Home » Blog » Conversion » 5 Steps to Export Gmail Emails to PST Without Outlook

5 Steps to Export Gmail Emails to PST Without Outlook

export gmail to pst without outlook
Nilesh ~ Modified: January 29th, 2024 ~ Conversion ~ 5 Minutes Reading

“I am having numerous crucial emails, contacts & calendars data in my Gmail account, which I want to export to PST file quickly. So, I want to know if there exists any simple solution to export Gmail to PST. I will prefer it if the solution does not require Outlook installation as it will complicate things a little on my end.”

– Amanda, LA

There are not many solutions that can export Gmail emails to PST file format. Especially without the aid of Microsoft Outlook. In this blog, we will focus on some techniques on both ends of the spectrum i.e.,

We will first focus on methods that do not require Microsoft Outlook. Although you can skip to the preferred section, we recommend reading all solutions to ensure that you choose the best for you.

export gmail emails to pst

Methods to Export Gmail to PST without Outlook

Currently, Google doesn’t provide a direct solution to export emails in PST file. However, this task can be done directly by using either third-party tools or with indirect tricks. We have explained both of them here:

  1. Automated Software for Direct Conversion
  2. Google Takeout for Indirect Conversion

#1 Automated Software for Direct Conversion

Automated tools are the safest & fastest solution that is specifically designed for such purposes. One such well-rated tool is the Software to Backup Gmail Data which can easily export Gmail emails to PST without Outlook. Using this, users can effortlessly transfer emails and contacts from Gmail account into PST file format.

Download for Windows Download for Mac

Note: Outlook mode is required for transferring calendars. However, there is no need for it when moving emails and contacts.

Following are the short working steps of the automated tool:

Step 1: First, Download the Gmail backup utility from above download button.

Step 2: Then login into the tool using Gmail account id and password.

click on the login button

Step 3: Choose the Category of data need to be exported and choose Email format as PST and uncheck the Outlook mode option.

select the pst format

Step 4: Browse the Destination location for the PST file and Apply Filter for exporting selective mailbox.

set the destination location

Step 5: Click on Start button to begin the export process.

start the export process

#2 Use Google Takeout for Indirect Conversion

Another way is to make use of Google Takeout to download Gmail emails to the computer. The Gmail data will be placed in an MBOX file. The process is as follows:

  • Go to the Takeout page, deselect all and select only the Mail option.

  • Finally, click Create Export.

  • Wait for the process to complete. You will get an email. Open it and download the archive.

  • Finally, extract the downloaded file to get MBOX file.
  • Use MBOX to PST Converter to convert this Gmail file into PST format.

It is evident that regardless of the method to use, as long as you want to complete the export process without Outlook, using a professional solution is a must.

Alert: There is no direct manual method to convert Gmail emails to PST file. However, if one has access to the Microsoft Outlook application, then achieving this task is entirely possible.

How to Manually Export Gmail Emails to PST With Outlook?

Following are the required steps for exporting Gmail to PST while using Outlook application:

  • Initiate the process by selecting File menu in MS Outlook’s application (MS Outlook 2019, 2016 or 2013 edition

click on file

  • Now, in the Info section, you have to select Add Account

add account

  • One new “Auto-Account-Setup” page opens where you are required entering of your name, along with Gmail address as well as password

enter gmail id and password

  • After that choose Next
  • And then, new auto-account setup-page
  • Once done, click Finish to move Gmail inbox to Outlook
  • Outlook syncs with Gmail
  • The emails in your Gmail account will appear in Outlook.

gmail appears in the interface

  • Gmail’s mail messages appear in MS Outlook program
  • And now, you got to choose File menu
  • Then go to Open & Export to begin exporting Gmail to PST file

go to open & export

  • Then choose Import/Export.
  • After that, choose Export to a file.
  • And then, choose Outlook’s Data File to migrate emails from Gmail to PST.

outlook data file

  • Now, select that account which you need to export:
    • Choose the Gmail account.
    • Also, you can check “Include-subfolders” for ensuring copying of entire data/mails

  • And after doing it, choose Next
  • And then, browse for selecting the saving location and for naming recovered Outlook’s PST file
  • And after that, select Finish.

click finish

This way you have successfully converted Gmail emails to PST files.

Limitations: Login Error

The manual way allows the recovery and syncing of Gmail account with Outlook application only. But, more often than not, certain problems arise while executing this process. And such kind of problems delay the entire process and even gives rise to certain errors like the Login Error.

At the time you fill the account’s username & password, it is quite likely that you will be recurrently prompted for these credentials. This mostly happens in cases when any users enter wrong passwords, or when the users use new machines for logging in, and when they use Gmail after a considerably long time. For fixing such problem, keep clicking Cancel till the time the prompt finally stops coming. Also, one can get back to the old system for performing this Add-account process. At times, accessing Gmail is not possible in MS Outlook program and an error flashes.

For fixing such an error, go to Gmail’s account and ensure that “Allow-less-security-settings” has been set to ON and after checking that, follow the steps above for adding the email account.

Conclusion

In this blog, we have explained the only possible solutions to export Gmail to PST without Outlook. In case you somehow manage the MS Outlook, then you can also use another solution that requires Outlook for converting emails.