Simple Way to Read OST Data in Any Browser

Outlook is a major component of email communication, and it saves its data in the OST file format. Sometimes Outlook does not open, and when it doesn’t, the OST file becomes corrupted. An OST file saves a local copy of Outlook data, and when Outlook is not opening. It also does not open because it gets corrupted. When it gets corrupted, you cannot open it and will not see your important work. It stops all Outlook operations.

But the good news is that users can still access their data in any Web Browser. Users can convert their data into 2 formats: HTML and MHTML format.

In this blog, we will discuss which format is better and how to access your OST file data by converting the file.

A common reason for Outlook not opening

Before comparing the file format, first, understand why Outlook is not opening. It can happen for multiple reasons:

• Corrupted OST File: If your Outlook data file (OST) becomes corrupted, Outlook cannot load your mailbox and may freeze or fail to open.
• Damaged Outlook Profile: Sometimes the user profile linked to Outlook gets damaged. A broken profile stops Outlook from launching properly.
• Outlook Running in the Background: Sometimes Outlook doesn’t close properly and keeps running in the background, blocking a new session from opening.
• Damaged Windows System Files: If your system files are corrupted, Outlook might crash or simply refuse to open.

These are some reasons that can disturb the Outlook workflow.

HTML v/s MHTML format

Both formats are compatible with any web browser without difficulty.

• HTML Format: HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is a web page format displaying text, images, and links in any web browser using standard web coding.
• MHTML Format: MHTML (MIME HTML) is a single-file archived web page format that stores HTML content together with images, styles, and resources all in one file, which can be easily viewed offline.

Both are very useful, but generally, we would suggest MHTML if you want everything stored in one file. HTML saves the web page structure only, but the images, styles, and scripts are saved separately. MHTML, however, packages all the content together (HTML + images + CSS + attachments), making it easier to store, share, and/or open offline.

In simple terms:

• HTML: A good format when you only want the main content and don’t care about images and formatting, unless you have the extra files to open with the webpage.
• MHTML: The better format for email backup, full preview, sharing, and/or offline access, since it keeps the whole content in one file.

How to Convert OST to MHTML format

There are two ways to convert an OST file to MHTML format: manually and with a professional or third-party tool.

Manual Way to Convert OST to MHTML Format

There is no direct manual option to convert an entire OST file to MHTML, but Outlook provides a basic method to save individual emails in MHTML format. This method works only if Outlook is working and the OST file is accessible.

Follow these steps:

• Open Outlook on your computer: Make sure the OST file is loading without any issues.
• Choose the email you wish to save: Click on the email that you want to convert.
• Select File > Save As: This opens the save options for the selected email.
• Choose “MHTML” from the Save as Type: In the dropdown menu, select the MHT/MHTML format.
• Select a folder in which to save: Select where you want to save the converted file.
• Click Save: Outlook will save that email as an MHTML file.

Limitations of the Manual Way

It can not convert a complete OST file at once.

• It doesn’t work without Outlook.
• The manual method is a time-consuming method.
• Sometimes formatting or inline images may not be preserved properly.
• Thousands of emails cannot be exported manually one by one.

Professional Way to Convert OST to MHTML Format

The professional way to convert an OST file to MHTML format is by using a third-party tool. Users can see multiple tools, but I recommend DataVare OST to MHTML Converter. It can easily convert an OST file to MHTML format with accuracy and security. It allows you to convert multiple OST files at once, without requiring any Outlook editions or Exchange Server.

Follow the Steps to Convert OST to MHTML

1. Firstly, download DataVare OST to MHTML Converter on your Windows platform.
2. Open the application and hit “Add File” or “Select Folder” to select the OST file you want to convert.
3. The program scans the file and displays all the mailbox folders (Inbox, Sent Items, Drafts, etc) in a tree-view.
4. Select the folder(s) or individual emails to convert.
5. Then, from the output choices, select MHTML as the output file.
6. Browse and select the output location where you want the MHTML files to go.
7. Finally, click on “Convert” (or “Start”), and the conversion process will begin.

Once done, you can navigate to the output folder you selected from above and open each of the MHTML files in your web browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox) to see the exported emails.

Conclusion

When Outlook can’t open an OST file, it disrupts your work and causes unnecessary stress. Instead of relying on a million steps to resolve the issue or worrying you will lose important emails, simply converting the OST file to a browser-friendly format is the far better option. When looking at both options, once again, MHTML is the more efficient option, as it stores all portions of the email content, including images, formatting, and attached documents, in one single file. Even though Outlook has its basic manual option, it is impossible to perform operations on corrupted or large OST files.

This is yet another example where a professional tool like the DataVare OST to MHTML Converter is a better, smarter option, keeping your mailbox accessible in any browser of your choice, even when Outlook will not work.