Top 2 Ways to Migrate Outlook Express to Outlook

User case: How to migrate emails from Outlook Express to Outlook

“Hey, I'm trying to migrate Outlook Express to Outlook on my new Windows 10 laptop. Can anyone give me some tips on how to do this? I'm not very tech-savvy, so any easy-to-follow instructions would be appreciated. Thanks!”

Outlook Express, a no-cost email client that used to come bundled with Windows Vista, XP, and earlier versions, has been discontinued. It utilized the DBX file format for data storage and lost Microsoft support on April 8th, 2014. As a result, users have moved their Outlook Express emails to Outlook, while others are still searching for a streamlined approach to exporting emails from Outlook Express to the more recent Outlook 2016 and 2019 versions.

So, if you are also like this user who wants to know how to migrate Outlook Express to Outlook above, then you are really at the right place! Let's get straight to the point, this article will provide the migration method in two cases, please read carefully.

How to migrate Outlook Express to Outlook with 2 ways

In this section, we will discuss how to transfer Outlook Express to Outlook on the same computer and on different computers.

• Way 1. Migrate Outlook Express to Outlook on same computer
• Way 2. Migrate Outlook Express to Outlook on different computer
• Also read: Automatically backup Outlook Express emails in Outlook

Way 1. Migrate Outlook Express to Outlook on same computer

Step 1. Initiate the Import and Export Wizard, select one of the options below:

• For Outlook 2010, click on the File tab, then choose Open > Import.
• For Outlook 2007, go to the File menu, then click on Import and Export.

Step 2. Select Import Internet Mail and Addresses, and click on Next.

Step 3. Click Outlook Express and select the Import mail checkbox. Then click Next and Finish to import Outlook Express to Outlook. To keep a record of the import summary in your Inbox, choose Save in Inbox.

Way 2. Migrate Outlook Express to Outlook on different computer

Before using the Import and Export Wizard to transfer messages, you'll need to find and duplicate the appropriate files from the PC with Outlook Express installed to the one with Outlook installed.

Note: Simply copying the Outlook Express information to a shared location won't suffice. You'll need to transfer the folder to the PC with Outlook installed.

Step 1. To access your Outlook Express account settings on your computer, open Outlook Express and click on Tools in the menu bar. From there, select Options and then click on the Maintenance tab.

Step 2. Click on Store Folder and take note of the complete path displayed in the field within the Store Location dialog box.

Quick Tip: Keep a record of this location as you'll need it later in the process. To do this swiftly, select the information in the field, then press CTRL + C to copy it. Next, open Microsoft Notepad and press CTRL + V to paste it there.

Step 3. Ensure that you can view hidden folders in Windows Explorer, then navigate to the folder location that you found in the Store Location dialog box. From there, you can proceed with either of the following actions:

• To transfer the Outlook Express folder to the computer with Outlook, copy it to a removable device like a DVD, floppy disk, or portable memory device, and then paste it onto the destination computer. Keep in mind that where you paste it temporarily doesn't matter, as long as it's a location you can easily locate.
• Alternatively, copy the entire Outlook Express folder to a shared network location accessible by both computers. Then on the PC with Outlook, copy the folder from the network location to the computer.

Step 4. Open Outlook Express on the PC with Outlook installed. If prompted to create an email account, select Cancel. Next, click on Tools in the menu bar, then choose Options and click on the Maintenance tab.

Step 5. Click on Store Folder, then select Change.

Step 6. Navigate to the location where you pasted the Outlook Express folder, and select the folder. Click on OK to close the Browse for Folder dialog box, and then click on OK again to close the Store Location dialog box.

Step 7. You'll be prompted to either use the new messages or replace them with the ones from the old store location. Click on Yes to switch to the new store. Finally, exit Outlook Express and reopen it to finish the procedure.

Step 8. Then, you can proceed with the steps in Way 1 to import Outlook Express to Outlook 2016 and other versions.

Also read: Automatically backup Outlook Express emails in Outlook

It's worth noting that Microsoft has discontinued development and support for Outlook Express. As a result, numerous users are interested in migrating Outlook Express to Outlook to safeguard their important data. 

If you're looking to backup your Outlook Express emails, consider importing them to Outlook and saving them in your Inbox folder. From there, you can use a reliable mail backup tool such as AOMEI Backupper Professional to create an automatic backup task that includes this folder.  

✦ This software offers an Outlook Backup feature, which allows you to backup your entire Outlook mailbox, including emails imported from Outlook Express, and also can backup Gmail emails to PST.
✦ You can backup Outlook emails to various storage options like local drives, external disks, network drives, NAS devices, or cloud drives.
✦ With its automatic backup feature, you can set different backup frequencies for emails such as Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Event Triggers or USB plug in.

To get started, download AOMEI Backupper Professional - this powerful backup software supports Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, XP and Vista. For server users, there's AOMEI Backupper Server.

Step 1. Begin by adding the Outlook account that contains emails imported from Outlook Express, then close it. Next, launch AOMEI Backupper Professional and click on Backup followed by Outlook Backup.

Step 2. Click on Add Outlook Data and choose the Inbox folder for your Outlook account. Once selected, click on OK.

Step 3. Choose a destination to save your Outlook inbox folder emails.

Tip: To run email backups automatically, select the backup frequency in Schedule Backup that suits your needs: Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Event Triggers, or USB plug in. Plus, make sure to check the Wake the computer to run scheduled task option.

Step 4. Ensure that you've selected all the emails that were imported from Outlook Express, then click on Start Backup to begin backing up your Outlook Express emails to an external hard drive and other locations easily.

FAQs about migrating Outlook Express to Outlook

✜ 1. Can I import my Outlook Express address book into Outlook?

Yes, you can import your Outlook Express address book into Outlook using the Import and Export Wizard.

✜ 2. What is the difference between Outlook Express and Outlook?

Outlook Express is a basic email client that comes with Windows XP and earlier versions, while Outlook is a more advanced email client that is part of Microsoft Office. Outlook has more features, such as a calendar and task manager, and is more commonly used in business settings.

✜ 3. Can I still use Outlook Express?

No, Outlook Express is no longer supported by Microsoft and has been replaced by Windows Live Mail. It is recommended that users upgrade to a newer email client for security reasons.

✜ 4. How can I backup my Outlook Express emails?

To backup your Outlook Express emails, you can use a backup tool like AOMEI Backupper Professional to create an automatic backup task that includes your inbox folder.

Conclusion

This article provides you with two different methods of migrating Outlook Express to Outlook, both when they are on the same computer and they are on different devices. It is also recommended to use AOMEI Backupper Professional to backup your Outlook Express emails. In addition to the above mentioned features, this software can also backup your system when you clear update cache on Windows 11.