Migrate data from PST files

As an administrator, you can use Google Workspace Migration for Microsoft Exchange (GWMME) to migrate email, calendar, or contact data to Google Workspace accounts from Personal Storage Table (PST) files. You can also migrate email messages to Google Vault without adding the messages to users' Gmail inboxes.

Before you begin

• Verify your Microsoft Outlook version—The Outlook version on your GWMME client machine is the same or later than the one used to create the PST file. Go to GWMME system requirements.
• Turn on Gmail for users—If you’re migrating to Google Vault, your users in the target account must have Gmail turned on before you migrate. You can’t migrate content to Vault Former Employee (VFE) licensed users, because Gmail isn't on for these users. Go to Turn a service on or off for Google Workspace users.

Step 1: Authorize GWMME

Before you can install GWMME, you must Authorize GWMME for your account.

Step 2: Download & install GWMME

1. Go to the GWMME download page.
2. Click Download GWMME.
3. Open the installer and follow the instructions to install GWMME.

Step 3: Organize your PST folders & files

1. For each PST file and folder, turn off password protection and allow read and write permissions.
2. Prepare the PST folder structure:
   1. Create a top-level folder.
   2. In that top-level folder, add a folder for each user you're migrating.
   3. Give the individual folders the same name as the primary email addresses on your source account. For example, if your source email address is [e-mail], then name your individual folder [e-mail].
   4. Place the PST files in the individual folders.

      Example:

      C:\PST (top-level folder)

      [e-mail] (user folder)

      Mail.pst (PST file)

      Archive.pst (PST file)

      [e-mail] (user folder)

      Archive.pst (PST file)

Step 4: Create CSV files

Create a control CSV file of the user accounts that you're migrating to make sure your source data correctly maps to your new user accounts. For details, go to Create CSV files for your migration. 

If you're migrating calendar events, you might need to Create a mapping CSV file.

Step 5: Migrate data

You can migrate data by running GWMME: 

• On a Microsoft Windows computer, using the GWMME interface—Follow the instructions below, in this section. 
• From the command line (better suited to experienced administrators)—Go to Migrate data using the command line.

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1. Enter Exchange server details

1. Click StartGoogle Workspace MigrationGoogle Workspace Migration for Microsoft Exchange.
2. For Server Type, select Exchange.
3. Select Specify a folder with PST files and, for Folder with PST files, specify the path to the top-level PST folder.
4. Click Next.

2. Enter user & domain information

1. For Google Workspace domain name, enter the new primary Google Workspace domain where the data will be migrated.
2. For Service account credentials file, enter the path to the JSON credentials file created as part of the authorization process.
3. For Google Workspace admin user, specify the full email address of your Google Workspace super administrator.
4. Click Next.

3. Choose where to migrate messages

You can migrate to Google Workspace or to Google Vault. If you migrate messages to Vault:

• Messages don’t appear in users' Gmail inboxes.
• Folder information is removed from messages before they're migrated. Migrated messages don’t have labels.
• GWMME doesn't overwrite or check for duplicate messages previously migrated to Vault.
• Retention rules determine how long messages are held in Vault.

  For details, go to How retention works.

Option 1: Migrate to Google Workspace

1. Check the box for each type of data you want to migrate: email, calendar, or contacts.
2. For File of accounts to migrate, click More  and navigate to the CSV mapping file, and click Open.
3. Click Next and proceed to Review migration settings (below, on this page).

Option 2: Migrate messages to Google Vault:

1. Check the Email messages box as the type of data you want to migrate.
2. Click Advanced Options.
3. Check the Migrate to Google Vault box and click OK.
4. Click Next and proceed to Review migration settings (below, on this page).

4. Review migration settings

1. Review the migration settings and check the box next to each optional setting that you want to use:
   • Migrate all data—Overwrites existing data during migration (duplicate messages skipped when unchecked)
   • Save settings—Retains the current configuration for future use
   • Run Diagnostics—Verifies the configuration before running the migration
   • Estimate—Estimates the message count for the source users
   • Migrate—Performs the migration
2. Click Next.
3. If prompted, specify the username and password for the Exchange admin account you're using to open your users' mail stores.

   Tip: Selecting Remember my password bypasses this step in future migrations.

4. Click NextStart.

Troubleshoot

Messages missing or not migrated with the correct sender or recipient

A PST file might not contain the SMTP address for a message's sender or recipient. Instead, it can have the Exchange X.500 address. This issue can occur if no Global Address List (GAL) profile is created or the user has been removed from the GAL. To resolve the issue, go to Troubleshoot GWMME.

Calendars migrated as additional calendars

If you’re using an exported or archived PST file, it’s not possible to identify the primary root folder for calendar and contact data. Calendars are migrated as Other calendars in Google Calendar, instead of as a default calendar.

You can avoid this by using the command line to specify the --noenable_label_prefix argument. Running this command opens the GWMME interface and allows you to migrate normally, but without creating the prefixes.

Example:

"C:\Program Files\Google\Google Workspace Migration\ExchangeMigration.exe" --noenable_label_prefix

For details, go to Migrate data using the command line.

Related topics

• Google Vault Help
• GWMME Admin Guide

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