How to Backup Outlook Emails from Browser in Minutes

Written By Tej Pratap Shukla

Approved By Anuraag Singh

Modified On January 20th, 2026

Reading Time 8 Minutes Reading

Backing up Outlook emails directly from a browser (Outlook on the web / Outlook.com / Microsoft 365 Outlook) is something users frequently ask for, especially for the Outlook desktop app. Since browser-based Outlook does not provide a one-click “Download All Emails” button, but fortunately found multiple reliable solutions that work in different scenarios.

Today, I’ll share all of them and simply answer how to backup Outlook emails from browser with a complete set of instructions.

Why Backup Outlook Emails from Browser?

You are here, which means you probably know the benefits of having a local copy of Outlook in your system or hard drive. Still, if you have any doubt about whether to take backup or not, then let me explain the reasons that help you to make a wise decision:

Due to password loss, license expiry, or any other reason, if you lose your account access, then in that case, having a local backup ensures your data continuity.
Emails can be deleted accidentally or due to retention policies.
Outlook mailbox full due to large amounts of data, and is experiencing issues in exchanging or storing data.
Cyber threats such as hacking or phishing will make the account inaccessible.
Sync issues in Outlook may temporarily or permanently hide emails.
Microsoft’s service disruptions can make your emails temporarily inaccessible.
Outlook Classic end of life is also a huge factor.
A local backup allows you to access emails offline without internet connectivity.
If your account gets locked due to suspicious activity, you can still access your backed-up emails.

Now, after learning these reasons, you have a clear understanding of why a local backup is necessary. Next, let me explain the working methods in detail.

How to Backup Outlook Emails from Browser

Saving Outlook data from a web browser is the easiest task if you are familiar with MS Outlook desktop-based, Outlook.com, and Outlook 365. Additionally, if you have access to or credentials for all these services, then let me share four methods which I found recently, when I needed to download emails from Outlook.com, or a web browser:

#Method 1. Download Emails Manually as .EML from Outlook Web

If you only need to back up a small number of important emails, then this method works for you. For the same, the steps are as follows:

Open Outlook in your browser:
- Go to outlook.office.com for Microsoft 365
- Or outlook.com for personal accounts
Sign in with your email and password.
Open the email to back up.
Click the three dots (More actions) in the top-right corner.
Click View > View message details or View message source.
Click Download (.eml) if available.
Save the file to your local computer.

This approach is best for a 10-15 email backup, but for a large data export, it won’t work, as it becomes time-consuming if you save your emails one by one.

So, if you’re handling large data, then move to the next technique.

#Method 2. Save Emails as PDF from Browser

Most of the time, users need readable, printable backups for legal purposes. That’s why I’m explaining this method to save Outlook email as PDF:

Open Outlook in your browser.
Open the specific email.
Click the three dots (More actions).
Select Print.
In the print window, choose:
- Destination: Save as PDF
Click Save and choose a location on your computer.

This is quite easy, but not ideal for bulk backups. That’s why I consider opting for the next approach.

#Method 3. How to Backup Outlook Emails from Browser Automatically

If you are looking for an automated way to backup Outlook emails from browser without manually downloading messages one by one or installing Microsoft Outlook, then using a dedicated backup utility is the most practical approach.

One such solution is the SysTools Outlook.com Backup Software, which saves mailbox data from Outlook.com / Hotmail to local storage simultaneously.

Download Now Purchase Now

This tool works independently without needing Outlook desktop application. That means you can take a backup directly from your browser-based Outlook account by simply logging in to your Outlook.com account with your email credentials.

With this, you can export your emails not only in one file format like manual methods, but also:

PST – Fully compatible with Microsoft Outlook and keeps folder structure.
EML – Thunderbird and Windows Mail.
PDF – Useful for readable records.
MSG – Individual Outlook message format.
VCF – For contact storage
ICS – For calendar storage

Because the backup is done directly from your account, you do not have to open each email in the browser, which saves you time and effort.

So, download this for free now, and follow these quick instructions to download a complete account in one go:

#Step 1. Install and run the specified utility.

solution

#Step 2. Select the export file format in which you want the resultant data.

export option

#Step 3. Now, choose the data category to be downloaded, i.e. Emails, Contacts, Calendars, and Documents. Moreover, you can leverage the Date Filter for specific data export.

date filter

#Step 4. Afterwards, enter your Outlook.com email address and select Sign in with Outlook.com.

#Step 5. Select the Browse Folder Path option to choose the target location or folder to save the resultant data.

Browse Folder Path

#Step 6. When everything is validated, hit the Start Backup button.

Start Backup

Why This Method Can Be Useful?

I usually recommend this method when needed:

Backup thousands of emails at once.
Preserve the original folder hierarchy.
Don’t have Microsoft Outlook installed.
Backups in multiple file formats.

#Method 4. Forward Emails to Another Email Account

If you are a non-technical user or not very familiar with the Outlook service, then this technique best suits your needs, since it is simple and quick. To do so:

Open Outlook in your browser.
Select one or multiple emails.
Click Forward.
Send them to:
- Another personal email (Gmail, Yahoo, etc.), or
- A backup Outlook account you control.

In simple words, it creates an additional copy in another mailbox, without downloading any data. I know that this technique won’t work for many users, as it won’t maintain the hierarchy of headers and attachments.

This thing’s preservation should be mandatory.

#Method 5. Use Outlook Web + Desktop App for Full Backup

If you need a complete mailbox backup, this is the method I personally trust the most.

Step A. Add Outlook Web Account to Outlook Desktop

Install Microsoft Outlook.
Open Outlook desktop app.
Click File > Add Account.
Enter your Outlook email.
Sign in.
Wait for synchronization to complete.

Step B. Export Outlook PST File (Local Backup)

Once everything is synced, do the following:

Click File > Open & Export > Import/Export.
Select Export to a file and click Next.
Choose Outlook Data File (.pst).
Select your mailbox (Inbox, Sent, etc.).
Choose a location to save the PST file.
Click Finish.

This is a lengthy and complex method for anyone who is looking for a simple and reliable method.

#Method 6. Copy Emails to OneDrive or External Drive

Accessing Outlook data via OneDrive is the easiest solution to access data offline. Here’s how to save Outlook emails to hard drive:

Open Outlook in a browser.
Open an email.
Click and drag attachments to your computer or OneDrive.
For the message body, copy and paste into:
- Word file, or
- Notepad, or
- Google Docs.

This approach is best when no Outlook desktop app is available.

Which Method Should You Choose?

As we learned how to backup Outlook emails from browser. But, if you’re confused about which method suits your needs best, then here is the complete detail of each method according to the scenario:

Few emails: Method 1 (Download .EML) or Method 2 (PDF).
Simple cloud backup: Method 4 (Forward).
Full mailbox backup: Method 3 & 5 (PST via Outlook desktop).
Attachments only: Method 6 (Drag & Drop).
Large data backup along with attachments, and other data, without data loss or error: Method 3 (Automated solution).

Author’s Verdict

Most users think their Outlook emails are “safe in the cloud,” but I have seen too many cases of lost access and accidental deletions. That is why I personally recommend maintaining at least one local backup on your computer or hard drive is necessary.

In this discussion, I shared all the possible and practical methods to answer how to backup Outlook emails from browser hassle-free. So, don’t waste time on further things; just make a replica of your Outlook data today, and ensure data continuity, without Outlook and the internet.