{"id":5483,"date":"2025-07-25T09:32:17","date_gmt":"2025-07-25T09:32:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.adviksoft.com\/blog\/?p=5483"},"modified":"2025-09-18T03:44:43","modified_gmt":"2025-09-18T03:44:43","slug":"ost-to-text","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adviksoft.com\/blog\/ost-to-text\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Convert OST to Text Files? (Free & Easy Methods)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Do you want to convert OST to Text files? Many Outlook users face this need when they want to extract emails for personal reference, documentation, or analysis. TXT files are lightweight, easy to open on any computer, and don\u2019t need Outlook installed.<\/p>\n

In this guide, we\u2019ll explain free manual methods first, then discuss what to do if your OST file is orphaned or inaccessible. By the end, you\u2019ll know the best way for your situation.<\/p>\n

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What are OST and TXT Files?<\/h2>\n

OST (Offline Storage Table):<\/strong> Outlook uses OST to store emails for offline access. However, these files are often locked to a specific Outlook account.<\/p>\n

TXT (Text File):<\/strong> A plain text file you can open with Notepad or any editor. Simple, lightweight, and readable everywhere.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Converting OST to TXT helps you read emails without Outlook and store them in a universal format.<\/p>\n

How to Save OST Emails as TXT Files Free?<\/h2>\n

If you have access to Outlook and the OST file is not corrupted, follow these steps:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Open Outlook and navigate to the Emails section.<\/li>\n
  2. Select the email messages you want to save as text.<\/li>\n
  3. Click File > Save As.<\/li>\n
  4. In the Save As Type dropdown, select Text Only (*.txt).<\/li>\n
  5. Choose a destination folder and click Save.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    How to Convert OST to Text Format with VBA?<\/h2>\n

    If you need to save multiple emails in text format, you can use VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) to automate the process:<\/p>\n

    Step 1.<\/strong> Open Outlook and press ALT + F11 to open the VBA Editor.<\/p>\n

    Step 2.<\/strong> Navigate to Insert > Module and paste the following code:<\/p>\n

    Sub SaveEmailsAsTxt()<\/em>
    \nDim objMail As Outlook.MailItem<\/em>
    \nDim objSelection As Outlook.Selection<\/em>
    \nDim objFS As Object<\/em>
    \nDim objFile As Object<\/em>
    \nDim sFilePath As String<\/em>
    \nDim sSubject As String<\/em><\/p>\n

    Set objSelection = Application.ActiveExplorer.Selection<\/em>
    \nSet objFS = CreateObject(“Scripting.FileSystemObject”)<\/em><\/p>\n

    For Each objMail In objSelection<\/em>
    \nsSubject = objMail.Subject<\/em>
    \nsSubject = Replace(sSubject, “\/”, “-“) ‘ Remove invalid characters<\/em>
    \nsFilePath = “C:\\Users\\Public\\Emails\\” & sSubject & “.txt”<\/em><\/p>\n

    Set objFile = objFS.CreateTextFile(sFilePath, True)<\/em>
    \nobjFile.Write objMail.Body<\/em>
    \nobjFile.Close<\/em>
    \nNext<\/em><\/p>\n

    MsgBox “Emails saved successfully!”, vbInformation<\/em>
    \nEnd Sub<\/em><\/p>\n

    Step 3.<\/strong> Run the Macro and select the emails to export.<\/p>\n

    Done! This is how you can automate bulk email conversion, but it\u2019s a technical process that requires VBA knowledge and a configured Outlook account.<\/p>\n

    Limitations of Manual Methods<\/strong><\/p>\n