How to Import PST to Apple Mail?

If you want to import PST to Apple Mail on Mac, you can’t directly open Outlook PST file in Apple Mail. It’s so because, Apple Mail can import mailboxes in formats such as MBOX, so you need to convert or transfer PST file into a file format that Apple Mail can import. If you don’t have Outlook, you can either use an alternate migration tool or convert PST to MBOX on a Windows computer or use Outlook for Mac as an intermediate as per your need.

This guide explains all the available method, what each method requires, what each method is suitable for and how to choose the best approach for your PST to Mac Mail migration.

Important: The Outlook for Mac method requires Outlook for Mac that supports PST import. Currently Microsoft offers PST import option in legacy Outlook for Mac only. Microsoft says support for legacy Outlook for Mac ends in October 2026. Before using this method check the version of your Outlook.

Quick Comparison: Ways to Import PST to Apple Mail

Here, we have discussed the overview of different methods available to import PST file to Mac Mail. Before going through the explanation of each method, must follow this comparision table to understand the requirement of each method, it’s difficulty and it’s suitability for different circumstances.

Note: The best method depends on whether you have Mac Outlook, Windows PC or neither. So, first analyze what you have and which method is comfortable for you then choose wisely.

Can Apple Mail Import .pst Files Directly?

No. You cannot import an Outlook .pst file directly into Apple Mail.

It’s so,because PST is a data file format of Outlook. Whereas Apple Mail’s native mailbox import supports mailbox data in formats such as MBOX, rather than PST. Specifically, Apple explains Mac users importing messages from a Windows or UNIX computer to choose Files in mbox format from the File >> Import Mailboxes menu.

This is what this migration looks like:

The practical intermediate format for many migrations is MBOX as it is supported by many open-source based email clients includingApple Mail.

A Real User Concern When Importing PST to Apple Mail

Before we dive into the various methods available, it’s worth considering a real problem faced by users trying to move Outlook data to Apple Mail. A screenshot posted by a user asking for a solution for importing a PST file into Apple Mail in the Apple Support Community.

This is a common problem. Apple Mail is not able to directly open or import PST files. PST is an Outlook data format. To access emails in Apple Mail, users need an intermediate way to get the emails to Apple Mail. They can either import the PST into a compatible version of Outlook, convert the Outlook data file into Apple Mail supported file format or use other appropriate migration methods.

Next you’ll need to select the right way to migrate. Your best choice depends on your personal requirements. So, go through each method carefully to understand it’s complete procedure.

Method 1: Import PST to Apple Mail Using Outlook for Mac

This method can be useful for you if you have compatible version of Outlook for Mac. Here, we will use Outlook for Mac as an intermediary to transfer PST file as it is only supported by Outlook and not any other email client. So, make sure to have these on your computer and sufficient storage space if you have large PST file.

Step 1. Launch Outlook for Mac on your Mac system.

Note: Make sure that you are using Legacy Outlook for Mac as importing PST file is currently supported by this version only.

Step 2. Click on the File tab and choose the Import option.

Step 3. Choose the Outlook for Windows archive file (.pst) option and click Continue.

Step 4. Locate the PST file that you want to import and click Import.

Step 5. Once the import is complete, you will see PST data in Outlook for Mac. Click Finish to close the import window.

6. Now, drag and drop this file to your desktop.

7. It will save it as an MBOX file.

8. Now, open Apple Mail and go to File >> Mailbox Import.

9. Choose the Files in MBOX format and click Continue.

10. Select the above saved MBOX file from your desktop.

11. Click Import to begin the process.

Important Note: Microsoft says support for legacy Outlook for Mac will end in October 2026. So, this should not be considered as a permanent migration method without a current version check.

And don’t confuse OLM with MBOX either. An OLM archive is an archive format of Outlook-for-Mac. The documented mailbox import workflow of Apple Mail is based on formats like MBOX.

Method 2: Convert PST to MBOX on Windows and Import It to Apple Mail

Now, give a free try to Advik PST File Converter, available for Windows. This tool will help you import emails, contacts, calendar, and other data from PST into Apple Mail. Basically, it convert .pst into .mbox format. The file format that Apple Mail allows you to import data. The best part of the software is that it will maintain folder hierarchy and email attributes in their original format.

Download the software and try it for free.

Steps to Import PST File to Apple Mail

Step 1. Launch this software and click Select File to add the PST file.

Step 2. Select the mailbox folder that you want to export.

Step 3. Select “MBOX” as a saving option from the list.

Step 4. Browse the destination path and hit the Convert button.

Step 5. Once the software has successfully converted the file format, open Apple Mail.

Step 6. Go to File and click Import Mailboxes in the menu.

Now select the MBOX file and import it. This is how you can copy PST emails in Apple Mail. For importing contacts & calendar data choose the file format accordingly.

Watch How to Import Outlook PST File to Apple Mail

Conclusion

As I mentioned earlier, Microsoft Outlook and Mac are two different email platforms. They store their data in different file formats. To import PST to Apple Mail, you need to convert them to a specific file format i.e. mbox that Apple Mail supports. You can manually import Outlook PST file to Mac Mail. Using an automated tool is better to avoid the long and tricky manual steps. Download the tool for FREE and try your hand at it. With the trial version, you can convert 25 items from each folder for free.