How to export PST files from Gmail
We all save things that we probably don’t need. Better safe than sorry. Multiple copies keep things safe. The CYA approach is better than “who knows.”
Most people have had to deal with a .pst file. These days you’ll also see the .ost format. The OST (Offline Storage Table) and PST (Personal Storage Table) file format consists of the Personal Folder File (PFF) containing a user’s emails, contacts, and schedule.
These files are relatively* large, prone to corruption, duplicated inadvertently, have poor version controls, etc. In short, they’re a pain in the ass.
Google Vault can help
You’ve been tasked with exporting data from Gmail into Microsoft 365 or an archival solution. What’s your best option? Ideally, you have access to Google Vault. This archival and eDiscovery service is included in many versions of Google Workspace. Users with a Google Workspace subscription (suspended or active) or set as an Archived User (AU) will have all data stored in Google Vault. This allows for a secure, server-side download of data.
mbox or PST (or both)
Data export (or backup) requests are one of our most frequent requests. There are A LOT of reasons to export user(s) data to a .pst or .mbox file for secure storage or migration to another system. We have systems and processes that can be handy if you have a large volume or frequent requests to generate this data.
