Directly Import PST to Office 365 in Bulk with Attachments

Rollins Duke
Published: July 29th, 2026 • 8 Min Read

In growing era, many organizations and individuals are looking for best solution to import PST files to Outlook 365 Web. PST, aka Personal Storage Table file only be opened with MS Outlook that required configuration. A PST file stores emails, contacts, calendars, tasks, journals, & other mailbox items on local system. Once users import PST to Office 365 account, they can easily access & manage their data anytime, anywhere. In this blog, users get to know free & automated solution to directly transfer PST files to Microsoft Office 365. This guide explains each option step-by-step so users can choose right method, according to their needs. So, let’s continue with us.

Reasons to Transfer | Import PST to Microsoft Office 365

Users generally import PST file in Outlook 365 with the intention of centralizing all of their sensitive information and communication and to make sure they have an easy way to access the PST files anytime, anywhere with top-level security and features.

Office 365 provide cloud-based security features such as encryption, threat protection, & regular data backups. It also minimize risk of local PST file corruption.
Teams can easily share calendars, manage contacts, & collaborate via MS cloud service.
Once imported, data is visible across all devices through Outlook app & web client.
Microsoft 365 offers retention policies, eDiscovery and data loss prevention features to keep secure PST files.
IT Admins can monitor, manage & backup mailbox data when dealing with scattered PST files.
Preserve emails, attachments, folders, & metadata in single mailbox.

Pro Tips: Before Beginning PST to Office 365 Import Process

Desktop version of Outlook installed on your computer.
Audit PST files to know size, location, ownership, & data quality.
Preview or check plan with timelines, users, & import goals.
Check Office 365 accounts, licenses, & mailbox permissions.
Delete duplicate emails in Office 365 account to clean up space.
Pick any technique that fits your requirements.
Create a copy of PST files before starting process.
Notify users about import PST plans & predicted changes.
Verify emails, folders, contacts, & calendars once process is completed.
Check every security, compliance, & retention setting before completion.
Activate target Microsoft 365 user mailbox with good storage space.

Method 1: Manual Import PST via Outlook Desktop App

This process is easy & users can import few PST files in Office 365. It needs to have Outlook desktop application to be installed & login with Office 365 account.

Steps to Open PST File in Microsoft 365

In first step, Open MS Outlook.
Go to “File > Open & Export > Import/Export.“
Select Outlook Data File (.PST) in the Import a File dialog box.
Tap Next to continue the process
Click the Browse button in the Open Outlook Data File dialog box to locate the PST file. After that, select the PST file and click Open.
Finally, select “Do not insert duplicates option” & click Next to continue the process.
Outlook now starts copying content of PST files in your Office 365 account. Users need to keep Outlook open until process is done.

Helpful Suggestion: This method can be lengthy process if users have GB or TB-sized PST files that they want to access in MS Office 365. This method may also alter your email formatting, which may not look like old PST file. Users need to set up & face multiple technicalities. This method is not recommended for non-technical users to import PST to Outlook 365 account. By any chance, do you want to migrate PST to shared mailbox Office 365? Try this recommended solution for accurate & seamless transfer.

Method 2: Network Upload via Microsoft Purview

Practical Advice: This technique is also free method provided by Microsoft officially. Network Upload method can only be used by administrators. Admin-level users can easily bulk import PST files in Outlook 365. This method involves uploading files to temporary cloud storage space before mapping them to user accounts.

#1: Get AzCopy Tool & SAS URL

Sign in to Microsoft Purview portal by admin account.
Go to Data lifecycle management > Microsoft 365 > Import.
Click on New import job, name job, & click Next.
Select Upload data.
Tap “Show network upload SAS URL.”
Copy generated URL & save it on notepad file.
Click Download Azure AzCopy to download command-line tool.

#2: Upload PST Files

Open Command Prompt on computer.
Go to directory where you downloaded AzCopy executable.
Run AzCopy command.
Upload PST files to Microsoft’s temporary Azure storage via SAS URL you copied earlier.

#3: Create CSV Mapping File

Microsoft requires CSV file to know which PST file belongs to which user.
Download sample mapping file from Microsoft & fill it out.
Input exact file name of PST.
Corresponding Office 365 user email address.

#4: Start Import Process

Return to Microsoft Purview portal where you left off.
Check all boxes for “I’m done uploading my files” & “I have access to the mapping file.“
Click Next.
Upload CSV mapping file & click Validate.
Once validation is done, tap Save to submit the job.
Microsoft 365 will analyze.
Once done, start import to funnel data into designated user accounts.

Why Users Skip Free PST to Office 365 Import Methods?

Both manual Outlook Desktop import & admin-level Network Upload methods are free. Microsoft imposes multiple limitations on data size & speed. Here are some limitations that users also face when they use free method.

Microsoft 365 Import Service has daily upload limit of 24 GB for PST data.
Cannot process multiple PST files by using Network Purview method.
The import process slows down your computer speed.
Multiple technical hassles with email account setup.
Now import massive individual emails with intact attachments.
New Outlook cannot import PST calendar or contact items to Office 365.
Any single step is missed, users can lose or corrupt all data from PST file.

Expert Solution to Import |Open PST File in Microsoft Office 365

With the rapid rise of email platforms such as Microsoft Outlook 365, Gmail, Yahoo, Thunderbird, etc., a widely known challenge hangs on both enterprises and individuals to open PST file in Office 365. While manual techniques exist, there are times when they prove to be inefficient due to numerous reasons like PST files of large size, risk of errors, less features for smooth process.

In order to tackle such situations, we suggest you use BitRecover PST to Office 365 Migration Tool. This software is professional solution that helps users import PST to Office 365 account without any hassles. Directly import PST files in Office 365 with attachments without losing formatting. With the help of this application, users can open selected folders from PST files to Microsoft 365 webmail user accounts. Download & free demo version to learn about PST to Office 365 import process without paying single dime.

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Step-by-Step to Open PST File in Office 365

Firstly, install and launch the software on your system. Select PST files from your computer as a tool that provides dual options to add mailboxes.
Next, select the Convert configured Outlook mailbox data radio button.
Now, choose selective folders from the PST file to upload.
Afterward, select Office 365 as the save format to open the PST file in Office 365 mailbox.
Enter Office 365 account login credentials to continue the import process
Selecting this option will enable you to perform Mailbox Mapping.
Finally, log in to your Office 365 webmail & view inserted PST files in your Microsoft Office 365 account.

Why Choose Expert-Suggested Solution? [Benefits & Advantages]

A certified software tool like this one is distinctively engineered to handle PST files regardless of their size without freezing or crashing. Not only that, the robust tool also has a built-in feature to recover damaged and corrupted files within minutes.
One of the prime reasons behind this user-friendly tool is keeping both technical and non-technical users in consideration to operate on it without requiring any complex knowledge of Exchange.
Contrasting to manual techniques needing email client to function properly, this software is standalone. Meaning, users do not need to have Outlook on their system to open/read PST files Outlook 365 which is beneficial for orphaned files or users without a valid Outlook License.
An Office 365 Admin can easily map every data file to desired Users. This will help you to open different PST files in different Microsoft Office 365 Users.
Users can easily import PST file in Office 365 in its entirety, involving contacts, tasks, emails, calendars, journals, and notes. Along with that, the tool saves the resultant files to different locations like shared mailbox, primary mailbox, in-place archive, offering utmost flexibility while managing essential data. It is one of the best solutions to open Outlook calendar to Office 365 online cloud accounts.

Drive Shipping Process to Move or Open PST Files in Office 365

Copy all PST files into Physical Hard Drive.
Use Microsoft’s WAImportExport.exe tool to encrypt drive with BitLocker.
Generate “journal file” that logs contents.
In Microsoft Purview portal, create new “Drive Shipping import job.”
Upload journal file & attach CSV mapping file.
Physically mail encrypted hard drive to Microsoft’s regional datacenter.
Upload PST file from drive into temporary Azure Storage.
Microsoft 365 Import service funnels emails to assigned user mailboxes.

To Conclude

In this article, we have discussed how to open or import PST files in Office 365. Many users are facing issues in completing this process. Here, they will find both manual and professional techniques to accomplish this task. This blog provides three simple & tested techniques that help users to migrate PST to Office 365. First two method is completely free to import PST emails in Office 365. Nevertheless, they come with multiple limitations. Another approach is professional tool & drive shipping method that helps users move any size of PST files in Microsoft Office 365 account. Users can choose any method that fit with their requirements.