Outlook for Mac cannot import an ANSI .pst file

Original KB number:   2632329

Symptoms

When you try to import a .pst file into Microsoft Outlook 2016 for Mac or Outlook for Mac 2011, you receive one of the following errors depending on your version of Outlook for Mac:

Outlook 2016 for Mac:

There's something wrong with this file. Please try another file.

Screenshot of the error There's something wrong with this file.

Outlook for Mac 2011:

The Data File could not be imported. This Outlook Data File is saved in ANSI format, which cannot be imported by Outlook for Mac.

Screenshot of the Import Incomplete warning details.

Cause

The .pst file is saved in the 97-2002 format, ANSI, that Outlook for Mac does not support.

Workaround

Open the .pst file in Microsoft Outlook 2010, and move the contents to a new .pst file that is saved in Unicode format. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Open Outlook 2010, and select File, Open, Open Outlook Data File.

  2. Browse to and select the ANSI .pst file.

  3. Select the ANSI .pst file root in the Navigation Pane.

    Screenshot of the files under the ANSI .pst file root in the Navigation Pane.

  4. Select File, select Options, and then select Advanced.

  5. Select Export, and then select Export to a file and select Next.

  6. Select Outlook Data File (.pst), and select Next.

  7. Make sure the root of the ANSI .pst file is selected, and that Include subfolders is enabled, and then select Next.

  8. Select Browse to choose a location for the new .pst file to be created, and enter a file name for it, and select OK.

  9. Select Finish, enter a password for the PST if you prefer (optional), and select OK.

  10. This creates a Unicode PST file in the location that you specified, that you can later import into Outlook for Mac successfully.

  11. Open Outlook for Mac, and import the .pst file. For more information about how to import .pst files, see Import a .pst file into Outlook for Mac from Outlook for Windows.