How to Convert PST to Unicode?

Outlook 97-2002 uses ANSI format to store important documents like mails, notes, appointments in the form of PST files. But the problem with this format is that its size limit is up to 2GB and can only store up to 65,000 items per folder. So, there is great need to convert PST to Unicode as this format does not have any limitation regarding the file size and can store any number of files. The Unicode PST is supported by Outlook 2003 and later versions.

Suppose a situation where you are using Outlook 2000 to store your important documents. But when you try to access any file, an error message displayed up stating:

“Cannot move the items. The folder is full”

The cause behind this error is the oversized PST file size. When ANSI formatted PST used in Outlook 2000 grows above than 1.82 GB, the above error is encountered. Hence, you need to convert old PST to Unicode so as to resolve this error and to again access them easily.

How to Convert PST to Unicode?

First of all, check out the file size according to which you can decrease the size. Browse to the location of the files and right click the folder available in the Properties tab. In case, if the size value is large, then follow the below steps:

You can use the Import option to copy the data of old PST file to the newly created PST. This option is suitable when using new or existing profiles created in Outlook 2003 or 2007.

Next you can also go for archiving if you are using existing profiles created in Outlook 2002 or earlier versions.

But these manual steps do not prove to be useful every time. So, in that case, you can use PST Repair Software that split PST files on the basis of various criteria like by date, email ID or folders etc. It is capable to convert PST to Unicode and also divides them into smaller individual files which can be directly imported to Outlook.