How to Open PST Files Without Outlook – Latest Method

Written By
Pradeep Kumar
Approved By
Shivam Rathore
Updated on
June 9th, 2025
Read Time
5 minutes

Summary: Various email clients allow users to manage multiple email accounts. MS Outlook is one of the most preferred email clients among them. MS Outlook stores all its data, including emails, attachments, tasks, and more, in the PST file format. You usually need MS Outlook to open PST file. However, there are multiple times when users may need to access and view the PST file. But their Outlook subscription has expired, and they prefer not to renew it. To view the content of the PST file format outside or without the Outlook environment, use the professional PST Viewer Tool.

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Table of Contents

Why User Want to Open PST Files Without Outlook

Users might want to open PST file without Outlook, depending on what they prefer. The most standard reasons are mentioned below.

Outlook PST files can only work when you have a working internet connection. Additionally, you might experience various issues with an unstable internet connection.
You don’t want to install and set up Outlook.
Your Outlook subscription has ended, and you don’t want to renew it.
You need to share PST files with someone who doesn’t have Outlook.
Emails in your PST file aren’t showing up in Outlook.

In these cases, the best way to open a PST file is use PST viewer tool so that you can accessed without Outlook. Since there are many reasons why you might need to open a PST file without Outlook, let’s look at how you can do this using a built-in method.

How to Open PST File Without Outlook?

PST files can be viewed or opened without Outlook and any complications using these 3 methods:

Convert PST to TXT Format
PST File Viewer Tool

Now let’s move on to the approaches to opening PST files without Outlook.

Approach 1: Convert PST to TXT to View PST Files

If you want to view a PST file without installing or setting up the Outlook application. It is a better approach to convert the PST file into TXT format. This authorizes you to access the contents without installing Outlook. Follow these steps to convert the PST file to TXT format to access PST files without Outlook:

Convert PST to TXT to View PST File

Run MS Outlook as Administrator (optional, unless required for permissions).
Open MS Outlook.
Select the email you want to convert/export.
Click on the File tab in the top menu.
Choose Save As.
In the Save as type dropdown, select Text Only (*.txt).
Choose the location where you want to save the file.
Click Save.

As you complete the above steps accurately, you will be able to access PST files without Outlook by saving them in TXT format.

Approach 2: DRS Softech PST Viewer Tool to View PST Files

The DRS Softech PST Viewer Tool is a powerful tool that enables you to open, view, and read PST files without an Outlook application. This free tool supports the opening and viewing of both UNICODE and ANSI PST files. Thus, users can easily look through their emails and more, even though they don’t have Outlook installed. The best part is that PST Viewer allows users to save their PST files in other file formats. Its simple and interactive user interface allows to access anyone, even non-technical users can easily export and save PST files in TXT files.

Steps to View PST Files Without Outlook

Download, install, and the DRS Softech PST Viewer Tool in your system.
After that, opt for the Single Files/Multiple File Option.
Now, click Select File and choose the desired PST File Option.
Now, you can view your PST mailbox in this preview option.

Here, now you can view your PST file for your convenience. If you want to share this file in the future, then it is a better approach to convert this file into a universal file format so you can easily view it whenever you want.

Further, from the drop-down list, choose PDF as a file format option.
After that, choose the additional option to satisfy your requirements.
After that, select the desired location to save the resultant output file.
In the end, click on the convert button to import PST to MSG File Format.

Also Read: Convert PST File to PDF With Attachments

Conclusion

Open PST files without Outlook can be challenging, but the methods we’ve discussed make it easier to view your PST data. Manual methods might only let you open one email at a time in a different format.

To view all your emails at once without Outlook, you can use the DRS PST Viewer tool. This tool helps you see the contents of many PST files without needing Outlook. If you want to save those emails in different formats, this tool can help with that too.

FAQ’s

Can I view .PST files without Outlook?

Download, install, and the DRS Softech PST Viewer Tool in your system.
After that, opt for the Single Files/Multiple File Option.
Now, click Select File and choose the desired PST File Option.
Now, you can view your PST mailbox in this preview option.

How can I open a PST file?

Run the DRS Softech PST Viewer.
Select PST desired PST File Option.
Now, you can Open and view your PST mailbox in this preview panel.

About The Author:

Pradeep Kumar

Pradeep is an expert with over 2 years of experience in email migration, email recovery, and file conversion. He has a passion for helping users by sharing easy-to-understand solutions for common technical challenges across different platforms. Known for breaking down complex tech topics into simple, enjoyable content, Pradeep's work has earned recognition in several well-known tech blogs. His straightforward approach and reliable guidance have made him a trusted source for both tech enthusiasts and beginners looking to resolve their technical issues.