How to Import PST to Zoho Mail? Step-by-Step Guide

Outlook stores all mailbox data, emails, folders, contacts, and calendars inside PST files. Zoho Mail, in comparison, is a fully cloud-based product and relies on IMAP/POP to communicate with email clients. This simply means that you cannot open PST file in Zoho Mail directly, unless you ‘import it’ to Zoho Mail. Either via one of the available migration services or convert it into an acceptable file type. 

What is the Need to Upload PST to Zoho Mail?

Mentioned below are some of the most common reasons why users prefer the switch from Outlook to Zoho Mail:

• Shifting from Microsoft 365 to Zoho’s business ecosystem for cost-efficiency. 
• To bring your existing Outlook data into Zoho’s cloud mailbox for wide accessibility.
• Include your archived or backed-up PST mail data in a secure Zoho account. 
• Make all of your historical conversations conveniently available in Zoho’s integrated workspace.

Top Methods to Import PST to Zoho Mail

There are two main methods for the PST to Zoho migration. It includes:

• Manual Method
• Automated Tool

These are briefly discussed in the upcoming sections with their benefits and limitations. Go through them one by one for a secure and successful import. 

1) Manually Import PST File to Zoho Mail

Zoho provides a Migration Wizard (desktop utility) for Windows that enables the import of PST data into Zoho Mail directly from Microsoft Outlook or local files to Zoho Mail. To migrate data from Outlook to Zoho Mail: 

1. Download the Zoho Mail Migration Wizard for Outlook (PST) from the official Zoho page.
2. Run the setup and log in with your Zoho Mail admin credentials.
3. Then, choose Outlook (PST) as your source type and select Zoho Mail as your destination.
4. Further, click Browse to select all PST files you would like to upload from your computer.
5. Afterward, for each PST imported, select which Zoho Mail user account the data will go to.
6. Lastly, choose specific data to migrate: Emails, Contacts, and Calendar, and click Start Migration.

The wizard will then establish a secure connection and transfer PST file to Zoho Mail servers. You can check the progress in the monitor dashboard. 

2) Free Import PST to Zoho Mail

If you’d like an option for syncing your Outlook data to Zoho Mail without using Zoho’s Migration Wizard, you can use IMAP to sync the data manually. The steps are:

1. Log in to your Zoho Mail account → Settings → Email Forwarding and POP/IMAP → Enable IMAP Access.
2. Next, open your Outlook program → File → Add Account. 
3. Then, enter your Zoho Mail Credentials and configure the account using these IMAP settings: 

• Incoming: imap.zoho.com, Port: 993, SSL 
• Outgoing: smtp.zoho.com, Port: 465 or 587, SSL

4. Further, from the File Menu select Open & Export → Import/Export.
5. Later, opt for Import from another program or file and select Outlook Data File (.pst).
6. After that, select the PST file you wish to access and click Import. 
7. After the import has been completed, drag and drop folders or emails into your Zoho Mail IMAP folder in Outlook. 

Outlook will automatically sync and upload the emails you’ve transferred from your Outlook PST file directly to Zoho’s cloud mailbox.

Note: Steps 5 and 6 are optional if you don’t have PST files already in your Outlook account.

Limitations to Natively Upload PST to Zoho Mail

• The process requires administrator permissions for organization-level migrations.
• Migration Wizard is only available for Zoho Workplace or Mail Premium subscription plans. 
• The processes may also not work with corrupted or orphaned PST files. 
• For larger PST files, this process is typically time-consuming and hectic.
• It also requires you to have Outlook installed on your desktop or laptop. 
• Finally, there will not be any central control over the transfer and risk for loss.

3) Effortlessly Import PST to Zoho Mail

When organizations have to work with multiple PST files or large amounts of data, the manual and native methods can be lengthy. If that’s the case, using a professional PST File Converter will be the best choice by far. The benefits of using this tool include:

• Bulk import many PST files at once, in one go. 
• Preserve the folder structure and all metadata with accuracy.
• Migrate the PST files without an actual Outlook installation.
• Guarantee 100% the integrity of the data, and no duplication. 
• All you need to do is set it up once. The rest is very easily automated.

If concerned, why not first try out the Demo Version of the software to test its functionality, features? And the Bonus? Well, you can transfer upto 50 emails per folder for free!

Pro Tip: This excellent software offers features that authenticate Zoho accounts using OAuth. So that you can authenticate your Zoho credentials in a secure, tokenized manner. This is not only safer but makes it much easier for IT admins to manage enterprise mailboxes!

Steps to Import PST File to Zoho Mail

1. Download and install the PST Converter Software for Zoho Mail. 
2. Then, import any number of PST files in any size (there is no size limitation). 
3. Click Next. Further, preview all your content in the panel, select folders, and tap Next.
4. Further, select the Zoho Mail client and authenticate your account credentials.
5. In the end, select the filters and press Convert to start migration and monitor progress on live logs.

Yes! It’s that straightforward to follow with no hassle or extra effort!

Conclusion

The task to import PST to Zoho Mail may seem overwhelming, but it can be a simple and streamlined process with the right strategy. For smaller data sets, Outlook IMAP sync works well. For enterprise or multiuser situations, using Zoho’s official Migration Wizard or a professional PST Import Tool is the best way. It transfers PST files into Zoho Mail in the most efficient and dependable way while guaranteeing the integrity of the data. 

Frequently Asked Questions

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