How to Import PST to Exchange Server SE, 2019, 2016, 2013?

Published By Jamie Kaler

Approved By Rollins Duke

Published On September 8th, 2026

Reading Time 12 Min Read

Overview: To import PST files to any version of Exchange Server, you can use automated tool (fastest), PowerShell (most flexible), or the Exchange Admin Center (GUI-based). In this article, we have explained different methods to import PST to Exchange Server SE, 2019, 2016, and 2013 step-by-step.

Table of Contents

Why Import PST to Exchange Server?
Prerequisites Before You Start
Quick Method Comparison
Recommended Tool Solution
Manual Methods (PowerShell & EAC)
Common Questions Answered

Outlook is one of the most popular desktop-based email client applications. It is also known as Outlook App for Windows and Mac users. It uses PST files to store its mailbox database on the local storage path. Centralized access to Outlook Personal Folders (PST) for legal discovery, email compliance, and enterprise policy implementation has become an increasingly important issue for many organizations.

The decentralized character of PST files, in combination with their spread on desktops, file servers, and laptops in the company makes it difficult to search, access, and manage these stores. Information for IT administrators, not to mention E-Discovery’s intricate efforts for attorneys who want to reduce their potential exposure or vulnerability.

On the other hand, Exchange Server is a well-known Mail Server platform created by Microsoft. Exchange Server comes in Hosted and On-Premise editions. It is a full-stack server that can easily be managed by an Exchange admin. It allows you to store active messages, contacts, calendars, and many more things. That’s why a huge number of users want to transfer all their data into the Microsoft Exchange Server (MXS).

Why Do Users Import PST to Exchange Server?

By importing PST files into users’ mailboxes, you can migrate email from your organization to the Exchange server.
The Smart Import feature allows you to filter the elements of the .pst files that are imported into the target mailboxes. This will allow you to cut the imported data.
Enable archive mailboxes and unlimited archiving to provide users with additional storage space for mailboxes.
Place mailboxes in legal investigations to obtain the contents.
Use the Content Search tool to find the contents of the mailbox.
Use electronic discovery cases to manage your organization’s criminal investigations
The contents of the mailbox are saved and deleted after the expiration of the retention period.
Moreover, importing PST emails to Exchange 2016 protects against data loss. Mail data that is imported into Exchange Server inherits the high availability of Exchange Online.
Mail data on the local Exchange server is available on all devices because it is stored in the cloud.

Also Read: How to Manage Multiple PST Files?

Prerequisites: Before You Start

⚙️ Important Setup RequirementPrior to performing the PST file import, you must assign the “Mailbox Import Export” role to your admin account. This process takes approximately 2-3 minutes.

Step 1: Launch the Exchange Management Shell

Step 2: Execute the following command:

New-ManagementRoleAssignment -Role "Mailbox Import Export" -User Administrator

✓ Note: This step is necessary for all import processes. If you skip this step, the import request will result in an “access denied” error message. After executing this command, be sure to exit and relaunch the Exchange Management Shell so that your changes will take effect.

Methods to Import PST files to Exchange Server SE, 2019, 2016, 2013

Are you confused about the proper import method for your organization? Utilize this rapid comparison.

Methods	Ease of Use	Import Multiple Files?	Chance of Errors	The Verdict
PST Migrator Tool	Very Easy	Yes, automatically bulk import PST to Exchange Server	None	Best in terms of efficiency and eliminating any technical headaches.
Exchange Admin Center	Medium	No, one-by-one	Medium	Best for someone who has up to two files, and does not want to buy a tool.
PowerShell	Hard (Typing Commands)	Only for those who know scripting	High (One mistake ruins it)	Best for tech-savvy IT administrators who are comfortable with command lines.

How to Import PST into Exchange Server? – Step-by-Step Guide

Firstly, install PST to Exchange Migration Tool & Run it on your Windows PC and start the process.
This application provides options to load PST files in the application panel directly from configured Outlook location. You can also choose the manual options to select files manually such as Select Files or Select Folders.
Filter all the PST data which you want to import into the Exchange Server account. Analyze the new data, official data and imported data, and personal data PST list of Inbox, Drafts, Deleted Items, Contacts, Calendars, Notes, Journals, Spam, Drafts, etc.
Select Exchange Server from the available saving options. Users only need to provide account login credentials of the resultant Exchange Server account i.e. Username, Password, and Server Name. Users can also change the language as well as choose the I am Admin option which enables the users to import PST data into multiple users’ accounts through a single Administrator account.
After that, start the process of importing PST to Exchange Server SE, 2019, 2016, 2013, and 2010 accounts. Users can easily analyze the live working process directly in the application panel.
Lastly, verify & get all the related information regarding the importing of PST files to On-Premise Exchange Server with the help of the SavingLog report generated by the software.

How to Import PST to Exchange Server with Entire Mailbox Items – Video Tutorial

We can easily analyze from above that users can instantly import PST to Exchange Server accounts quickly and accurately. The mentioned migration tool is an advanced tool, which is no more available in recent versions of Microsoft Exchange. Through this free-to-download tool, the administrators came to know about the practical need to import PST mailboxes to Exchange Server SE, 2019, 2016, 2013.

Therefore, this short video shows how to import PST to Exchange Server properly. You will get the step-by-step guide and trust me, it is one of the easiest solutions to import the data.

PST to Exchange Migration Tool – Major Features & Benefits

Load MS Outlook PST and import it into the Exchange Server Mailbox folder
Import PST emails, calendars, contacts, tasks, journals, and notes to an on-premise Exchange Server.
This Migration Tool is compatible with all types of PST files and it imports Outlook 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007, and 2003 PST files into the Exchange Server Mailbox.
Easily supports importing PST files to all the versions of Exchange Server such as Exchange Server SE 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007, 2003, etc.
Change the administrative permissions required to import the .pst file to Exchange.
Find and import PST files from the default configured Outlook profile path or either by uploading the files and folders on the panel.
You can import into multiple users’ accounts with the I am Admin option when the .pst file is imported to the Exchange mailbox
Can import password-protected PST files and then import all the mailbox into Exchange Server.
It is a completely standalone application that does not require any kind of extra installation to continue with the process.
Moreover, this utility is fully compatible with all the latest versions of Microsoft Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7, etc. You can also install this application on your Mac-based computers.

Manual Solutions to Import PST to Exchange Server

Hence, there are two manual methods of importing PST mailboxes to Exchange Server – using the EAC (Exchange Admin Center) or through Exchange Management PowerShell. Both methods will provide you with a successful result, but they involve a bit of technicality and take time and effort.

Note: For both manual methods, the first requirement is that your PST file is saved in a shared network folder with the proper sharing permissions (if using UNC path).

Method 1: Using the Exchange Admin Center (EAC)

The EAC offers a graphical interface to process your import requests.

Access EAC: Log in to your Exchange Admin Center and go to Recipients.
Select Import: After that, click on the Mailboxes tab. Click on the three dots icon (More Options) and select Import PST from the menu.
Provide the File Path: The “Import from a .pst” wizard will pop up. Enter the UNC path of your shared PST file (for example: \\FileServer\SharedFolder\user.pst). Click Next.
Choose Destination: Choose the Exchange Server mailbox that you will import the data from the PST file. There are two options available:
- Import to this mailbox
- Import to this mailbox’s archive
Choose your preferred option and click Next.
Configure Notifications: Finally, you can configure notification settings. By default, a designated mailbox will be selected to receive a notification upon completion. You can uncheck this or browse to change recipients. Click Finish to begin the import.

Method 2: Using Exchange Management PowerShell

PowerShell stands out as the most versatile option for IT departments who favor command-line automation and are looking to perform bulk operations with their import files.

To transfer a normal PST file into an Exchange mailbox, follow the command below in the Exchange Console interface:
New-MailboxImportRequest -Mailbox [email protected] -FilePath \\ServerName\Folder\user.pst

Advanced PowerShell Options:

Therefore, if you would like to store your imported PST files in any particular location or wish to import just a specific folder like “Inbox”, execute the command shown below:
New-MailboxImportRequest -Mailbox mack -FilePath \\RP-GH03\PST\mack.pst -TargetRootFolder "Old_mail" -IncludeFolders "#Inbox#"

How to Monitor the Progress of the Import:

Additionally, to see a real-time update of the import order, input the following command:
Get-MailboxImportRequest | Get-MailboxImportRequestStatistics

Important things to remember regarding PowerShell:

Replace “[email protected]” with the actual Exchange mailbox address.
Replace “\\ServerName\Folder\user.pst” with the UNC path to your PST file.
This command is going to need you to have the “Mailbox Export Import” permission role assigned (see prerequisites).
However, once the role has been assigned, ensure that the Exchange Management Shell application is exited and reopened for the role to take effect.

Limitations of Manual Methods:

For small data file transfers, manual ways usually work quite well, however for large PST import, PowerShell may show errors like “Mailbox does not exist,” “Process failed,” “Error Log,” or “Access Denied.” Resolving these problems safely requires a good understanding of the Exchange architecture.

Common Questions About PST to Exchange Import

Q: Is it possible to import a password-protected PST file to Exchange Server?

A: Yes, the suggested PST to Exchange Server migration tool supports password protected PST files and can easily import them into Exchange Server. If using PowerShell, you will need to open the PST in Outlook first.

Q: Is it possible to import multiple PST files to Exchange Server simultaneously?

A: Yes. The PST to Exchange Server import tool makes this easy. Select the desired files by means of folder selection or drag-and-drop. With PowerShell, there is no way to import multiple PST files to Exchange Server at once.

Q: How long does the import typically take?

A: The time taken to import PST files to Exchange Server is determined by the PST size and your Internet connection speed, when using manual ways. In general:

5GB PST file = 10-15 minutes
50GB PST file = 1-2 hours
100GB PST file = 3-4 hours

However, the specialized tool makes it easy and quick to import large PST files to Exchange Server.

Q: What are the differences between the tool, PowerShell, and EAC methods?

A: The tool is the fastest and easiest to use (requires no professional skills). The PowerShell method has the highest flexibility in terms of performing advanced automation and scripting. EAC is intermediate between the two methods in that it requires more hands-on work, however, it still uses Graphical User Interface (GUI).

Q: I keep receiving the error called “access denied”. What do I need to do?

A: When the error occurs, it indicates that “Mailbox Import Export” role was not assigned. We suggest you to go to the Prerequisites section and execute the role assignment command. After that, you will need to close and open the Exchange Management Shell again to apply the changes. Make sure you have done everything correctly and double-check if you are using the correct admin account in the command.

Q: Does this tool work for all versions of Exchange Server?

A: Yes, The tool is compatible with various versions of Exchange Server including Exchange SE, 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007, and 2003, as well as Exchange Online and Exchange Server Subscription Edition (SE).

Conclusion

Overall, this article presents a complete step-by-step guide to import PST to Exchange Server SE, 2019, 2016, and 2013. We have explained the methods for importing PST files to Exchange Server using PowerShell, EAC, or the automated tool. Compared to other manual ways available, the tool is easier, more reliable, and more effective