How to Export an Online Archive Mailbox to PST using eDiscovery
Question details
The user wants to export an Exchange Online archive mailbox, or both the primary and archive mailboxes, into a PST file format.
- Product
- Exchange Online
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Creating a local PST backup of email data from an Exchange Online archive mailbox using Microsoft eDiscovery tools.
- Observed behavior
- The user needs to successfully extract the mailbox data to a PST format while maintaining the original folder structure.
Ensure you are assigned the necessary eDiscovery Manager permissions in the Microsoft Purview compliance portal and are using Microsoft Edge to run the eDiscovery Export Tool seamlessly.
Use Core eDiscovery to Export the Archive Mailbox
Create a Core eDiscovery search to locate the desired mailbox and use the export functionality to download the data as a PST file.
Microsoft 365 Core eDiscovery allows administrators to search and export user data. You can configure the search to include the entire mailbox or specifically target just the online archive depending on your migration or backup needs.
Log in to the Microsoft Purview compliance portal using your admin credentials. Navigate to the left-hand menu and select 'eDiscovery' followed by 'Core'.
Create a new case for your export. Open the case, navigate to the 'Searches' tab, and click 'New Search'. Choose the specific user mailboxes you want to include in the export.
To export only the archive mailbox, apply search conditions that specifically filter for the online archive. To export both primary and archive mailboxes, leave the conditions broad enough to capture the entire mailbox.
Run the search. Once the search finishes, select it, click on 'Actions', and choose 'Export results'. Ensure you select the option to export the results as PST files.
Navigate to the 'Exports' tab within your case, select the export job, and copy the provided 'Export key'. Click 'Download results' to launch the eDiscovery Export Tool, paste your export key, choose a local destination directory, and start the download.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to export to a PST just to view my online archive?
No, exporting is not strictly necessary for viewing. Users can directly access and view their online archive messages natively through the Outlook desktop client or Outlook on the web.
Can I export only the online archive and ignore the primary mailbox?
Yes. When setting up your eDiscovery search, you can define specific search conditions to target only the messages stored in the online archive mailbox, thereby excluding the primary mailbox from your final PST export.
Why is the eDiscovery Export Tool not launching when I click download?
The eDiscovery Export Tool typically requires Microsoft Edge to launch successfully. If you are using Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox, the tool may fail to start unless you install a specific ClickOnce browser extension.
