Yes, you can open PST files without installing Outlook  by using a standalone PST viewer. One practical option is MacSonik PST Viewer, which works independently of Outlook on both Windows and Mac. It can open healthy, orphaned, minimally corrupted, empty, oversized, and password-protected PST files.

To open a PST file, download and install the MacSonik PST Viewer , launch the application, and click Add Outlook File to select your PST file. The software scans the file and displays its folder hierarchy, allowing you to preview emails, attachments, contacts, calendars, tasks, drafts, and other mailbox data. You can also use filters to find emails by sender, recipient, subject, date range, or attachments.

If you need to save the PST data, the tool provides export options such as PDF, EML, MSG, MBOX, CSV, PST, and Microsoft 365. It also preserves the original folder structure during export.

For users who simply need to open and read PST files without Outlook, this approach avoids installing or maintaining an Outlook environment while providing access to the mailbox contents.