How to Import PST to Gmail? Complete Migration Roadmap

Are you looking to move PST to Gmail account? The actual migration process is quite easy and can be done through the Outlook sync method, the Google official GWMMO tool and a dedicated PST to Gmail migration tool.

Users may go with any of the methods depending on the level of data security, integrity and time dependability. However, for professional and enterprise use cases, experts often recommend a professional tool that can run without Outlook.

A PST file is an offline archive file used by Microsoft Outlook to store email, contacts, and calendar. Whether you want to access your archive data in a Gmail cloud environment, need to access damaged PST files, or need to save Outlook license money, this guide will provide you with the ultimate ways for uploading PST to Gmail in every aspect.

By utilizing the methods that work on the latest Gmail OAuth to overcome the IMAP import limits, this roadmap ensures 100% data integrity during the migration process.

Why Uploading PST Files to Gmail is a Smart Move?

Some of the prime reasons to uncover what the prime factors are that force users to transition from Outlook and upload PST to Gmail.

• Universal Cloud Accessibility: Gmail is a cloud-based email platform that can be accessed from multiple devices at once unified and automatic syncing functionality. Therefore, in this modern cloud-first environment, users are transitioning PST files into their Gmail accounts.
• Free Storage Option: Google offers free storage space of 15 GB for a personal Gmail account with universal accessibility across multiple devices, including mobile, laptops, and PC at the same time. All these offerings together are the prime reasons for importing PST files into Gmail.
• Hardware Independence: Unlike PST files that need to be stored in the hard drive of the same PC where Outlook is installed. Gmail solve this issue by allowing users to access their accounts from any browser and even on a smartphone, where PST files are hard to access.
• Advanced Security: As PST files are stored on a local device, they are prone to corruption. However, importing PST files to Gmail resolves the risk of corruption as the Gmail data is stored in the cloud servers.

Pre-Requisite Before Importing PST to Gmail Account

Before starting the PST to Gmail migration, ensure that some of the necessary pre steps that should be followed to keep the import process hassle-free.

• Stable Internet Connection: Ensure the device you’re using for the import process has a stable internet connection.
• Enough Gmail Storage: Check your Gmail storage availability to ensure you have enough free space for the PST data you are importing.
• Outlook Version for OAuth: Ensure you are using the Outlook 2016 or later version to use the Gmail (OAuth 2.0) authentication functionality.
• PST Health Check: Use the Outlook scanPST.exe tool to verify that your PST files are in a healthy state. If it is not in a healthy state, the Outlook sync and Google official GWMMO method will not work.

Method 1: Upload PST to Gmail Via Outlook Sync Method Using Modern OAuth

Users looking for a free manual way to import PST files into Gmail can go with the Outlook sync method. In this method user need to configure their Gmail account in Outlook using OAuth and drag and drop the emails from PST folders to Gmail folders. However, for uploading PST contacts to Gmail, you need to export the PST contacts to CSV and then import the CSV into Gmail.

Remember, this method works on the IMAP protocol; therefore, there is a strict limit of 500MB PST data for import into Gmail within 24 hours. To upload PST files larger than 500 MB, you need to wait for another 24 hours to unlock the limit. Now, let us discuss the detailed steps to move PST files, emails and contacts into Gmail one-by-one.

Import PST Emails to Gmail Using Outlook Sync Method

1. Run Outlook Classic on your PC and click on the File tab.
2. Next, tap the Add Account button > Enter email address > Connect.
3. Then, re-enter the email address and password in the browser pop-up window.
4. After that, check the Gmail inbox access checkbox and click Continue.
5. Finally, restart your Outlook Classic application and drag and drop emails from PST folders to the added Gmail account folders one-by-one.

Import PST Contacts to Gmail Using Outlook Import/Export

1. At the start, run Outlook Classic on your desktop and click on the File tab.
2. Next, click on Open and Export > Import/Export.
3. Now, select Export to a file > Next > Comma Separated Values (CSV) > Next.
4. After that, select the contacts folder > Next > Browse storage location > Next > Finish.
5. Then, open the Chrome browser configured with the destination Gmail account.
6. Thereafter, click on the Google Apps menu and select the Contacts option.
7. Now, click on the Import option from the left-side menu and tap Select File.
8. Next, choose the CSV file exported in step 4 and click Import.
9. Finally, wait for PST contacts to the Gmail process complete.

Important Note: The PST file should be present in your Outlook environment to follow the Outlook sync method for uploading Outlook PST files into a Gmail account.

Pros:

• Free technique and suitable for users who are importing PST files of less than 500 MB into their personal Gmail account.
• Highly suitable technique for technical users who do not require dependency on any third-party application.
• Completely packed method for users who are required to import PST emails and contacts to Gmail.

Cons:

• Require to manually handle folder structure and is prone to human errors.
• Very time longing process requires 24 hours to import 500 MB PST data to Gmail.
• Does not directly preserve metadata attachments or folders. Sometimes it may mishandle BCC fields and embedded media elements in PST emails.
• User required to have Outlook installed on their system. Otherwise, this method is not followable.

Method 2: Import PST Files to Gmail Using Google Official GWMMO Tool

If you are looking for moving PST to a personal Gmail account automatically and for free, then you may use the official Google GWMMO tool. This tool is built by Google for Google Workspace Migration for Microsoft Outlook. Our researchers have thoroughly tried and tested this tool to import PST to Gmail. This tool also uses the latest OAuth authentication and does not have an IMAP limit for data upload. To learn the detailed step-by-step working of the tool, please follow the steps guided below.

Easy to Follow Working Steps for PST to Gmail Migration Using GWMMO Tool

1. First, download and install the Google GWMMO tool on your PC.
2. Next, search for Google Workspace migration for Microsoft Outlook and open.
3. After that, enter the email address of your Gmail account and click Continue.
4. Thereafter, verify Gmail account credentials in the browser pop-ups to allow access.
5. Now, select the From PST files as the import option and select the PST files to import.
6. Then, click on the Next button and select the data you wish to migrate.
7. Finally, click on the Migrate button to start the PST to Gmail migration process.

Advantages:

• Google’s official and trusted tool to import PST files to Gmail without any file size limitations.
• Allows importing PST contacts, calendars, and emails into a personal Gmail account directly.
• Run on Google’s latest OAuth authentication to verify Gmail account ownership.

Disadvantages:

• Uses the Outlook MAPI library for PST reading and cannot work without Outlook.
• No advanced options to selectively import specific PST folders to the Gmail account.
• Does not provide any auto PST discovery functionality to auto-detect PST files from system storage.
• Do not offer any advanced filter settings for selective migration from PST data into Gmail.

Method 3: Professional Tool to Import PST file into Gmail Without Outlook

For professional and enterprise users who are highly worried about data integrity and privacy during the import process. They may use the MailsWare Outlook PST converter, a dedicated solution for importing multiple PST files into Gmail. This software allows importing damaged, ANSI, and Unicode PST files into personal Gmail.

Additionally, this software is developed to work with the Google API (OAuth 2.0) connection for importing email data to Gmail. Therefore, it does not imply any data size limit for importing as compared to the old IMAP technique.

This ensures 100% secure, fast and easy PST to Gmail migration while preserving metadata. To know the complete working procedure of the tool, please follow the detailed working steps provided below.

Steps to Import PST Email to Gmail Using Expert Utility

1. At the start, install and run the PST to Gmail importer tool on your PC.
   
2. Next, click on the Select Files or Select Folders option from the software UI.
   
3. Now, add the PST files required to upload to the Gmail account and click Open.
4. After that, select the PST folders containing data for timesaving.
   
5. Thereafter, select the saving option as Gmail from the list.
   
6. Then, enter your Gmail email address > click Next.
7. Now, enter the Gmail account credentials in the browser pop-up and allow access.
8. Finally, apply the filter settings for selective migration and click Next to start the PST to Gmail import process.

Features of the Automated PST to IMAP Migration Tool

• Supports Auto PST Detection: This expert utility allows auto scan and detects PST files from all the nested folders scattered in your system. This functionality helps users save time by eliminating the need to accumulate PST files in a single folder.
• Allow to Import Damaged PST into Gmail: The recovery mode option of the tool allows users to import corrupted PST files to Gmail account.
• Supports Bulk Import Multiple PST files to Gmail: The bulk select files functionality of the tool allows users to import multiple PST files into their personal Gmail account at once.
• Allows Uploading Selective PST folders to Gmail: The PST folder selection functionality of the tool allows users to selectively import specific PST folders to Gmail. This ensures the required data gets imported without wasting storage space.
• Offer the Advanced Filter option for Selective Migration: For users who require data functionality at the email level, this tool offers advanced filter settings based on Date Range, From, To, CC, etc attributes.
• Works on Latest OAuth 2.0 Authentication: This standalone solution works on the latest OAuth 2.0 authentication protocol for securely verifying ownership of Gmal account.
• Standalone PST to Gmail importer: Yes, the MailsWare PST to Gmail migration tool is standalone software that can run independently without Outlook. This tool is recommended for users who need to import PST to Gmail without Outlook

Comparison of Free, Google Official & Pro PST to Gmail Import Tool

Common FAQS for PST to Gmail Import Process

Q1. PST to Gmail Import Fails when Using Outlook Method

Ans: This is a common problem faced by users when using the Outlook sync method. In this approach, we indirectly use IMAP sync, which limits to 500 MB PST data for import into Gmail in 24 hours. If the problem persists, try repairing your PST files using an advanced PST recovery tool.

Q2. What is the PST attachment limit when importing to Gmail?

Ans: The Gmail attachment limit is around 15 MB. Therefore, if you try to import a PST email to Gmail contain attachment larger than 15 MB, you will face an import crash. Therefore, in such a scenario, it is suggested to use the PST attachment extractor to get attachments and upload them to the drive.

Q3. Will my folder structure be preserved when importing PST into Gmail?

Ans: The Outlook sync and Google official GWMMO tool guarantees to preserve the folder structure during the import process. If you need to preserve the folder structure during PST to Gmail migration, it is suggested to use an expert tool like MailsWare.

Q4. Is my Gmail Password safe during PST to Gmail Migration Using Outlook?

Ans: Yes, if you are using Outlook 2016 and later versions for PST to Gmail migration, then your password is safe, as Outlook does not directly ask for your password. It uses Google’s OAuth protocol to verify your Gmail account ownership.

Q5. How do I transfer everything from Outlook to Gmail?

Ans: To import PST to Gmail with complete data, you may use the dedicated software like MailsWare. These tools are specially designed to solve PST to Gmail migration problems.

Q6. What happens if an email in my PST files large than 25 MB?

Ans: Gmail limits the email size to 25 MB, if you try to import a PST email larger than 25 MB, then the import will fail, irrespective of any method you are using to import PST to Gmail.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion to the detailed guide to import PST to Gmail, we have discussed several techniques to complete the task. If you are migrating less than 500 MB PST to Gmail and do not have constraints of time or data integrity, then you must go with the Outlook sync method.

For importing PST to personal and enterprise Gmail account Google official GWMMO tool is suggested. If you require something that is completely Outlook independent and allows you to selectively migrate damaged, ANSI, or Unicode PST to Gmail than you must go with an expert utility such as MailsWare PST to Gmail Migration tool.