Comprehensive Guide to Extract Mailbox Data from Offline EDB File

The EDB files are very important for the Exchange server to work properly. However, there are situations when the Exchange database will not function properly, such as disk failure, virus infection, etc. When the Exchange database gets damaged, it is important to extract data from the EDB file.
It is possible to extract mailbox data from Exchange EDB files in different versions of the Exchange server. Users can use two methods to extract mailbox data from offline EDB files: manual and Goldytools EDB to PST converter software.

Reasons to extract the offline EDB:

Some of the common reasons for facilitating the EDB recovery are as follows.

• When users want to access the data stored in the orphaned or disconnected EDB files.
• When the users feel like maintaining an archive, public or shared folder separated from the primary mailbox.
• When users need to access the exchange EDB file without mounting or connecting it to another mailbox.
• Accessing the Exchange EDB on some other platform or application is needed.
• When users face issues mounting the EDB file on the exchange server.

Manual method to extract mailbox data from offline EDB files:

It is not possible to extract mailbox data from offline EDB files directly. Therefore, it is required first to mount or connect the file with the new temporary or the existing mailbox to extract data from it. One easy way is to make use of the Exchange Admin Center. It can be accomplished by following these steps.

• Login to the Exchange admin centre as an administrator.
• Navigate to recipients > mailboxes > connect a mailbox option



• You will get a list of all the disconnected mailboxes.
• Select the required mailbox and click on the connect icon.
• You will get a pop-up window asking your permission to confirm the action.
• Ensure you choose “Yes, connect to the user account above”.
• Click proceed.
• Click on the browse button, and then one is required to select the desired mailbox.



• Hit the finish button.
• The mailbox will be connected to the user mailbox and ready for extraction.

Extracting mailbox data from the EDB file through the Exchange admin centre:

We can use the Exchange Admin Center for EDB recovery. This can be very useful when using Exchange versions like 2013, 2016, and 2019. The step-by-step procedure is as follows.

• Open the Exchange admin centre.
• Go to the mailbox tab present on the recipient’s option
• Choose the mailbox and right-click on it
• Select the export to the PST option



• Browse the mailbox from which you want to extract the data
• Hit the Next button
• Specify the system path to save the data
• Choose the preferred option to send a notification mail after completing the export process.
• Turn on or off the option as per your choice
• Click on the Finish button

Software alternative to the EAC method:

Extraction of mailbox data from offline EDB files through the EAC method is tedious. Powershell Cmdlet is the best Goldytools EDB to PST converter, and it works great for the 2007 and 2010 versions. This tool is very efficient at converting all mailboxes to PST. After installing it, it is important to follow the steps below.

• Choose the export or import option and click Next.
• Pick the extracted data from the exchange server mailbox and press next.
• Type the name of the exchange server in the space
• Choose from the list of available databases drop-down menu and click on next.
• Select the source mailboxes to complete the extraction.
• Use the change folder icon to select the best save location for the PST file, then click Next.
• When the process status window displays ‘Operation completed successfully’, click on finish.

It is a good idea to speed up the conversion process by choosing an automated tool to export the mailboxes in the PST format.

The simple way to extract the mailbox from the exchange EDB file:

When an individual doesn’t have the live exchange server environment but still requires access to their crucial data, the use of Goldytools EDB to PST converter software is ideally recommended. It helps to extract the data in five different file formats. Here are the steps to extract mailbox data from offline EDB files.

• Download the automated software in the local system. Install and Run the program.
• Select the Add file button to load the offline exchange EDB file. Click on the Add button.
• Preview the offline exchange database file and the mailboxes. Click on Export.



• Select the exchange mailboxes and click on the PST export option.
• Use the browse button to set the target file location
• and then remember to tap the export button.

Bottom Line:

It is important to know the entire procedure before extracting mailbox data from an online EDB file. We have given all the possible and feasible methods to aid mailbox extraction. Users can choose the most viable method, according to their convenience.