How to Export Large Exchange Mailboxes to Multiple PST Files?

Organizations often move old emails into PST files to keep servers fast, comply with legal rules, or switch to new systems. However, exporting large mailboxes is difficult as the huge amount of data can lead to corrupted files or lost information. Standard tools are not always powerful enough to handle these huge transfers efficiently and the process can take a very long time. In addition, these exports use significant server power and internet bandwidth which can slow down the network for employees. To prevent these problems, it is vital to plan carefully and run exports during off-peak hours when fewer people are working.

Choosing Right Tool for Export

Export large Exchange mailboxes to PST file are critical task for organizations that depend on Microsoft Exchange for email communication .Choosing right tool to ensure smooth ,reliable , and efficient export process with minimal effort and maximum accuracy. Several method available for this task such as Exchange Admin Centre (EAC) and the Exchange Management Shell and Third party tools
Exchange Admin Center is web -based management console that enable administrator to perform many tasks, including export mailboxes to PST .Its user interface design for administrator who are not comfortable with script writing .However EAC not able large mailboxes. Export process slow and often require substantial manual effort .
Exchange Management Shell is command -line interface that provide grater control and flexibility .It enable administrator to export mailbox to PST file using PowerShell command ,it handles large mailboxes. this approach support automation by scripts which reduce manual effort .However it require higher level of technical expert .
Third-party provide alternative approach for exporting Exchange mailbox to PST file. These tool specifically design to export process and include advanced feature such filter and improve performance when handling large mailboxes .This usually offer easy user interface with reliable customer support.

Using Exchange Admin Center (EAC)

    Step 1:

    Go to Recipients – On the left side of the dashboard, click Recipients to see a list of all available mailboxes.

    Step 2:

    Pick the Mailbox – Click on the mailbox you want to move. If you need more than one, select them, click the three dots and choose Export to a PST file.

    Step 3:

    Choose Where to Save It – A box will pop up asking for a “UNC path” (like \\Server\Folder\Name.pst). Make sure that the folder has enough room and that you have permission to save files there.

    Step 4:

    Select What to Export – Decide if you want everything or simply specific items like your calendar or contacts. You can also filter by date if you only need new or old emails.

    Step 5:

    Start the Process – Then, click Next to begin. You can check how it is going under the Mail Flow section in the Export Requests tab.

Important Things to Remember

Exporting through the web interface has some limits. It can be very slow for large mailboxes and the progress bar is not very detailed. You might need to use professional tools instead of this built-in tool.

Using Exchange Management Shell

Using the Exchange Management Shell (PowerShell) is often faster and more reliable than the web interface for large mailboxes. Here is how to do it in simple steps:

    Step 1:

    Open the Shell – Firstly, launch the Exchange Management Shell to start typing commands.

    Step 2:

    Give Yourself Permission – Before you start, you must make sure that your account is allowed to export data. Run this command: New-ManagementRoleAssignment -Role “Mailbox Import Export” -User “YourUsername”

    Step 3:

    Start the Export – Use this command to begin moving a mailbox to a specific folder: New-MailboxExportRequest -Mailbox “UserMailbox” -FilePath “\\Server\Share\UserMailbox.pst”

    Step 4:

    Check Progress – Since there is no progress bar, use this command to see how much of the export is finished: Get-MailboxExportRequest | Get-MailboxExportRequestStatistics

    Step 5:

    Clean Up – Once the status shows as “Completed,” remove the request from the system’s memory: Remove-MailboxExportRequest -Identity “UserMailbox\MailboxExport”.

    Conclusion
    Moving large Exchange mailboxes to PST files is a major task that requires careful planning and the right tools. By following the proper steps and using Microsoft’s built-in features correctly, you can protect your data and prevent service interruptions. The better option is to choose the professional tool from Goldytools EDB to PST Converter for extra features and ease of use. You can use the trial version of GoldyTools EDB Viewer products before you buy it.

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