How to Extract Contacts from OST File? – Complete Guide

OST file is a data file created by Microsoft Outlook (2005 or later) that stores the copy of mailbox information from Office 365, Exchange Server or Outlook.com account. It contains email messages, contacts, calendar data, tasks, and other mailbox information.

If the OST file is configured with the Exchange server, the user is allowed to edit this data file in offline mode. However, if OST is not connected to the Exchange server, the user can use mailbox emails in the OST file through the OST file. Later, when it is connected to the server, the change will be synchronized.

Let’s check the user point of view via query asked by them in forums and get to know why one needs to extract contacts from OST file.

“I made some changes to my contacts in Outlook that I need to undo. Unfortunately, I didn’t create a pst file before making the changes. I do hourly backups of my files (including all of my Outlook files) to an external hard drive. So, I have the .ost file from before I made the changes. Is there a way I can save just the contacts from the OST file?”

If you are also looking for a workable solution to export contacts from .ost file to a specific file format, we will discuss such an approach in the next section.

Method to Extract Contacts from Outlook OST File

There are two methods to save contacts from the .ost file. Both are reliable and tested, users can use both methods as per their requirements.

#1. Manual Method Via Outlook Import/Export Tool

#2. Automated Software ( Advik OST Converter)

Let’s discuss both methods in detail with screenshots to make them easy to understand.

Solution 1: Export Contacts from OST File Through Outlook

In this method, we are using Microsoft Outlook email clients to extract contacts from the offline storage file. Let’s check out how this process works and copy contacts to a standard format.

Step 1. Open Outlook desktop email client on your system.
Step 2. Now mouse click on the File option in the menu bar and click on Open & Export, after that click on Import/Export tool.

Step 3. Choose the “Export to a file” option from the given list.

Step 4. Here select Comma Separated Values as a saving option.

Step 5. Select the contact to extract from the OST file.

Step 6. Browse the location to save the .csv file and click on the required radio option. Then click on the “Finish” button.

Now after using this manual method, you successfully extract contacts from OST file and save them in CSV format. Users can access this file on any application that opens an excel file.

However, there is a limitation with this method. It doesn’t work if the OST file is an orphan, as Outlook doesn’t import the .ost file in its interface.

If the user wants to export contacts from an orphan OST file, then the only option is to use a third-party solution. One such tool we will discuss in the next section.

Solution 2: Professional Tool to Extract Contacts from Outlook OST

As we learned earlier, Outlook does not import an OST file, so there is no manual method to save contacts from the orphaned OST file. The use of an automated tool is required to accomplish this task. One such tool is called Advik OST Converter. It’s a safe and easy-to-use tool that not only extracts OST contacts but also repairs damaged or corrupted OST files.

Let’s check the working of this tool in step -by -step manner. Thus without any delay let’s begin.

Step 1. Install and open this software on your Windows OS.

Step 2. Now you have to add a data file. Here are two options;

Option 1: First choice is Convert Configured Outlook Mailbox data – By clicking on it, this tool directly access your Outlook email and export contacts directly.

Option 2: Secon one,  Select File or Folder – User can also add data file or folder that is saved on the drive ( you can also add Orphan Outlook OST file).

Step 3. Here select the Contact and click on the Next button.

Step 4. Here choose the saving option as vCard or CSV as per requirement.

Step 5. Browse the saving location and click on the Next button to start the process.

After the process is complete, this software will notify you and generate a log report showing the status of the process. The user can review the contacts file in the desired location and access it when necessary.

Why Choose this Automated Software

This tool has outstanding features that make it a standalone entity from other tools present in the market, some of the features are;

• It supports OST files from Outlook 2019, 2016, 2013, 2011 and other earlier versions without 6 issues.
• Can repair corrupted, corrupted and password protected Outlook OST files to healthy file format.
• Easily export large OST files without losing a single bit of data.
• Convert Outlook OST file data to 20+ file formats with no changes.
• Export Outlook contacts and calendar data in their standard file format (ICS and CSV / vCard).
• Advanced email filter option to export selected emails from Outlook OST file.
• Maintain the hierarchy and structure of mailbox folders or subfolders during the conversion process.
• Export multiple OST files to another file format in a single attempt without encountering glitches.

Conclusion

If you want to extract contacts from OST file, then you can opt for above mention method. However manual method performs this task very well, but it is not workable in case the .ost file is orphan. In that case, you need to use an automation tool. One such tool is also mentioned in the above section. This tool easily saves contacts from orphan OST file and save them in CSV or vCard format. Most importantly it can export extracted files to web-based email accounts without any data loss.