Dave, I just got a new computer, and want to move my Microsoft Outlook contacts to a new computer. How do I move this file?
On first blush, it appears that you need to pay for a shareware application: Google “transfer Microsoft Outlook Contacts” and dozens of different applications show up which, I imagine, you could purchase if you were so inclined. Before you whip out your credit card, however, read on…
A bit more research, however, reveals a document on the Microsoft Office Online site that provide detailed instructions on how to export your Contacts from Outlook.
Here’s the scoop:
- In Outlook, on the File menu, click Import and Export.
- Click Export to a file, and then click Next.
- Click Comma Separated Values (Windows), and then click Next.
- In the folder list, click the Contacts folder, and then click Next.
- Browse to the folder where you want to save the contacts as a .csv file.
- Type a name for the exported file, and then click OK.
- Click Next.
- Click Finish.
That gives you a comma separate list of your Outlook Contacts. Transfer that to your new computer, then you can import them into your new version of Outlook with the following steps:
- On the File menu, click Import and Export.
- Click Import from another program or file, and then click Next.
- In the list, click Comma Separated Values (Windows), and then click Next.
- Click Browse, locate your file, and then click Next.
- Click your Contacts folder or another folder that contains contacts, and then click Next.
- In the list, click the file that contains your address list, and then click Map Custom Fields.
That should get you going. If you need more help here are two reference pages from Microsoft, one on Exporting Outlook Contacts and another on Importing Outlook Contacts.
Hi Dave,
Suddenly today, when I write an email, I can’t add any email address from my address book when I click the + box opens to say no contacts found. Yet in yahoo mail inbox page if I click on contacts, it is all there.
Could you tell me what I can do so that I can acces to my contacts when I am typing a mail.
Many thanks.
don’t forget to back up your Outlook data. Any change bears the risk to lose sensitive data. I use Lookeen Backup Manager http://www.outlook-backup.com and I’m very satisfied but it is your decision how important you find your Outlook data!
i imported my pst file into microsoft outlook on my new computer but after rebooting when i open microsoft outlook my mouse disappears.
i can no longer access my emails on the new laptop. what might be the cause and how do i solve the problem?
Thank you so much! I had a hell of a time figuring out how to move a Distribution Group to a Contacts Folder. Import/Export as CSV did the trick wonderfully.
I have found and moved .pst files from an old computer outlook2010 to a new computer outlook2010
the files are in Libraries>Document>Outlook Files
Some files are just called outlook and others have e-mail address as the label.
the data in the outlook files do not seem to open when i open outlook??
Hi.
I need to save all the email adresses that I have in the ‘To:’ field in my Outlook. These contacts are not saved in the Contacts Adress Book, they were just email adresses that I have been using along the time.
Is there any way to do that?
Thanks 🙂
Mário
Thank you, thank you, thank you for this very useful tutorial! I have successfully exported and imported my contact list from my old computer to my new one.
Hi, I have been backing up my OE email using the export/import feature, but I find it to be a slow and clunky system. I have multiple jobs going on and would like to file the emails in corresponding job folders on my PC. I can drag and drop them there and view them quickly; which is way better for me. The problem is that once they leave OE and enter the file folder on the PC, their file name becomes the SUBJECT. Which means many of them look exactly the same and you have to open them to know what they really are. I also had a file change its date to TODAYS DATE (was originally from 2006) Is there a way to keep the senders name intact? I have been searching other postings who have had this problem and it seems so logical that someone would come up with a fix. Does the OUTLOOK program have better functionality in this regard?
how to create a sent box for as sub directory in Microsoft Outlook?
Hi i have to send contact to my bos from my laptop to his laptop how do i do it
Another add-in which can help move email folders as well as contacts, calendar, tasks, notes, etc. to another machine is Pandali Folder Master (http://pandali.com/pfm.html). You can select several folders at a time to move or copy them to Outlook on another machine.
You can export a .psd file from outlook and then import it into a new outlook. Instructions; http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook-help/move-contacts-to-another-computer-HA001105393.aspx?CTT=1
How do I export Outlook Contacts from old PC to new Macbook?
Thank You, Thank You.
Worked just like you said!
Get back to ya on the Coffee! *smile*
Nektra WAB is a component that lets you access the Windows Address Book from any language that supports ActiveX.
http://www.nektra.com/products/nktwab-outlook-express-windows-mail-wab-api/
From the above comments i have noticed that jon and Dirk asked of a way to copy the emails from Outlook.
If you are interested in copying emails, contacts, tasks and autocomplete information you can use this guide: http://www.optimizewindows7.net/software/complete-outlook-2007-backup-and-transfer-guide/
Hello,
I am looking for guidance on how to export contacts from Excel using the category feature. I am using 2007 and would like to export a specific set of contacts based on or excuding a certain catergory. is this possible within Outlook or is there an add-on that can do this?
Thanks!
Hello
Can you help me? Can you tell me how can i save my messages in Microsoft Outlook?
I need them because some have important messages that i need.
Hope you can help me, Thanks alot
Jon
Can I use this method to copy my Inbox?
Dear Dave, I was trying for hours to find out how to transfer my Outlook messages and addresses to my new computer. The official Microsoft sites were unintelligible but your step-wise instructions were clear and I successfully transferred everything. I had already wasted a full day going round in circles. Why do the software designers not make such transfers easier? If they did, we would change computers more frequently and that would pleased the manufacturers! Many thanks
Keith, Newmarket, UK
Hi,
I have exported my Contact List from my old PC and imported it on my New PC’s Outlook.
I am able to see all my contacts. However when in open a New Mail to write and type a new email address it doesnt show from my contact list.
I have to first time type that email address and then second time it shows when i type first letter of email id.
is there any other way i dont have to type the email id every first time it should show up when u press starting letter of that email id.
Ajay
Hello Dave: Followed your instructions (Moving Outlook Contacts to another laptop) and it worked like a charm! And I AM NOT a computer guru! Hope to return the favor.
Regards,
Fred
Hi Dave,
Is there a way that I can collect all the email adresses from my inbox with outlook.
Thank you
Dear dave,
I have my Company mail id. and also i used MS outlook in my previous location with our company server. Now, i have switched in to another one location. now i would like to have MS Outlook features in my Laptop. can i have?. Suggest me .
I would be very thankful for you……
Regards,
Veera
How can I export a group from Outlook express?
i’m unable to read my email attachments as it’s looking for a 25 dig product key
i’m unable to read my email attachments as it’s looking for a 25 dig product key when i enter it, it will not continue?
Thanks so much for the great information about transferring Outlook contacts to a new computer. Great name, by the way!
I would like to know how I can save a contact group list from an attached email to my contact list in MS outlook 2007?
Thank you
Many thanks for your website and thes ervice you are offering. I just learned how to transfer my Outlook contacts from one computer to another.
Hi Dave. I use MS Vista, Outlook Express. When you go to tools and click on Windows Contacks, they come up in correct descending order. When I go to messages to do a new email and then click on TO, the names are all messed up and in no correct order. There seems to be no tab or anything to put them in any type of order. Help please. Ann Dock
Hi Dave. I use MS Vista, Outlook Express. When you go to tools and click on Windows Contacks, they come up in correct descending order. When I go to messages to do a new email and then click on TO, the names are all messed up and in no correct order. There seems to be no tab or anything to put them in any type of order. Help please. Ann Dock
I used MS Office on my old PC. The drive crashed and nothing could be saved. I have set up MS Office
on my new PC. Is there a way I can get all of my contacts that were on the old PC? Do they sit out
in space somewhere?
I have TWO problems: First, I deleted a VERY IMPORTANT folder from my Outlook Express (6?), today, and I have not been able to restore it! I am using Windows XP Professional-yes, I tried to restore the computer to an earlier date; it kept returning “Restore Incomplete” (or something like that). The folder I’m refering to was attaced to my Hotmail account. I tried to get into Hotmail to try to restore it there. I’ve tried Microsoft.com and various other sites-no help.
How do I restore my deleted folder? I DID NOT back it up.
Second, my laptop is running Windows XP home version. It has begun to do ‘weird’ things: the desktop icons will link to only ONE program; the program that the other’s link to, the icon is blinking; when I get on Outlook (or any web pages)my mouse will not work: the computer makes my mouse scroll to the bottom of the page (I have to use my up/down keys to get to where I want to be.) I have scanned for viruses, but have found none. Any ideas what’s causing this?
THANK YOU for any help you may be able to give me!
How do I move my Microsoft Outlook contacts?
Thankx it was great help!!
Hi, Dave.
I use Outlook 2007 with a Vista OS. At one point, I believe that I changed the directory where “Contacts” is stored. I have since deleted that directory, but it keeps being recreated (presumably by Office) and the “Contacts” folder comes back from the dead. Can you direct me on how to change the default location for this thing? Looks like I had enough rope to hang myself.
Jason
Hello
I would like to group my contacts by categories. For each contact, I have indicated which category it belongs to (in some cases a contact will be long in mulptile categories, like Business and Restaurant) and would like to create contact groups based on these categories. Is there a way to do this? Also is there a way to do this and still keep the contact in the contact folder? When I did this with an iPhone app it put my contacts in the first category indicated and took it out of the main contact folder. I would appreciate any assitance with this people could offer. Thank you.
Dave, I want to keep two different companies completely separate on one laptop. I’ve been using one account with separate email accounts for each, but this is becoming a problem. I created a new account for co. ‘B’. I now need to get the data in the old account to the new account. Even if the new account contains co. A’s emails, it won’t matter. I’ll just delete A’s stuff and leave B’s in the new acct. What is the best way to move the data in Outlook 2007.
OOOps… Never mind, I found this:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/HA011124801033.aspx
A new question: (haven’t seen it)
I have a weekly automatic backup of “My_Documents” scheduled.
I would like to MOVE the default location of the Outlook contacts files to the My_Documents folder so that it gets backed up also without having to export and save the csv file esch time I make a change.
How can this be done?
Thank you so much!!! Those were the easiest instructions ever. You’ve made my life so much easier!!
Dave,
I have a computer that was used by another employee. We had everything changed from her stuff to mine because she got a new pc. Problem is, when I send emails, it pulls from her contact list and not mine. How can I stop this? I do not need any of her contacts.
How do I change the settings so I can see if someone that sent me an email is one of my contacts?
i want to transfer my contact in address book in ms outlook to my mobile phone so how can i do that tell me please
i want to transfer my contect in address book in ms outlook so how can i do that tell me
I want to have the same Outlook Contacts, Calendar, Tasks, and Notes on my home and office PC’s, but different mailboxes and mail folders. This would be easy if I could keep my default Contacts, Calendar, Tasks, and Notes in a different pst file from my mail. Is there a way to do this?
Along these same lines but in a different direction, I have a user that is using Outlook for his personal email and when he accesses his company email through OWA, he wants to be able to access his Outlook contacts while in OWA. There is no import option in OWA and supposedly it is supposed to be an “automatic” thing but I can’t make it work for him. What am I doing wrong?
My hard drive was replaced, I can pull up my distribution list but cannot send a message from it, why?
How do I transfer emails and address book from work outlook (one email account) to outlook web access (a different email account)?
I have Vista contact list. How do i transfer Vista contact list to Mircosoft Outlook. currently i only have XP version. Pls assist me. Thank you.