How to View/Open PST Files Without Outlook Using Best Methods

In this article, you can learn how to open PST files without Outlook in easy steps using DIY methods. There are some straightforward methods for opening PST files and viewing emails of PST files in detail, which are given in this article. We will learn to use C, Java, and PST Viewer utility to open PST files without installation of the Outlook application. But let us first know about PST files.

What Is a PST File?

A PST file, or Personal Storage Table file, is a file format used by Microsoft Outlook to store copies of messages, calendar events, and other items within a user's mailbox. The PST file format is proprietary to Microsoft and is commonly associated with Microsoft Outlook, which is a popular email and personal information management application. Let us now know the methods to open PST files without Outlook.

Best Methods To Open or View PST Files

There are several methods to open or view PST files, depending on your needs and the tools available. Here are some of the common methods:

Method 01: Open PST File in Easy Steps Without Outlook Using C

To open and manipulate PST (Personal Storage Table) files using C, you can use a library called "libpff." Libpff is a library for reading and opening content from PST files. Here are the steps to open a PST file using C and libpff:

• Step 1: Download and Install libpff.
• Step 2: Write C Code

Create a C program to open and read a PST file using libpff. Below is a simple example: 

#include <stdio.h>
#include <libpff.h>

int main() {
    const char* pstFilePath = "path/to/your/file.pst";

    // Initialize libpff
    if (libpff_init() != 0) {
        fprintf(stderr, "Error initializing libpff.\n");
        return 1;
    }

    // Open the PST file
    pff_file_t* pstFile = pff_file_open(pstFilePath);
    if (!pstFile) {
        fprintf(stderr, "Error opening PST file.\n");
        libpff_deinit();
        return 1;
    }

    // Access data from the PST file, e.g., iterating through folders and messages
    // ...

    // Close the PST file
    pff_file_close(pstFile);

    // Deinitialize libpff
    libpff_deinit();

    return 0;
}

Replace "path/to/your/file.pst" with the actual path to your PST file. 

• Step 3: Compile and Run

Method 02: Open or View PST Files Using the PST Viewer Tool

If you want to view PST files without using Microsoft Outlook, you can use third-party PST Viewer tools. Here, I'll guide you through the process using a hypothetical PST Viewer tool. Keep in mind that specific tools may have different interfaces, but the general steps are usually similar. In this example, I'll use a tool called "Aryson PST Viewer" as an illustration.

Follow the Steps To Read or View PST File Using PST Viewer

• Download and Install the PST Viewer Tool.
• After installation, launch the PST Viewer tool on your computer.
• Use the browsing feature to locate and select your PST file.
• Once the PST file is loaded, you should see the folder structure and the contents of the PST file.
• Preview Emails and Attachments of PST File.
• Choose the Saving Option and Destination Path.
• Use the search functionality provided by the tool to quickly locate specific emails or items within the PST file.
• Click on the Convert button to finish the process.

Note: If your PST file is corrupted or inaccessible, then you can try a third-party Outlook PST Recovery tool that can view or open your PST file without Outlook.

Method 03: Open PST File Using Java Without Outlook

To view PST (Personal Storage Table) files in Java, you can use a Java library called "PST Viewer." The PST Viewer library allows you to read and extract data from PST files, making it possible to view the contents of Outlook mailbox files programmatically.

Here are the steps to view a PST file in Java using the PST Viewer library:

• Step 1: Download the PST Viewer Library.
• Step 2: Write Java Code.

Once you have the library, you can write Java code to read and display the contents of the PST file.

import com.independentsoft.pst.Folder;
import com.independentsoft.pst.Message;
import com.independentsoft.pst.PstFile;

public class PSTViewerExample {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        try {
            // Specify the path to the PST file
            String pstFilePath = "path/to/your/file.pst";

            // Open the PST file
            PstFile pstFile = new PstFile(pstFilePath);

            // Iterate through all folders in the PST file
            for (Folder folder : pstFile.getRoot().getFolders()) {
                System.out.println("Folder: " + folder.getDisplayName());

                // Iterate through all messages in the folder
                for (Message message : folder.getMessages()) {
                    System.out.println("Subject: " + message.getSubject());
                    System.out.println("Sender: " + message.getSenderName());
                    System.out.println("Body: " + message.getBodyPlainText());
                    System.out.println("------------------------------");
                }
            }

            // Close the PST file
            pstFile.close();
        } catch (Exception e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        }
    }
}

Replace "path/to/your/file.pst" with the actual path to your PST file. 

• Step 3. Compile and run your Java program.