How to Migrate Outlook Data to a New PC

Step by step

1. 2 min

   Locate and export the Outlook data file

   Open Outlook on your source computer. Navigate to File > Open & Export > Import/Export. Select Export to a file, click Next, select Outlook Data File (.pst), and choose your primary email account to ensure all subfolders are included.

   Note: Ensure the 'Include subfolders' checkbox is enabled for a complete backup.
2. 1 min

   Save the PST file to external media

   Choose a destination folder on an external hard drive or USB flash drive. Name the file clearly, such as OutlookBackup.pst, and click Finish. You may be prompted to set an optional password for the file; keep this blank if you prefer a standard migration.

3. 30 sec

   Move the file to the new PC

   Safely eject your external storage device from the source computer. Insert the drive into your new PC and copy the .pst file to a local directory, such as Documents\Outlook Files.

   Note: Avoid running Outlook directly from the external drive to prevent data corruption.
4. 2 min

   Import the data into the new Outlook instance

   Launch Outlook on the new computer. Go to File > Open & Export > Import/Export. Select Import from another program or file, then choose Outlook Data File (.pst).

5. 1 min

   Finalize the data mapping

   Browse to the location where you saved the copied .pst file. Select 'Import items into the same folder in' and choose your new account from the dropdown menu. Click Finish to begin the synchronization process.

   Note: Outlook will run in the background while it populates the new folders.