Guide on How to Open PST File Without Outlook

  

Rollins Duke   
Published: December 19th, 2025 • 7 Min Read

A PST file is a Microsoft Outlook data file that allows us to store emails, contacts, calendars, and other mailbox data locally. This file format plays an important role when a user has to export their Outlook data and save it on a computer. Therefore, once a PST file is saved on the computer, users sometimes want to open the PST file without an Outlook account. Since PST is primarily supported by Outlook, and cannot be accessed by any other email clients. To make this much easier and quicker, we will explain to you both manual and professional approaches step by step.

Outlook has always stood as the default application in order to open PST file without Outlook. However, with the rapid upgradation of the client being “New Outlook”, users have been having a hard time with licensing costs, email platforms that are cloud-based, along with all discontinues version of Outlook.

Whether the user want to view PST file without Outlook, open archived email files, or recover old data, avail some of the of the proven techniques mentioned below.

Why Open PST File Without Outlook?

There can be several reasons why a user may need to access PST file without Outlook:

• Users often times tend to access PST files without Outlook just to retrieve emails, calendars, attachments, and may more.
• When the profile gets damaged or corrupted, it results Outlook to fail to launch aptly, since the application is standalone.
• Older file formats like Unicode and ANSI are not guaranteed to be accessible in the new version of Outlook, needing a backup solution to open old PST files without Outlook.
• Mac users often face complications with files originating in Windows, resulting in taking assistance from third-party clients to view PST file without Outlook on Mac operating system.
• The application is not suitable for processing heavy or multiple Outlook files, which results in an ample amount of time and energy consumption of the user.
• Plenty of users need to open a PST file without Outlook in order to extract certain information in offline more without syncing to the server.

How to Access PST File Without Outlook Profile?

Users can easily open archive PST without Outlook with the help of numerous proven methods. Some go with manual approaches like using GWMMO Tools, some use Outlook to configure their account with Gmail to Thunderbird and change the format of their PST file. Follow these steps to execute without any complications

1. Open PST Files Without Outlook with GWMMO Tool

GWMMO or Google Workspace Migration for Microsoft Outlook which helps users to migrate emails, contacts, and calendars from Outlook PST files to Google Workspace.

1. Install and launch the GWMMO tool on the computer.
2. Enter the login details and click the Continue button.
3. After that, enter the desired email address.
   
4. Next, Permit the tools by clicking on the Allow button.
   
5. Now select an option from Outlook profile, PST files, or existing.
   
6. Hit the Next button and pick the desired items to open .PST file without Outlook.
7. Select the Migrate option to initiate the process.
   

2. Change the File Extension to Access PST Without Outlook

Changing the file extension is also a reliable method to open PST file without Outlook Mac or Windows.

1. Open the Outlook account.
2. Select the required emails or mailboxes.
3. Go to File >> Save As.
   
4. Click on Save as type and select any file extension from TXT, MSG, or HTML.
   
5. Choose the path and hit the Save button.
   

For PDFs:

1. Go File >> then Print option.
   
2. Select Microsoft Print to PDF >> then click Save.
   

Take Note: This method works only in the availability of Outlook on the device. However, if you have not already saved your email in these formats, then use PST File Converter. It allows you to access PST file without Outlook, by converting PST files into EML, DOC, HTML, TXT, MSG, PDF, and various other compatible formats. The software has multiple advances and sophisticated features and capabilities.

Steps to Access PST Files without Outlook Account?

1. Download and run the software to access PST file without Outlook for free on your Mac or Windows computer.

   

2. Click on the “Add File” icon to upload single and multiple PST files.
3. Now browse to the location of the file where the file is saved.

   

4. Next, all the folders and subfolders will appear on the screen to open PST file without Outlook.
5. Select the folder and email, all the data of the email will preview on the screen.

   

6. You can view the message and attachment separately.

   

Advanced Features of the Tool

• The software can open PST file without Outlook in bulk on the software panel.
• The software open emails and attachments separately, so users can analyze the data separately.
• The tool also preserves and intact all the original folder hierarchy and attributes, while the process includes the email header (Bcc, Cc, To, Date, From, Subject) and body (Formatting, Inline, Colours, Font, Size, Image, Attachments) and other elements.
• The professional utility allows you to open PST file emails, contacts, calendars, notes, journals, events, and more. It is a quick, fast, and accurate solution to opening the PST mailbox.
• It is one of the most user-friendly applications for opening bulk PST files. The user can open and access PST file without Outlook with no restrictions.
• This tool is a trustworthy application for opening PST file data with all its elements. It also supports both ANSI and UNICODE file formats for Outlook data files. There are no chances of data alteration.

Conclusion

Majority online email clients (and standalone desktop clients) don’t support Outlook PST files. Therefore, scenarios often take place when users have to open PST files without Outlook on Mac and Windows for free. Depending on manual methods in today’s era does not stand as a practical solution anymore. This is why using an automated solution to access PST files without Outlook is indeed one as it provides fast, secure, and complete information during and after the process without even a slight risk of data loss. As a standalone property, this software solution is perfectly compatible for all version of Outlook.