Summary: You can import emails messages into Outlook for Mac by manually exporting the Outlook Mac data to archive (.olm), including the mailbox items like emails, calendar, contacts, and other items to Outlook for Mac. It is necessary to archive before a user can import Outlook for Mac mailbox data to an upgraded edition of Mac Outlook. In this article, we have provided a step-by-step solution of importing email messages into Outlook for Mac.
Microsoft Outlook is one of the most widely used email client globally. The Outlook allows users to add multiple email accounts for better management of emails, and other items like calendars, tasks, notes, etc. The application is part of Microsoft Office Suit and available for both Windows and MacOS. The application works equivalently on Mac as it does for the Windows environment. But, Mac Outlook saves its data in OLM file format, whereas Windows Outlook uses Microsoft’s proprietary PST format.
The PST file is easy to import in Mac Outlook. But, it is difficult for Outlook for Mac to export the mailbox data in PST format that can be accessed in Outlook for Windows. However, you can import OLM file from one Mac version to another Mac version of Outlook without much issues.
How to import data in Mac Outlook?
To import data in Outlook versions 2016 or 2019 for Mac, like email messages, contacts, calendar, tasks and notes, you need to export these items to archive files. Thereafter, you can import these files, .pst in Windows Outlook, and .olm in Mac Outlook, into Outlook for Mac. When these files are imported, they can be found in the archive content in the ‘On My Computer’ section of the Outlook navigation bar.
Note: In case, on your Mac Outlook, On My Computer is not listed in the navigation bar, then you can go to the menu and click Outlook, and then select Preferences. Click on the General settings, and clear the setting for Hide on My Computer folders.
Although, you can import the archived files on Mac Outlook, the application also supports importing identities. It is primarily used when you upgrade from Mac 2011 to Mac 2016 or 2019. However, importing email messages in PST file or OLM file in Mac Outlook requires you to follow certain steps to complete the import successfully.
How to import .olm file from Outlook for Mac?
As we have mentioned above, Outlook for Mac uses .olm file to archive email messages, contacts, calendar, tasks, notes, etc. Therefore, when you are moving from one Outlook for Mac to another or upgrading your Outlook for Mac from Mac Outlook 2011 to Outlook for Mac 2016 or Outlook 2019 for Mac, you are required to export your emails and other items of mailbox to .olm file first. To do so, you need to manually archive the mailbox items, including emails, calendar, contacts, and other items to Outlook for Mac data file (.olm), before you can import the .olm files to your Mac Outlook.
Read More : Steps to Find OLM File Location in Mac Outlook
Export Mac Outlook Mailbox items to Archive file
Exporting mailbox items to archive file can easily reduce the size of the inbox. You can save the .olm files to any location on your system or on a different system. Here is the step-by-step guide to export:
Step 1: Open Mac Outlook, and then from the File Menu, select Export.
Step 2: From the Export to Archive File (.olm), select the items that you want to export, and click Continue.
Step 3: In the Save As box, from the left pane, under Favorites, click Download folder, and click Save.
Step 4: Once the download is completed, the data is exported, and you will receive a notification for the same. Click Finish.
Once the Outlook for Mac mailbox items like emails, contacts, calendar, tasks, and notes are exported to archive file (.olm), note the location of saved file. Follow the steps given below to import mailbox items into Outlook for Mac:
Step 1: In Mac Outlook 2016 or Outlook 2019 for Mac, from the Tools tab, click on Import.
Step 2: From the import box, under ‘What do you want to import’, check on Mac archive file (.olm), and click Continue.
Step 3: Now, locate the .olm file that you saved on your Mac, and then click on Import.
Once the items are imported, they will appear on the navigation panes (Mail, Calendar, People, Tasks, Notes) under On My Computer.
In Outlook for Mac, you can import email messages and other items of the mailbox of another Mac Outlook with ease, using the manual method provided in this article. . However, if Outlook Mac users want to export OLM file to Windows Outlook, then they are required to convert the file to Outlook importable PST format because, Windows Outlook do not support OLM file. You can convert OLM to PST manually, by using Gmail IMAP account. But, the manual process with a Gmail IMAP account is lengthy and risks data loss during the process. Therefore, it is recommended to use third-party software like Stellar Converter for OLM to stream the conversion process and complete the task of OLM to PST conversion with success and accuracy. Beside, conversion from OLM to PST, the tool also offers multiple other features like Smart saving option, Preview, Auto Split PST file, etc.
Conclusion
In the post above, we have mentioned the ways to import email messages and other mailbox items into Outlook for Mac. You can easily import mailbox items from Outlook 2011 Mac to Outlook 2016 or 2019 for Mac by first exporting the mailbox data to archive file (.olm) and then download the OLM file on your Mac system to import in Outlook for Mac. In case, if you change your mind and want to export OLM data to Windows Outlook, then you will require to convert OLM data to Outlook importable PST format. . To convert OLM to PST manually is a lengthy process. Therefore, you can use OLM to PST converter software, which is a software-based converter tool designed to ease the process of conversion for the users. Stellar Converter for OLM allows you seamless conversion of OLM files to PST format with ease, maintaining the original structure and hierarchy of the email data.
