Query: I started the "import data" process for Evolution to import data from an Outlook PST file, but it never completes or shows any sign of progress. Is there anything I can do to address the problem?
The import PST feature in Evolution (via File → Import → single file → Outlook personal folders (.pst)) is known to be unreliable, especially with larger files or certain PST versions/formats. A common issue reported by users (including recent cases in 2025) is that the progress bar freezes or stops completely after importing just a handful of emails (often 2–25), with no further progress, and sometimes the import dialog becomes unresponsive (though Evolution itself may not fully freeze).
This appears to be a recurring bug/limitation in Evolution's built-in PST importer plugin (libpst-based), often getting stuck during email processing or conversion.
Kill and restart if frozen
If the import dialog is stuck but won't close normally, force-quit it via
terminal (e.g., killall evolution or use System Monitor/Activity).
Then restart Evolution and try the import again — sometimes it
gets further on retry, but often the same hang occurs.
Check your Evolution version and update
Run evolution --version in a terminal.
Make sure you're on the latest stable release for your distro (as of early 2026,
versions like 3.52.x or newer have had pst-import fixes over time). Update
via your package manager (e.g., sudo apt update && sudo
apt upgrade evolution on Ubuntu/Debian derivatives).
Test with a very small PST file first
Create a tiny test PST in Outlook (just a few emails/folders) and try
importing that. If even small files hang, it's likely a general
importer issue on your setup.
Run Evolution from terminal for debug output
Close Evolution, then start it from a terminal with:
evolution --component mail
(or just evolution) and watch for error messages during the import attempt. Look for anything related to pst-importer or libpst. This can give clues (e.g., crashes on specific corrupted items).
Workaround: Convert PST → MBOX first, then import
MBOX
This is often much more reliable than direct
PST import. Use the readpst tool (part of libpst-dev or readpst
package):
Install it: On Ubuntu/Debian/Mint/etc.: sudo apt install readpst On Fedora: sudo dnf install libpst (provides readpst)
Convert (example for one file; use -j 4 for multi-threaded if you have multiple cores):
mkdir ~/mbox-output readpst -D -r -o ~/mbox-output -q -j 4 /path/to/yourfile.pst
This creates one or more .mbox files (one per folder) in the output directory.
In Evolution: File → Import → Import a single file → select the .mbox file(s) one by one (or import directories if supported). MBOX import is generally stable and fast.
If the PST is corrupted or has problematic items, readpst may skip bad messages or give warnings — better than a total hang.
Alternative clients or paths
If the above fails repeatedly:
Import the PST into Thunderbird (using an add-on like ImportExportTools NG or via a Windows machine first), then export to MBOX and import that into Evolution.
Use a third-party converter tool (many exist for PST → MBOX or directly to Evolution-compatible formats), though be cautious with sensitive email data.
If feasible, access the original Outlook/Exchange account via IMAP/POP in Evolution directly instead of using the PST.
The direct PST import in Evolution has never been rock-solid (proprietary format + evolving versions), so the conversion-to-MBOX route is the most recommended workaround when you hit hangs.
If you share more details (Evolution version, distro, approximate PST size, any terminal output/errors), it could help narrow it down further.
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