How to Open PST File on Mac Without Outlook in 2025?

Summary: Opening and viewing a PST file on a Mac can be a difficult task, especially, if you don’t have access to Microsoft Outlook. In this post, we will show you how to open PST file on mac without Outlook using different methods and tools.

A lot of Mac users are unaware of how to open Outlook PST files on a Mac. Attempting to read Outlook PST files and open PST files on a Mac is not feasible. As a result, you can see how to read every email in the PST file on a Mac computer here. All you need to do is follow a few easy steps to open an Outlook PST file in Mac Outlook. Let’s examine the procedures for opening and reading a PST file on any Mac device.

Introduction to Outlook PST File

Microsoft Outlook uses the PST (Personal Storage Table) file format to store a variety of data types, such as contacts, calendar events, tasks, emails, and other private data. Outlook for Windows and Mac mostly uses PST files to store local copies of a user’s emails and other account data.

People May Also Ask

• How to view PST file on Mac?
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• Can I access PST files without Outlook?
• How to open Outlook PST file on Mac OS?

Why Open Outlook PST Files on Mac Without Outlook?

There are several reasons why someone might want to open a PST file on a Mac without using Outlook. Here are some of the key reasons:

Outlook for Mac is not always available, especially for users who don’t have a Microsoft 365 subscription or a standalone Outlook license. Some Mac users prefer not to install Outlook due to its cost, complexity, or lack of need for the full application.

For those who already have Outlook on Windows or who don’t want to pay for Outlook on Mac, opening PST files without Outlook is a more cost-effective and simpler solution.

Some users may experience performance issues, bugs, or slowdowns when using Outlook on Mac, especially when dealing with large PST files. Opening PST files without Outlook can be an alternative way to avoid these problems.

A new operating system or email software may be required for some users to open PST files. For example, Outlook for Mac does not natively handle PST files, but a Mac OS user may want to view their PST file.

Where are Outlook PST Files Saved in Mac & Windows Operating Systems? 

For Mac OS:

Here’s a breakdown of the locations for OLM files (Outlook for Mac) and how PST files may be handled on Mac:

Outlook Version	Mac Version	Default Data File Location
Outlook for Mac 2021/2019/2016	macOS (Mojave, Catalina, Big Sur, Monterey, Ventura)	~/Documents/Microsoft User Data/Office <version>/Outlook/ (Typically stores data in OLM format)
Outlook for Mac 2011	macOS (Older Versions)	~/Documents/Microsoft User Data/Outlook 2011/ (Data files in OLM format)
PST Files (Imported)	macOS (All Versions)	PST files can be manually imported into Outlook for Mac, but they don’t have a default location. Imported PST files are stored within the OLM structure or can be saved in custom locations.

For Windows OS –

Here’s a table showing the default locations where Outlook PST files are stored in different versions of Windows and Outlook:

Outlook Version	Windows Version	Default PST File Location
Outlook 365/2019/2016	Windows 11/10	C:\Users\<YourUserName>\Documents\Outlook Files\
Outlook 2013	Windows 11/10	C:\Users\<YourUserName>\Documents\Outlook Files\
Outlook 2010	Windows 10/8/7/Visa	C:\Users\<YourUserName>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook\
Outlook 2007 and earlier	Windows 10/8/7/Vista	C:\Documents and Settings\<YourUserName>\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\ (Windows XP and Vista)

How to Find the PST File Location Manually on Windows OS?

If you’re unable to locate your PST file using the default location, here’s how you can find it manually within Outlook:

1. Open Outlook.
2. Click on File in the menu.
3. Select Account Settings, then choose Account Settings again.
4. In the Data Files tab, you’ll see a list of all data files. Select the PST file and click Open File Location.
5. This will open the folder where your PST file is stored.

How to Find Outlook Data Files on Mac?

If you’re not sure where your OLM or PST file is located on your Mac, you can follow these steps:

1. To locate the OLM data file (native to Outlook for Mac):
   • Open Outlook for Mac.
   • Click on Tools in the menu.
   • Select Public Folders or Outlook Preferences and then navigate to the Data Files section.
   • This will display the path to the data files (typically an OLM file) used by Outlook for Mac.
2. To locate an imported PST file (if you’ve manually imported a PST file):
   • If you’ve imported a PST file into Outlook for Mac, the original PST file might still be in your Downloads or Documents folder.
   • You can check the Import folder or look for the PST file wherever you may have saved it before importing.

MacArmy Free PST Viewer– Open & View PST File on Mac without Outlook

Use MacArmy PST Converter for Mac wizard to access and open Outlook PST files on Mac and Windows devices. By opening PST files into a preferred file format, it allows you to open them. This application enables you to open PST files on mac without Outlook and offers more than 20+ saving options. Along with many others, it includes PST to PDF, MBOX, EML, OLM, EMLX, DOC, Thunderbird, IMAP, Outlook.com, Gmail, and so on. Additionally, the procedure saves time and only requires a few easy steps to finish the batch migration of Outlook PST files.

The software’s user interface is straightforward and easy to use. All kinds of people can easily access its automated functioning methods. According to their individual needs, users can also use the software’s functionality to access PST files on Mac and Windows without Outlook. Additionally, there is a free demo edition of the program that lets you test its features without paying anything.

Step By Step Guide to View PST Files on Mac

1. Download and install Free PST Viewer Tool on Mac
2. Click on Add Files and Add Folders button to load PST files
3. Now, you can see the all selected files list in software screen

Note: Furthermore, if you need to convert it into any file format, proceed with the steps and click on Next button to select the file format from the drop-down list. According to your needs, you can also opt for additional features for simplify the procedure.

Wrap Up!

In this guide, you learned how to open PST files on Mac & Windows without Outlook. You also learned manual ways to open a PST file without Outlook. Go with professional solution to easily and seamless view PST files on macOS without any problem. This wizard offers various advanced features and easy steps to directly access Outlook emails on Mac & Windows.