Transferring emails from Outlook Classic to Outlook New on new PC.

Question

Transferring emails from Outlook Classic to Outlook New on new PC.

Tom Calbury 25

I have exported the .pst files on my Windows 10 desktop to a USB drive. I cannot import them into Outlook New on my new desktop with Windows 11, as Outlook New doesn't support .pst files, but only .eml. What is the solution?

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Answer accepted by question author

Kal-D 7,375 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hi Tom Calbury,

Just to clarify, New Outlook for Windows does not currently support directly opening or importing .pst files. To access older data, you’ll first need to use Classic Outlook on the new Windows 11 PC.

The safer option is usually Open rather than Import:

Classic Outlook > File > Open & Export > Open Outlook Data File

This opens the .pst in a separate folder list, allowing you to review older mail and copy only what you need. This approach is generally easier and safer than Import, which can mix older items into your current folders and is harder to undo.

If you want those older emails to appear in New Outlook later, open the .pst in Classic Outlook first and copy the items into your mailbox folders, so they sync online.

It’s also a good idea to copy the .pst from the USB drive to a local folder on the new PC before opening it.

Hope this helps. Feel free to let me know if you also need to move contacts or calendar items, as those may require a slightly different approach.

Please let me know if this proves useful to you, or if you would like further assistance.

I'm looking forward to your reply.

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Kal-D 7,375 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-03-18T22:59:14.35+00:00

Hi Tom Calbury,

I am writing to see how things are going with this issue.

If there’s anything else I can assist you with or if you need further clarification, please don’t hesitate to let me know, I’m here to help.

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Tom Calbury 25 Reputation points

2026-03-20T16:05:16.5966667+00:00
Hi Kal,

Firstly, thank you for taking the time to help me out. My apologies for taking so long to reply. Okay. By the time I read your initial post, I had already found the download for Windows Classic on the Microsoft website, as Classic doesn't come in the MS365 subscription. After downloading it, I exported the .pst file from my old desktop and opened it on my new one in Classic Outlook.

The older emails appeared on their own without action from me in Oultook New on my new laptop and desktop, so it seems that they synced on their own.

The whole point behind installing Outlook Classic was to transfer the old emails from the older desktop (it wasn't upgradable to Windows 11) and save the data before I pulled the hard drive and recycled the rest of it. It was never my intent, going forward, to continue using Classic, even though it functions perfectly fine.
Kal-D 7,375 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-03-22T15:22:56.41+00:00

Hi Tom Calbury,

Thanks again for sharing the details.

If you notice anything unexpected going forward or have questions as you continue using the new Outlook, feel free to follow up.

Best Regards

1 additional answer

Your answer

Kal-D 7,375 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-03-18T22:59:14.35+00:00

Hi Tom Calbury,

I am writing to see how things are going with this issue.

If there’s anything else I can assist you with or if you need further clarification, please don’t hesitate to let me know, I’m here to help.

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Tom Calbury 25 Reputation points

2026-03-20T16:05:16.5966667+00:00

Hi Kal,

Firstly, thank you for taking the time to help me out. My apologies for taking so long to reply. Okay. By the time I read your initial post, I had already found the download for Windows Classic on the Microsoft website, as Classic doesn't come in the MS365 subscription. After downloading it, I exported the .pst file from my old desktop and opened it on my new one in Classic Outlook.

The older emails appeared on their own without action from me in Oultook New on my new laptop and desktop, so it seems that they synced on their own.

The whole point behind installing Outlook Classic was to transfer the old emails from the older desktop (it wasn't upgradable to Windows 11) and save the data before I pulled the hard drive and recycled the rest of it. It was never my intent, going forward, to continue using Classic, even though it functions perfectly fine.
Kal-D 7,375 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-03-22T15:22:56.41+00:00

Hi Tom Calbury,

Thanks again for sharing the details.

If you notice anything unexpected going forward or have questions as you continue using the new Outlook, feel free to follow up.

Best Regards

Answer 1

Outlook New on Windows currently cannot import .pst files. To use the exported .pst on the new Windows 11 PC, classic Outlook (desktop Outlook) must be installed and used for the import.

Use this approach:

Install or switch to classic Outlook on the Windows 11 PC
- If only New Outlook is installed, install classic Outlook using the Microsoft 365 desktop apps (see “Install classic Outlook for Windows” in the export article).
- In New Outlook, use the New Outlook toggle (top-right) to switch back to classic Outlook if the toggle is available.
Import the .pst into classic Outlook
In classic Outlook on the new PC:
1. Select File on the ribbon.
2. Select Open & Export > Import/Export.
3. Choose Import from another program or file > Next.
4. Select Outlook Data File (.pst) > Next.
5. Browse to the .pst file on the USB drive (or copy it locally first), choose how to handle duplicates, then Next.
6. Select the target mailbox or Import items into the current folder.
7. Select Finish and wait for the import to complete.
Use the data in New Outlook (optional)
After the .pst is imported into the mailbox via classic Outlook, New Outlook can access that mailbox data (mail, and with current limitations for calendar/contacts as documented). New Outlook itself still does not perform the .pst import.

There is no supported path to import .pst directly into New Outlook; classic Outlook must be used as the import tool.

References: