PST is the most favorable file format of MS Outlook used to store Emails along with the attachments such as, calendars, journals, etc. But still users meet a situation where they are required to convert PST to PDF format. Because PDF is one of the most used and comfortable file formats to store data or files. The PDF format allows its users to share and access data easily and securely. The PDF files can be secured with passwords to restrict access. Outlook emails become inaccessible if the users do not have outlook in their systems.
PDF files are easily moved PST files can not be moved so easily. It is always recommended to store all the electronic mail in one place. So, you can access them swiftly whenever they are required. But when you save all the electronic mail or information at a place it becomes difficult to manage them when the file formats are different. And hence you need to export PST Email to PDF. Let’s begin with understanding the reason to export PST to PDF.
Step 1: Why Do We Need to Convert PST to PDF files
There are numerous reasons due to the need to Convert Outlook PST Email as PDF format. Some of the reasons are given below:-
- Users cannot access PST files without Outlook.
- PDF files are portable in nature and can easily move the data whereas the PST file can not do the same.
- PDF files do not depend on the platform and can be accessed but PST files are platform dependent.
- You can encrypt PDF files to protect your data.
- Other Microsoft Office products serve you with a feature to save the file data into a PDF file but in Outlook you are not allowed to save data as PDF formats.
Step 2: Manual Tricks to Convert Outlook PST email as PDF:
As we discussed above, Outlook does not allow you to save your data as PDF. And you are required to convert the Outlook PST to PDF file format. Here the best two easiest methods are discussed below to export PST to PDF:-
#Method1 - With Adobe Acrobat Pro DC :-
Adobe Acrobat is the best application to export Microsoft Outlook Email as PDF. But you need to pay a high amount to use it. If you can afford the Acrobat then it serves a plug-in to Outlook that is later used to save emails in PDF format. For doing so, you get some additional options to get the PDF.
Follow the below-listed steps to Convert PST with Adobe PDF tab in Outlook:-
- View Outlook and tap on the Adobe PDF tab in the ribbon.
- Choose the required Emails to convert.
- Tap on the Selected Messages in the Adobe PDF tab.
- Choose to Create a New PDF from the displayed drop-down menu.
- A new saving tab will be displayed
- Choose the saving location and provide a name to PDF file, then tap on the Save button.
You can also save the new emails in previously created PDF files by choosing the “Append to existing PDF” from the displayed drop-down. It also enables you to set up Automatic Archival, which automatically saves an email as a PDF format whenever a new email is created. This way the process becomes much easier and automatic to perform. After this, you can easily access Outlook email files in the form of the PDF.
But if you can not afford Adobe Acrobat Pro DC then don’t worry we have another method to convert PST to PDF format.
#Method 2. With Microsoft Print to PDF:-
If you are using Windows and working on Outlook 2016 or the later versions. Then you can convert PST Emails to PDF with Microsoft Print to PDF Option. All you need to do is just activate Microsoft Print to PDF and then convert Outlook PST Email as PDF.
Go through these steps carefully to convert PST file to PDF with MS Print To PDF:
- Go to Outlook, Choose the emails in PST File required to convert.
- Press on the File tab from the ribbon and click on the Print button.
- Choose Printer, and Press on the Microsoft Print to PDF from the drop-down.
- Now, press on the Print button.
- In the saving tab, Enter the saving location and filename.
- Then hit on the Save button.
- The file will be saved on the defined location.
Step 3: Automated Approach
The automated approach means using professional solutions i.e, commercial or automated tools. One such utility is PST to PDF Converter that converts PST emails to PDF without consuming extra time and effort. You just require to add the PST file to it and it will automatically create all the outlook emails as PDF files. And this tool does not cost you a high amount and this software is compatible with all the windows versions and outlook versions.
Here we discussed various ways that will help in the conversion of PST into PDF with manual as well as an automated solution. You can go with the manual method if you are a technical user. If not then you can go with an automated solution.