How to Backup IMAP Email to PST: Complete Guide

Overview of Backing up IMAP Email to PST

IMAP, which stands for Internet Message Access Protocol, is widely used by major email services such as Gmail, Yahoo, Zoho Mail, iCloud, and AWS. It allows email clients to fetch mailbox data from the server, making it a popular choice among users.

Many email users prefer Outlook as their email client and seek an effortless and efficient method to export their IMAP mailbox data to Outlook versions like 2010, 2013, 2016, and 2019. Outlook utilizes the OST (Offline Storage Table) and PST (Personal Storage Table) file formats for data storage.

In this guide, we will delve into the methods of backing up IMAP email to PST files in Outlook 2019, 2016, 2013, and 2010. We will also explore various aspects related to the process of exporting IMAP mailboxes to .pst files, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the topic.

The Advantages of Exporting IMAP to PST File

Here are some reasons about why to backup IMAP to PST format:

• Exporting data to .pst files offers several advantages, including data backup and enhanced data security measures.
• By having data stored in .pst files, users can avoid issues related to network connectivity or server connections. The data stored locally on the disk/system ensures constant accessibility. Moreover, .pst files provide the option to set up password protection, allowing users to secure their data with ease.

How to Backup IMAPEmail to PST

In this section, we will show you how to backup IMAP email to PST format, please read carefully!

Step 1. Open Outlook and go to the email folder you want to back up.

Step 2. Click on the File tab at the top left-hand corner of the screen. In the left-hand menu, choose Open & Export and then select Import/Export.

Step 3. Within the Import and Export Wizard, select the option Export to a file and proceed by clicking on Next.

Step 4. Choose the file type as Outlook Data File (.pst) and select the specific email folder you wish to export. Additionally, you have the option to include subfolders if desired.

Step 5. Select a preferred location on your computer to save the file, assign a name to it, and then click on Finish to finalize the process and export the emails to the designated file. Now, You have completed the progress that performing Outlook backup IMAP to PST.

Bonus Tip: How to Auto BackupPST Data Using Best Backup Software

After you export IMAPemails as PSTfiles, you may need to backup these PSTfiles automatically to prevent data loss caused by various accidents. If you are seeking an automated solution for backing up PST or IMAP in Outlook, it is recommended to utilize reliable and secure software like AOMEI Backupper Professional.

This comprehensive backup and restore software offers numerous advantages over Outlook Add-in programs, which are software extensions that enhance the functionality of Microsoft Outlook. It allows you to securely back up IMAP emails in Outlook, as well as backup contacts, calendars, notes, and other Outlook data, saving it to a secure location. Here are some notable benefits:

☆It supports backing up tasks in various email accounts, including Outlook, Gmail, Hotmail, and more, integrated with the Outlook client.
☆You have the flexibility to choose from different storage devices such as thumb drives, cloud drives, local/external hard drives, USB flash drives, and NAS devices as the backup location.
☆The Schedule Backup feature enables you to set different time frequencies for running email backups, including Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Event Triggers, or USB plug in.

To get started, download this powerful Outlook email backup software, compatible with Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, XP, and Vista, and enjoy the benefits of secure and automated PST file backups.

Please note: If you are a server user, we recommend trying out AOMEI Backupper Server for your specific needs.

Step 1. Launch Outlook and enter your email address. Click on the Connect button, and then carefully follow the on-screen instructions to add the Outlook account that contains the PST files.

Step 2. Launch AOMEI Backupper Professional and navigate to the Backup section. From there, select Outlook Backup to proceed with backing up your Outlook data.

Step 3. Click on Add Outlook data and choose the Outlook account that contains the PST files you wish to back up. After making your selection, click OK to proceed.

Step 4. Next, click on the box below to select the backup destination where you want to store the PST files for Outlook.

Step 5. Enable the desired schedule for backup, whether it's Daily, Weekly, Monthly, and Event triggers or USB plug in. Make sure to check the option Wake the computer to run scheduled tasks to ensure that the computer is awakened and the backup is executed as per the scheduled task.

Step 6. Once you have configured the settings, click on Start Backup to initiate the automatic backup of Outlook emails, ensuring a seamless process without any locking issues.

✿Important Notes:
1. The Event triggers in AOMEI Backupper Professional only support backing up PST files during system startup and user log-on. Therefore, you cannot set a specific time for running the PST file backup task.
To avoid issues related to a full backup disk, it is highly recommended to regularly delete old backup images. You can accomplish this by clicking on Backup Scheme and enabling it as a preventive measure.

Summary

This article would like to describe in detail how to backup IMAP email to PST. Finally, we recommend you use a professional automatic backup software- AOMEI Backupperto backup PSTfiles automatically. This software is very powerful and it is one of the best Outlook PST backup software in 2023, download it now to experience its powerful functions!