Tips to Import Outlook Express DBX file into Outlook 2016 – Free

Summary: This tutorial acquaints you with the ways by which you can import Outlook Express DBX file into MS Windows Outlook 2016, 2013, and previous versions. Nonetheless, as the manual process is lengthy and requires technical know how, an automatic solution is suggested for the same. Go through this blog to know both the manual as well as automatic solutions and opt for the one that you find suitable. 

Both Outlook Express and MS Outlook are well known and widely used email clients on the Windows platform. They are used by both Individuals as well as Enterprises. Still, there are several reasons that bring in the necessity to import DBX into Outlook 2016, 2013, 2010, and other lower versions. First, Outlook is the modern day email client with a number of benefits such that it offers users to maintain their emails, calendars, contacts, journals, tasks, etc. in an organized way. Next, both individuals and enterprises may be migrating from Outlook Express to Outlook email client because of upgradations of Windows. Whatever be the reason, to do so, you have to convert DBX into PST file format. This is because PST is the proprietary file format of Windows Outlook.

Check the Quick Infographic Guide to import DBX into Outlook:

Well, there exists both a manual and as well as an automated way to do this which has been described below:

Manual Process:

Step 1: Export DBX file of Outlook Express email client.

Step 2: Download and then install Windows Live Mail application from Microsoft or any other safe, secure, and a reliable site.

Step 3: Import the DBX file of Outlook Express DBX to Windows Live Mail application.

Step 4: Export the DBX file that has been imported from Windows Live Mail to MS Windows Outlook 2016, 2013, 2010, and older versions.

Now, the details of each step have been described in the sections below:

Step 1: Export the DBX file of Outlook Express email client

At first, you need to find and copy the entire DBX folder on Windows XP and then follow the steps that have been mentioned below:

1. Go to Tools and then Options tab if you are not aware of the location of the message store.
2. In the Options dialog box, click Maintenance tab and then Store Folder button.

• In Store Location dialog box, under ‘Your personal message store is located in the following folder:’ a path will be shown.

1. Copy the path from the dialog box and click OK tab to close the Store Location dialog box.
2. Close Outlook Express application.
3. Copy and paste the location path in the address bar of Windows Explorer and press the Enter key from the keyboard. On doing so, the actual location where the DBX files are stored on your system will open.

• Copy the folder of Outlook Express that consists of folders.dbx files to your Windows 7 system or any other version in My Computer when you come to know the location of DBX files.
• If the DBX files are copied to USB drive, you do not have to move them to your Windows 7 system or any other version as Windows Live Mail application can read DBX files from the USB drive.

The Address Book of Outlook Express uses WAB extension and its location is:

“C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Microsoft\Address Book.”

Now, you have the option to rename the Address Book of Outlook Express as ‘yourname.wab’ file. Once you have renamed, you have to copy the file and save in on your Windows 7 or any other system.

Step 2: Download and then install Windows Live Mail application

On your Windows system, download and install Windows Live Mail application to proceed to the next step. You are permitted to directly download it and once you have the upgraded version of the application downloaded and installed on your system, you can move to the next step.

Step 3: Import Email Messages of Outlook Express into Windows Live Mail application

To export email messages from Outlook Express DBX file to Outlook, you first need to import the emails to Windows Live Mail. For this, you have to execute the following:

1. Download, install and then open Microsoft Windows Live Mail on your Windows 7 system
2. On its File menu, click Import Messages tab

• Select the option Import from Outlook Express 6

1. Direct to the Outlook Express folder that is copied from the old system
2. Select the folders to be imported to Windows Live Mail and click Import tab
3. Exit Import wizard

Now, import the Address Book WAB file of Outlook Express in Windows Live Mail

1. Open Address Book in Windows Live Mail application
2. On its File menu and click Import Windows Address Book tab

• Visit the location of WAB file and select it from there

1. Close Import wizard to finish the process

Now, email messages and as well as the Address Book from Outlook Express have been imported to Windows Live Mail using the Import wizard. When all the data are moved to Windows Live Mail, the next step is to migrate them to Windows Outlook.

Step 4: Export the imported data of DBX File from Windows Live Mail to MS Outlook 2016 or lower versions

The steps mentioned below should be executed to migrate imported data from Windows Live Mail to MS Outlook

1. Launch Windows Live Mail application
2. On its File menu, click Export tab and then click Messages tab

• From the dialog box that appears, select Microsoft Exchange tab

1. Choose the folders that need to be exported and close the Export wizard

Open Windows Live Mail Contact section and export addresses to vCard or CSV file format. Once you have moved all the contacts to CSV file, you can import the CSV file into MS Outlook. On the other hand, if you have saved the Contacts as vCard, you simply need to drag and drop it to the Contacts folder in Outlook.

To locate PST file in MS Outlook, execute the following:

1. On File menu, select Data File Management option
2. Select Data Files tab and then click Open folder option. With this, you will find the location of the PST file in Windows Explorer

• Close MS Outlook and then copy the PST file on your new system after some time

Advantages of manual process to import DBX file into Outlook 2016 & earlier versions

1. Absolutely free-of-cost

Disadvantages of manual process to import DBX file into Outlook 2016 & earlier versions

1. Imports one DBX file at a time
2. Involves threat of data loss
3. Quite lengthy and hence, a time-taking process
4. Complex in nature; therefore, not easy to execute
5. Thorough knowledge of both the email clients, Outlook Express and Windows Outlook is required
6. Even a slight mistake can turn the DBX file corrupt and stop the import process

When we compare the advantages and disadvantages of the manual process to import Outlook Express DBX file into Outlook 2016 and earlier versions such as Outlook 2013, 2010, etc., we find that the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. Therefore, if a recommendation is to be made, the manual mode of repair may be well avoided.

Use of a Third-Party Tool for DBX to PST File Conversion:

Importing Outlook Express DBX file into PST file of Outlook 2016, 2013, 2010, or other lower versions is a common task that many home users and technicians fall in need of at any point in time. Thus, the online segment or stores are flooded with a number of third-party tools from various brands for the same. However, you need to judge the best out of them before you actually go for the import process that is nothing but converting DBX to PST file format. It is recommended that you use Stellar Converter for DBX to make your work easy.

The Way Forward: Stellar Converter for DBX

To evade the cons of manual DBX to PST conversion process, you may employ this one software as it comes with several benefits. While making the process easy and quick, this tool makes DBX to PST conversion straightforward without having the need to install any intermediary emailing application working as a migration resource. Moreover, it is 100% efficient, can search and find all DBX files present on your system, and, most importantly, it can convert a number of files simultaneously. Also, if you use its Technician version, i.e. Stellar Converter for DBX-Technician, you can convert and save the files in a number of formats such as Office 365, PDF, RTF, HTML, EML, or MSG file formats. With this, the files can be used in a number of desktop and web-based email clients.

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About The Author

Eric Simson

Eric Simson is an Email Platform Consultant and is associated with Stellar Data Recovery from last 6 years. He writes about the latest technology tips and provides custom solutions related to MS Outlook, MS Exchange Server, Office 365, and many other Email Clients & Servers.