Export Exchange Mailbox to PST – Best Solution to Migrate Database

The Exchange mailbox is generally used to store database items such as emails, calendar, contacts, tasks, etc. The data stored on the server can be extracted and updated with the use of email applications. There are some situations during which the users need to convert their mailbox data to a file format so that it can be access offline. Moreover, corruption is another reason why many users want to backup their Exchange data. And, Outlook is the most suitable destination platform in which users can migrate their data. Thus, many users want to export Exchange database to PST format so that it can be accessed offline as well.

However, converting mailbox to Outlook supported format is not as easy as it sounds. There are some PowerShell commands using which users can perform migration. Another solution using which users can export Exchange mailbox to PST is the third-party application i.e. SysTools Exchange Export. So, let us discuss both the ways so that users can choose either of the solution depending on the needs and the requirements.

Export Exchange Database to PST using PowerShell (Single Mailbox)

The users can migrate single or multiple mailboxes from Exchange Server to Outlook PST format by implementing different set of PowerShell commands. The commands includes the use of MailboxExportRequest cmdlet which is a command in PowerShell.

Commands to Export Exchange Mailbox to PST (Single)

Launch Start menu and open the PowerShell window.
Now, Create Shared folder through the network to store PST file (in which Exchange mailbox data is to be transferred) in the shared folder.
Now, execute add-PSSnappin command which is required so that the export command can work by adding library files. Run the command mentioned below:

Add-PSSnapin Microsoft.Exchange.PowerShell.e2010

After running the above command, the next step is to execute MailboxExportRequest cmdlet.

It has two essential parameters i.e. FilePath and Mailbox.

FilePath – It defines the network path of the PST file into which you want to convert your data.

Mailbox – It describes the SMTP address or the display name of the mailbox that you are migrating.

Now, execute the MailboxExportRequest command using the syntax:

New-MailboxExportRequest -Mailbox <user> -FilePath \\<server FQDN>\<shared folder name>\<PST name>.pst

This command will finally migrate Exchange database to PST format and the file will be stored at the storage location which was mentioned in the FilePath.

Additional Commands for Migrating Exchange Mailbox

There are some other parameters as well which will help users to perform selective conversion.

Content Filter

It describes that under what conditions the mailbox data have to match which is to be transferred to the Outlook PST file. The following cmdlet will help you to move items which were received before 2018-02-10 with the subject beginning with fwd:

New-MailboxExportRequest -Mailbox <user> -ContentFilter {(Received -lt ’10/02/2018′) -and (Subject -like ‘fwd*’)} -FilePath \\<server FQDN>\<shared folder name>\<PST name>.pst

IsArchive

It defines the archive mailbox as the only source for the export option.

New-MailboxExportRequest -Mailbox <user> -IsArchive -FilePath \\<server FQDN>\<shared folder name>\<PST name>.pst

Exclude / Include Folders

Another parameter to export Exchange mailbox to PST allows users to transfer selected folders from Exchange mailbox.

To filter folders located at the root folders, users can use <FolderName>/* syntax.
The users can also transfer custom mailbox folders, no matter in which language they are in by using the #<FolderName>#/* cmdlet.

Export Exchange Database to PST Format (Multiple Mailboxes)

Sometimes, the users want to migrate more than one mailbox at a time. So, in such situations, there are only a few changes in the commands as mentioned below:

1. Save the mailboxes which you want to transfer with a variable such as:

$AllMailboxes = Get-Mailbox

2. Now, convert all the mailboxes with the names depending on the mailbox aliases.

$AllMailboxes|%{$_|New-MailboxExportRequest -FilePath \\<server FQDN>\<shared folder name>\$($_.Alias).pst}

The additional commands which we have mentioned above can only be used for migrating single mailbox.

Effective Solution to Export Exchange Mailbox to PST

There are so many utilities available in the market using which the users can convert their database. But, choosing a right application is important as any mistake during the process can cause data loss. SysTools Exchange Export is a software which can help users to migrate users data in a simple and secure way, The users get the output file in just few clicks. Some of the top features of the tool are described below:

Migrate Exchange Database to Outlook PST with same folder structure
Convert all items such as emails, calendars, contacts, etc.
Search Exchange mailboxes created within Sub-Domain
Detect, scan and load the AD (Active Directory) configuration
Supports migration from both Exchange 32 & 64 bit

Conclusion

After analyzing the issues faced by the users, we have come up with solution using which users will be able to export Exchange database to PST format with ease. The post explains two methods for performing migration. The first method consists the use of PowerShell commands in which the users have to execute some cmdlets manually. On the other hand, users also have the option to use third-party utility which will ease the conversion process.