How to Export Exchange 2010 mailbox to PST File Format

Backup and migration are the two common reasons when you need to export Exchange 2010 mailbox to PST. You may also require exporting mailboxes from Exchange 2010 database to PST for email investigation purposes or from a decommissioned Exchange server and Offline EDB file. You can use the Exchange Management Shell (EMS) or Exchange Admin Center (EAC) in Exchange 2010 to export mailboxes from Exchange database to PST format. However, you can use EMS command only if the server is running on Exchange 2010 SP1 or later version.

However, for easy and convenient export process, you can use an EDB to PST converter software that works on all Exchange versions. The software features an easy-to-use graphical interface to convert and export mailboxes from Exchange EDB to PST. Also, unlike PowerShell Commands or EAC, you don't require additional permissions to export the mailboxes from Exchange database to importable PST format. Plus, you can also export the mailboxes to a live Exchange or Office 365 account directly.

Methods to Export Exchange 2010 Mailbox to PST

Following are the methods to export Exchange 2010 mailbox to PST file format. Based on your needs and server configuration, you may follow any of the following methods.

Method 1: Using PowerShell Cmdlets

Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 SP1 was introduced with a new set of PowerShell cmdlets to perform various backup and migration tasks, such as exporting the mailboxes from Exchange database to PST format.

In Exchange 2010 SP1 and later versions, you can create a mailbox export request by using the New-MailboxExportRequest cmdlet via Exchange Management Shell (EMS) to export a mailbox to PST file in Exchange 2010.

You can create either single or multiple PST export requests at once with PowerShell cmdlet. However, each request will execute sequentially. Also, at a time only one request is executed as the mailbox is marked "in-use" when the request begins to run.

Steps to Export Mailbox to PST via Exchange 2010 PowerShell Cmdlets

Follow these steps to export mailbox to PST via PowerShell cmdlet in MS Exchange 2010.

Step 1. Grant and Assign Necessary Permissions and Roles

To execute the New-MailboxExportRequest cmdlet and create PST export request, the user account that you are going to use must have the Mailbox Import Export role and permissions assigned with full rights. Matter of fact, not even the admin have these rights and permissions by default. Thus, you need to assign these permissions and roles manually by executing the following command in EMS.

New-ManagementRoleAssignment –Role "Mailbox Import Export" –User Administrator

This command assigns permission and role to 'Administrator' to perform Mailbox Import Export. In case you are using other account, replace administrator with the username to assign roles and permissions. Once done, restart the EMS to execute the New-MailboxExportRequest cmdlets and export PST from Exchange 2010.

Step 2. Create a Shared Folder to Save Exported PST Files

There can be multiple Client Access Servers (CAS) in a network and any of them can process the export mailbox request. Thus, you must ensure that the path of the PST file is valid. This path has to be UNC, not a local path. The ideal method is to create a new Network Shared folder and grant Exchange Trusted Subsystem group read/write permission to this folder.

Step 3. Export Exchange 2010 Mailbox to PST

Now that everything is setup and configured properly, you can execute the following PowerShell cmdlets to create various mailbox export requests to export Exchange 2010 mailboxes to PST.

To Export User's Primary Mailbox to PST

New-MailboxExportRequest -Mailbox -FilePath

This command points to the Shared Folder location to save the exported PST file. This command doesn't create a new directory. So, make sure the path you're giving exists. Otherwise, the command will fail.

To Export User's Personal Archive to PST

New-MailboxExportRequest -Mailbox-IsArchive -FilePath

To Export Specific Data from User's Mailbox to PST

New-MailboxExportRequest -Mailbox -ContentFilter {} -FilePath

In the above command, { } can be any value that filters required data from the rest. Refer to official Microsoft documentation for the correct syntax and more details.

To Export a Specific Mailbox Folder to PST

You can also export specific folders from the mailbox, such as Inbox, SentItems, DeletedItems, Calendar, Contacts, Drafts, Journal, Tasks, etc. In the command, the folder to be exported is denoted within opening and closing # markers.

For example, to export Inbox folder, we denoted it as #Inbox# in the following command:

New-MailboxExportRequest -Mailbox -IncludeFolders "#Inbox#" -FilePath

NOTE: When you enter the command and create an export request, each request is assigned with a unique name. By default, the cmdlet assigns name to up to 10 unique requests. If you need to create more than 10 export requests, you must use a custom name by using-name parameter.

How to Check the Request Status and If It Worked?

To check the status of all active export jobs, run the Get-MailboxExportRequest command:

Get-MailboxExportRequest | Get-MailboxExportRequestStatistics

Once all mailbox export requests are completed, remove all assigned permissions and clean up by using the following command:

Remove-ManagementRoleAssignment "Mailbox Import Export-"

Also, remove the completed mailbox export request from the server with the Remove-MailboxExportRequest:

Get-MailboxExportRequest | where {$_.status -eq "Completed"} | Remove-MailboxExportRequest

Method 2: Use Exchange Admin Center (EAC)

Exchange Admin Center is GUI-based, which makes exporting PST from Exchange 2010 mailbox database easy. However, you don't have many options as you get in Exchange Management Shell.

In EAC, you have limited options to request PST export for selected mailbox in Exchange 2010. Follow the given steps:

• Open EAC and login as an administrator
• Then go to Recipients > Mailboxes
•  Click on More options (the three dots)
• Select Export to a PST file option from the dropdown

• Next, browse and select the user mailbox that you want to export to PST
• Also, select the appropriate radio button option whether you want to export only the contents of this mailbox or mailbox's archive and click 'Next'

• Provide the UNC path (the Shared Folder path) where you want to save the exported PST file. Also, enter the filename of the .pst file

• Click Next and then click Browse to choose the user account which has the permission for 'Mailbox Import Export'

• Click 'Finish' to start PST export on Exchange 2010 mailbox server. After the export is done, Exchange will send an email

Note: You can't check the progress of the export.

Inbuilt Exchange Utilities (EMS/EAC) vs Stellar Converter for EDB

How to Export Exchange 2010 Mailbox to PST from Both Online and Offline EDB Quickly?

The manual methods discussed above lets you perform Exchange 2010 mailbox export to PST but you can export PST from an online EDB only. Plus, you need additional permissions for executing the above cmdlets. On the other hand, EAC offers only limited export options. Thus, you can use a third-party EDB to PST converter software, such as Stellar Converter for EDB. The tool automates the EDB to PST export process by directly converting mailboxes in Exchange database files (EDB) to PST.

Recommended Method

Stellar Converter for EDB is a professional tool that exports mailboxes from Hosted Exchange & offline EDB files into corresponding PST files. The tool helps extract all vital mailbox data, such as emails, contacts, attachments, etc. to PST and other formats. Here are a few of its impressive features at a glance:

• Migrates EDB to PST and extracts all mail components
• Supports conversion of multiple EDB files & Archive mailboxes to PST
• Exports offline EDB file to live Exchange server and Office 365
• Facilitates saving converted data in EML, MSG, RTF, PDF, & HTML formats
• Supports MS Exchange 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007, 2003, 2000 and 5.5 versions
• Supports all Service Packs (SP) – SP1, SP2, and SP3.

This tool is designed to make the process of Exchange 2010 export mailbox to PST smooth and easy for you. For more information on Exchange 2010 mailbox export, you can always reach us via Self Help & Support page.

Note: The command New-MailboxExportRequest is applicable for Exchange Server 2010 SP1, SP2, SP3. If it isn't working, then you need to check that you are opening the Exchange management shell as an administrator.