How to Import EML Files into Outlook 2021, 2019, 2016, 2013? – Explained

As a Microsoft user, we often need to import EML files into Outlook to get advanced Outlook features and functions. Today, here we will discuss several solutions that allows you to add EML to Outlook 2021, 2019, 2016, and 2013 versions easily without facing any challenges. So begin reading this guide and follow the step-by-step instructions mentioned here

Outlook is an email service that allows users to send and receive emails, and manage calendars, contacts, notes, journals, etc. It is best suited for professional work or business purposes. It is also trusted by millions of customers worldwide as a secure and reliable service.

Microsoft Outlook stores its data in a PST file format. Whereas Outlook Express, Windows Live Mail, Thunderbird, SeaMonkey, and Apple Mail store their data in an EML file format. Here you might be thinking, is it possible to import EML files into Outlook and open them? The answer is YES, in the section below, I will explain all possible ways.

So, if you want to import EML to Outlook email client, then it is mandatory to change the file extension of the EML file and make it compatible with Outlook, as it is supported by Outlook. Therefore, in this article, we are going to provide all the suitable approaches that let you know how to add EML files to Outlook email clients.

• How to Import EML Files into Outlook? – 4 Ways
  1. Using Advanced Solution
  2. Use Drag & Drop Approach
  3. Using WLM & Outlook
  4. Using Outlook Express Application
• Manual Method Vs Smart Approach
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Conclusion

Why Open an EML File in Outlook?

As we know that the EML file comes from many email applications like Thunderbird, Live Mail, or a backup file. Moving on, Outlook enables multiple security and email management functions.

• Outlook provides detailed search options
• It allows you to manage calendars, tasks, and calendars
• Higher-level security and real-time encryption
• Enhanced features and management for corporate users
• Outlook is integrated with all the new trending technologies

So, it is a wise decision to move to Microsoft Outlook with all your archived or backup EML files. This post will help you understand all possible ways to import EML files in Outlook all versions.

How to Import EML Files into Outlook? – 4 Ways

There are multiple ways to complete the import process. But not all methods are safe. The manual methods are free but are prone to data loss. So, in this write-up, manual methods are explained but are not recommended for performance.

Always use trusted and expert-suggested solutions to open EML files in your Outlook account. So, let’s understand the process!

1. Import EML to Outlook Easily Using the Smart Approach

There are various manual approaches for importing EML files to Outlook 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. But, they are not reliable enough and can cause data loss. So there comes a need for a Smart tool with advanced functionalities that can easily add EML files to an Outlook mailbox directly.

One such tool is the SysTools EML to PST Converter, which supports EML files of any size. You can use this software and easily import EML files into Outlook accounts on both Mac and Windows computers.

• Allows to import of multiple EML files and folders into an Outlook account instantly in one go.
• Imports EML to Outlook along with images as well as attachments.
• It converts EML or EMLX files into multiple file formats such as HTML, MSG, PST, MBOX, PDF, and NSF file types.
• It also allows users to analyze complete header details by using multiple preview modes, including Normal Mail View, Hex View, Properties View, Message Header View, MIME View, HTML View, RTF View, and Attachments View.

Now, after understanding the software. Let us discuss its work below.

Step-by-Step Instructions to Add Multiple EML Files into Outlook

1. Download & install the SysTools Software for EML to Outlook on your Windows or Mac.
2. Select your folder containing EML and EMLX files to import into Outlook.
   
3. Click on the Export option from the menu bar to make the EML file importable in Outlook.
4. Select the radio button PST, and after that, browse the path to save the file after exporting.
   
5. Select Make New Folder, or you can also select any folder of your choice to save exported data into a folder. And click OK.
   
6. At last, simply hit on Export button and wait till the conversion process completes.
7. Now you can view Exported PST files at your saved location. Now you have a PST file, simply open it in the Microsoft Outlook application.
   
8. At last, open the Microsoft Outlook application and, using the Import/Export option, simply import the exported file. After this, click on Import from Another Program or File and then Next > Select Outlook Data File (.pst) and Next > Browse location of the PST file (created in step 6) and click on Next. Your task was completed by adding the EML file to Outlook.
   

2. Import EML Files into Outlook Using the Drag & Drop Approach

Importing selected EML files to Outlook using the drag-and-drop method can only be done when EML files are saved separately on your desktop screen, and there is no EML file-supported email client that can access them. But, it is mandatory to have a pre-installed Outlook application on your desktop.

Now, we can import EML to Outlook by navigating the saved EML file and then dragging it into an Outlook folder (user-created folder). The email message will be displayed on the screen, and then we can save it in any folder. However, EML files in bulk cannot be imported into Outlook. Also, attachments cannot be sent using this approach.

According to Diane Pormsky (Microsoft MVP), you can choose the drag & drop method. But it can result in an error if you are moving 50+ EML files at a time. So, if you have thousands of EML files, then using the drag and drop method is not a good idea. In this case, move to method 1 and easily import EML files into Outlook for all versions.

3. Import EML to Outlook Using WLM & Outlook

This manual method requires both Windows Live Mail & Outlook applications to be installed on your system. However, after Windows 7, Microsoft discontinued the WLM application. If you are using Windows 8 or later versions, don’t perform these steps.

1. In the WLM mail app, click on the File tab.
2. Select the Export option and then choose Email messages.
3. Now, select Microsoft Outlook as the export option and click on the Next button.
4. You can select the email folders that you need to export and click OK.

Note: – It is not a recommended solution to import EML to Outlook account, Moreover, Microsoft has also discontinued its support for Windows Live Mail in 2016.

4. Add EML Files into Outlook Using Outlook Express Application

Another manual way that you can use to import EML files into Outlook is to take the help of the Outlook Express app.

Follow the steps mentioned below if you want to try this method:

1. Open Outlook and navigate to the File tab.
2. Select the Open & Export option and then click on the Import/ Export option.
3. Tap on Import Internet Mail and Addresses and hit Next.
4. Choose Import Internet Mail and Addresses.
5. Now select Outlook Express 4.x, 5.x, 6.x, or Windows Mail.
6. Lastly, hit the Finish button to add EML to Outlook.

Why Use an Advanced Tool Instead of a Manual Method?

1. The tool allows bulk import EML files into Outlook, hence manual approaches require repetitive steps.
2. Advanced methods allow for importing EML to Outlook with all information, including metadata, attachments, etc., but manual methods do not.
3. The manual methods are time-consuming and require lots of technical knowledge and effort. On the other hand, the software works fast and easily adds all the EML files into Outlook.
4. The software maintains Data integrity & folder hierarchy. Hence manual may lose all the formatting.
5. Manual methods are not prone to human error and may cause data loss; moreover, the software is completely safe to use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find a quick answer to all your doubts.

Q 1: Why are all emails showing as attachments after dragging and dropping in Outlook?

To avoid this situation, create a new folder in Outlook and try to drag and drop emails into the newly created folder.

Q 2: Why am I unable to preview EML files in Outlook?

It was observed in many cases that, if you try to import EML files into Outlook by using the drag and drop technique, then it does not show the preview of EML files in the Outlook dashboard.

Q 3: Can I use above mentioned software myself?

Yes, the easy-to-use and self-explanatory user interface of this tool helps users to perform the migration process. Apart from this, you can ask for an expert to help you understand the software working process to import EML to Outlook account.

Conclusion

Although there are various manual approaches to import EML to Outlook 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021, however, these manual approaches are not reliable enough to import EML files into Outlook. So, there is a need to use a widely used and trusted way. This work can be easily done by using the above-mentioned technique.