now, choose IMAP as the saving option.
   
5. After that, enter your IMAP id and password, IMAP host, and IMAP port no. inside the tool.
6. Finally, click on the “convert” button to start the direct safe conversion.
   
7. Done, your import OST to IMAP is started.
   

Using this automatic solution, you can easily, quickly, and securely move OST to IMAP.

Strength Of Automatic Solution

• It converts batch OST files in just a few clicks, with attachments, and saves the user’s time.
• It keeps the folder hierarchy and meta headers such as To, CC BCC, Date, and Subject, etc.
• The tool can convert OST files into other file formats such as PST, PDF, EML, MSG, and more.
• Its filter option allows users to move specific emails from selected section such as date range, from, to, subject, etc.
• This OST converter tool maintains complete data integrity during the complete conversion process.
• Users can get a preview of their OST file mailbox items before starting the conversion process in the same application.
• The tool’s simple and user-friendly interface makes this converter easy to use for both tech and non-tech users.

Users can also convert not working orphaned OST file stored in their computer system with the same tool.

Final Verdict

In the blog given above, we discussed how to import OST to IMAP. We shared the common reasons that inform us why users transfer OST to IMAP. Moreover, we have tested three manual solutions for the migration of OST to IMAP and an automatic solution. We tested all the manual solutions, and it was found that the process is time-consuming, lengthy, risky, and difficult for non-tech users. Manual solutions for the migration of OST to IMAP are leading corruption in the account. However, the suggested automatic solution imports all the OST files into IMAP format safely and quickly. As per our opinion, we do not recommend you to go with the given manual solutions above if you are serious about your account and your email data. So, the best solution to get the Outlook data into IMAP format is the use of the suggested tool above.