Move Mail from Mac Outlook to Windows Outlook File
Are you using Microsoft Outlook on your Macintosh? Fed up with Mac Outlook? Want to export mail from Mac Outlook to Windows Outlook? Or it can be possible that someone has sent you an OLM file and you cannot access it in Windows Outlook.
All such scenarios make you transfer emails from Outlook for Mac to Outlook for Windows. It means there is a need to convert ‘Outlook for Mac’ OLM files into Personal Storage Table, commonly known as PST file by which you can easily access your Mac Outlook files in Windows Outlook.
This blog has been written with the motive to assist users to get the job done using a manual or an expert solution. So, make sure to go through both approaches and choose the method that best fits your needs. But first, let us go through the reasons why it is necessary to move mail from Mac Outlook to Windows Outlook. Know the reason below!
Top Reasons to Export Emails from Mac Outlook to Windows
PST is the proprietary file format of Outlook for Windows. It stores all the data items belonging to different categories like emails, contacts-list, calendars, tasks, etc., in the Personal Folders, created by default. On the other hand, Outlook for Mac works with OLM file format.
The fact of the matter is that Outlook for Windows does not support the OLM data file. This is the reason you need to change over ‘Outlook for Mac’ data into PST file extension. Once it’s taken care of, you can easily import the resultant data from Mac Outlook to Windows Outlook 2019, 2016, 2013 or below versions.
Know how to follow up on the problem and resolve it, in the forthcoming section!
How to Migrate Outlook for Mac to Outlook for Windows
There are two methods to do so:
- Expert Solution
- Manual Method
These methods are further divided into several steps. We will first start with the expert solution below and end with the manual method.
#1 Expert Solution – Mac Outlook to Windows
The three steps in this method are:
- Archive Outlook for Mac data into an OLM file
- Then, convert this file into PST
- At last, import the PST to Outlook for Windows.
Know How to Archive Outlook Mac to OLM File
Step 1: Run Outlook 2011. Go to the menu ‘File’ and click on the Export option to begin the transfer of data into the OLM file type.
Step 2: On the window that comes up next, select preferences of data export i.e. which category of data has to be transferred and in which format. To create an OLM, select the radio button: ‘Outlook for MAC Data File (.olm)’. Then define whether data items of all categories or only the items that has been selected needs to be exported. Thereby, click on the right arrow located at the bottom right of the Outlook interface.
Step 3: In the screen that comes up next, it questions whether to delete items from Outlook after they are exported or not. According to requirement either yes or no can be selected by clicking on the radio button provided. Then proceed by clicking on the right arrow placed at the bottom right of the interface screen.
Step 4: Once the export is complete the message ‘Outlook has finished exporting your data’ comes up on the screen. Thereby, click on ‘Done’ to close the tool’s window.
Convert Archived File From Mac Outlook to Windows Outlook PST
There is no doubt that everybody wishes to adopt an easy means for everything. The same is the case when the task is to export Outlook for Mac to Windows email program. Therefore, rather than advising a difficult manual process, a tool known as Mac OLM Converter is recommended. However, to try this utility the Outlook 2011, 2016, 2019 data files need to be exported into the OLM file first.
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The suggested application can convert OLM files to PST which can be used in Windows Outlook. You can download the free demo version to verify the results on a limited data set. Once satisfied, go for the full licensed version.
Given Below is the Conversion Process on a Windows System
1: Move the archived OLM files to the Windows system.
2: Click on Add file and proceed to add OLM files into the software.
3: Let the tool scan all the mailbox items in the OLM file.
4: After that, you can view OLM file items in the software panel. Then, hit the Export button.
5: Select the PST option from the default list available.
6: Apply an advanced filter to properly manage the resultant Outlook PST files i.e Split PST file, Date Filter & Categories section.
7: Finally, Click on Export to start exporting Mac Outlook to Windows Outlook data file.
Finally, Import the Resultant PST File into Windows Outlook
1: Launch Outlook for Windows, go to File >> Open & Export >> Import/Export
2: In the Import and Export wizard, select Import file from another program or file option
3: In the Import a File window, select Outlook data file (.pst)
4: Browse the PST file that you got earlier after conversion.
5: Select the Outlook folder to import the data and click Finish.
Now, all the data items from Outlook for Mac are accessible in Windows Outlook without any issues.
#2 Manual Method – Outlook for Mac to Outlook for Windows
The manual method is an indirect approach that also involves multiple steps. This section only gives a brief idea about exporting data items from Outlook for Mac to Windows. Since, because of the glaring limitations, not many opt for the manual method.
- First, Create a new email account like Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook.com, etc.
- Then, Configure the email account in Outlook for Mac
- After that, Copy or Move data from the Outlook for Mac to this configured email account
- At last, Configure the same email account in Outlook for Windows.
- Voila! All emails are now accessible.
To understand the complete steps, take a look at the article that explains importing OLM file to Outlook Windows.
What If Mac Outlook Data Files Get Corrupt?
When Outlook for Mac data files gets damaged, then the conversion gets practically impossible. In such cases, the rebuilding of identity using the MS database is one thing that can repair Mac Outlook database. If database corruption does not exist, avoid identity rebuilding. The reason is that rebuilding identity can worsen things to a large extent even if there is a slight mismatch in the sequence of the steps.
If you are looking for an instant solution to repair corrupt data file on Mac, try OLM File Repair Tool. It is one of the seamless approach to deal with corruption issues of Mac Outlook data file.
Moreover, it requires technical expertise from a normal user who just uses the mail programs for the accessibility of data. There is no need to deal with file formats and experience difficulty in doing so. Hence, it is recommended that users must be sure of the damaged database when rebuilding their identity. In such a case, users can follow up with two things explained in the section below.
- If an Identity opens, users should attempt to export data and move into a new Identity rather than rebuild the identity.
- If the message ‘Your database was rebuilt successfully’ is received on rebuilding the identity then apparently no problems exist. Still, it is suggested to export data into a new Identity. The reason behind this is to be sure about a corruption-free Identity.
Note – If rebuilding and restoring do not succeed, create a new identity to get back all over again. However, if rebuilding gets successful, then the entire Mac Outlook data can be exported into the PST file so as to be usable in Windows Outlook.
The Last Line
This blog will let you know, why Mac users are so much curious to know about the solution to transfer emails from Mac Outlook to Windows Outlook. After understanding the user requirement, methods to migrate Outlook for Mac to Outlook for Windows. Moreover, professional solutions for both Mac and Windows OS users are also covered. So, one can easily make a choice between Mac Outlook and Windows Outlook for hassle-free migration according to their requirement.