How do I add an Outlook PST file to an existing one?

Microsoft Outlook is one of the most widely used email client which allows users to deal with different email accounts proficiently. The email client uses PST file [Personal Storage Table] to store mailbox information including emails, contacts, calendar, events, tasks, notes, journals, and etc. An Outlook account with bulk of information and more than one configured account create multiple PST files. Overtime, it becomes a challenge to manage multiple PST files. Too many PST files can affect Outlook performance, and can also create obstacles in seamless management of your Outlook account. Moreover, multiple PST files invite the risk of accidental data loss.

To overcome the PST management challenges you need to find a solution. Combining/merging multiple PST into an existing one can be the best possible solution to manage multiple PST files efficiently. When you combine multiple PST files into an existing one, you can possibly elevate the performance of your Outlook as well as streamline data management and provide numerous other benefits.

Key Benefits of Combining Multiple PST files to an Existing one

Combining multiple PST files is advantageous for many reasons, especially for users who manage large volume of emails and other data in Outlook. Following are some benefits you can avail once you combine multiple PST files:

• Email Organization: Multiple PST files create management issues. When you search for a specific email it becomes difficult and tiresome. When you combine 2 PST or more than two PST files to an existing one it results into a consolidated file, making it easier to locate and organize your emails and other items of Outlook.
• Backup and Management: You can manage and backup a single PST file straightforwardly. It is easier to deal with, and less prone to error in comparison to multiple smaller files.  This helps you in saving time and also reduces the risk of data loss.
• Easy to Locate Email: When you have combined PST file, you get all the data in one PST file, it makes locating a specific email or item a lot easier. You can simply use the Outlook’s in-built search functionality more effectively.
• Simplifies PST Migration: When you choose to transfer your email data to another computer or email client, then having a single PST file simplifies the process. A combined PST file is easy to move or import than multiple files.

How to Combine Multiple PST Files to a Single or Existing PST File

To combine multiple PST files into a single or existing PST file is essential for email organization, especially when you are using multiple email accounts or want to organize and streamline your data management. There are various methods to attain this. Following are few methods which can be employed to merge or combine PST files.

Method 1: Use Outlook Import/Export to Combine PST files to Existing PST file

Outlook provides a native feature ‘Import/Export’ which you may utilized to combine 2 PST files or multiple PST files to existing PST file to create a single PST file. Following are the steps to pursue to get desired result.

• Launch Microsoft Outlook on your system.
• Go to ‘File’ and select ‘Open & Export’.

• From the options, select ‘Import/Export’. In the ‘Import Export Wizard’ box, select “Import from another program or file” from the options, and click “Next.” 

• From the next dialogue box ‘Import a file’, select “Outlook Data File (.pst)” under ‘Select file type to import from’, and click “Next.”

• In the ‘Import Outlook Data File’ box, click on the ‘Browse’ under ‘File to Import’, and select the PST file that you want to import to the ‘Existing’ PST file where you want to import the data. Make sure to check mark in front of ‘Do not import duplicates’ radio button, and click ‘Next’. 

• In the next step, choose the existing PST file folder where you want to import the data to merge PST file. Now, check mark on ‘Include subfolder’ and ‘import the items into the same folder’ options, and click on ‘Finish’.

Method 2: Employ Stellar Merge Mailbox for Outlook to combine multiple PST files to existing one

Manually combining multiple PST files into an existing PST file can be a little risky. You may lose some of your important email data in the process. Moreover, manual method using native ‘Import/Export’ feature of Outlook may consume a lot of time, and can also affects original folder hierarchy. Therefore, to overcome these limitations of manual method, you may employ an automated tool like Stellar Merge Mailbox for Outlook complete the merging/combining process of PST files with ease.

Stellar Merger Mailbox for Outlook is an advance and effective tool which enables user to merge multiple PST files to an existing PST file efficiently within a few clicks. The software is compatible and supports most of the Outlook editions like 2021, 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007, and also other previous versions.

Following are the steps to merge multiple PST files to existing one using Stellar Merge Mailbox for Outlook:

• Download the Stellar Merge Mailbox for Outlook from the official website.
• Launch the software on your system. Click on “Drag & Drop” or “Add PST” from th to add PST files or go to File to select PST files that you want to combine, and click on Next.

• It will show the listed PST files click next to proceed.

• Find ‘Saving Options’ on the right-hand bar, and check mark in front of ‘Merge to Existing PST File‘.

• Now, select the mail items, folders, and subfolders that you want to merge to existing PST. Ensure to select the ‘Remove Duplicates’ option from the top. Also, click on ‘Browse’ to select the desired location to save your resultant combined PST file.

• Finally, click on ‘Merge’.
• It will initiate merging process of PST files with existing PST and leave duplicate mail items. When the merging is complete, you can click on Open Folder link to see the merged/combined PST file.

The subsequent PST file is saved to your desired location which was selected earlier in  the process.

Conclusion:

Adding/combining an Outlook PST file to an existing PST file is manually possible, since MS Outlook provides Import/Export feature which can be utilized to combine 2 PST files. But, manual method comes with limitations like inaccuracy in data, takes time and can trigger data loss. To avoid these limitations you can employ a reliable PST merge tool like Stellar Merge Mailbox for Outlook for a quick, seamless and accurate consolidation of PST files which can effectively help you in your email organization. The software comes with friendly navigation and allows even the basic users to easily merge multiple PST files without any hassles.

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About The Author

Shelly Bhardwaj

I am a Product Consultant and is associated with Stellar Data Recovery from last 8 years. I write about the latest technology tips and provide custom solutions related to Exchange Server, Office 365, MS Outlook, and many other Email Clients & different flavors of OS Servers. Read More