How to Convert PST Files to MBOX Format?

If you’re switching from Microsoft Outlook to an email client like Thunderbird, Apple Mail, or others that support MBOX format, you may find yourself needing to convert PST file. But what if your PST contains important attachments? Don’t worry — this guide will walk you through how to convert PST to MBOX with attachments, easily and efficiently.

What Are PST and MBOX Files?

Before we dive into the how-to, let’s quickly define what we’re dealing with:

PST (Personal Storage Table) files are used by Microsoft Outlook to store emails, contacts, calendar items, and more. You’ll often find them in corporate environments where Outlook is standard.

MBOX (Mailbox) files, on the other hand, are used by many open-source and non-Microsoft email clients like Mozilla Thunderbird, Apple Mail, and others. Unlike PST, MBOX stores all messages from a folder in a single file.

Why Convert PST to MBOX?

Here are a few common reasons for converting from PST to MBOX:

Switching email clients: If you're moving away from Outlook to Thunderbird, MBOX is a must.
Cross-platform compatibility: MBOX works well on both Windows and Mac.
Archiving and backup: MBOX files are easy to store and restore later.
Legal or compliance reasons: Some legal systems prefer MBOX for discovery or archival.

However, one big challenge is ensuring attachments are preserved during the conversion. That’s where a reliable conversion tool comes into play.

Automated Way to Convert PST Files to MBOX Format

To make the conversion process smooth and reliable, we recommend using Advik PST to MBOX Converter — a trusted tool that supports full conversion including attachments, folder hierarchy, and metadata.

Key Features:

Converts PST to MBOX with all attachments preserved
No need for Microsoft Outlook installation
Supports bulk PST conversion
Keeps the original folder structure intact
Simple and beginner-friendly interface

Steps to Export PST Files to MBOX Format

Here’s a step-by-step guide to converting PST to MBOX using Advik:

Download & Install the Advik PST to MBOX Converter from the official website.
Launch the tool and click on Add PST File to upload your Outlook PST.
Choose MBOX as your desired output format.
Select a destination folder where you want the converted MBOX files to be saved.
Hit the Convert button and let the software do its job.

Within minutes, your emails — with attachments — will be available in the MBOX format, ready to import into your favorite email client.

Final Thoughts

Converting PST to MBOX manually can be time-consuming and risky, especially if you're dealing with attachments. Using a dedicated tool like Advik PST to MBOX Converter not only simplifies the process but ensures that nothing gets lost along the way.

Whether you're switching platforms, backing up old messages, or preparing emails for legal purposes, this tool helps you do it the right way — reliably, safely, and without hassle.