Issues with Outlook migrating to new PC

Question

Issues with Outlook migrating to new PC

Elizabeth 20

I’ve got problems with Outlook which tech support have failed to fix. So, I have uninstalled Microsoft 365 and reinstalled for a fresh version. But still one BIG problem: My emails have only migrated recent emails and not all my emails and folders still sitting on my old PC. I need to get these onto my new PC. Yes I did backup email address folders prior to doing the uninstall / reinstall. Any suggestions to assist me with this? [NOTE: this is for a home use computer, but Select a child subitem tag, would only allow me to choose For Business]

Deleted

This comment has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The comment was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.
Saumuel - Apps4Rent 0 Reputation points

2025-08-01T14:47:19.9966667+00:00

This often occurs if your email was set up as a POP account and you're now using IMAP or Exchange. Since you have a backup of the local data files (.PST files), you'll need to manually import them through File > Open & Export > Import/Export in Outlook on your new PC.
Elizabeth 20 Reputation points

2025-08-02T01:00:52.15+00:00

Thankyou. Yes I did manually export/ import but still did not migrate correctly

Answer accepted by question author

0 additional answers

Your answer

Deleted

This comment has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The comment was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.
Saumuel - Apps4Rent 0 Reputation points

2025-08-01T14:47:19.9966667+00:00

This often occurs if your email was set up as a POP account and you're now using IMAP or Exchange. Since you have a backup of the local data files (.PST files), you'll need to manually import them through File > Open & Export > Import/Export in Outlook on your new PC.
Elizabeth 20 Reputation points

2025-08-02T01:00:52.15+00:00

Thankyou. Yes I did manually export/ import but still did not migrate correctly

Answer 1

Jess-Q 12,705 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hi Elizabeth,

Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A Forum.

Regarding your issue, it seems you’re having trouble migrating all your Outlook emails and folders from your old PC to your new one, even after reinstalling Microsoft 365 so here are a few steps you can try:

Locate your Outlook backup file (.pst)

Since you mentioned you backed up your email folders before uninstalling, you should have a PST file. This file contains your emails, folders, contacts, and calendar data. Typical locations for PST files are:

+C:\Users<YourUsername>\Documents\Outlook Files or wherever you saved your backup.

1. Transfer the PST file to your new PC

Use a USB drive, external hard drive, or cloud storage to copy the PST file from your old PC to your new one.

2. Import the PST file into Outlook on your new PC

Open Outlook.
Go to File > Open & Export > Import/Export.
Select Import from another program or file, then choose Outlook Data File (.pst).
- Browse to your PST file’s location and follow the prompts to import.
Make sure to select the option to import into the current mailbox or a new folder, depending on your preference.

Verify your email account setup

Importing PST files doesn’t restore your email account settings. Double-check that your email accounts are correctly configured in Outlook on your new PC.

Important notes:

If your emails were stored in an OST file (common with IMAP or Exchange accounts), you cannot import OST files directly. You’ll need to export to PST first or use third-party tools.
Always close Outlook before copying or importing PST files to avoid errors.
Avoid uninstalling or repairing Office repeatedly, as this can cause profile or data issues. For more details, please refer to: Find and transfer Outlook data files from one computer to another - Microsoft Support

Please let me know if there are any updates or further concerns.

If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

Jess-Q 12,705 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-07-16T10:03:35.0466667+00:00

Hi Elizabeth

It has been a while, and I am writing to see how things are going with this issue. Have you had a chance to check the replies provided? Any update would be appreciated.

Hopefully everything is running smoothly on your side!
Elizabeth 20 Reputation points

2025-07-17T05:36:05.92+00:00

Hi Jess-Q, Apologies for delay, I'm away for a few days. Will be home tomorrow when I will attempt the suggestions, and will advise further then. I appreciate your patience.
Elizabeth 20 Reputation points

2025-07-18T03:33:42.1166667+00:00

Hi Jess-Q, I have 5 email addresses. I've actioned as suggestion and seems to have worked great on 4 email addresses. For 1, I got the message 'This Outlook data (.pst) is already in use in the current profile.' Should I delete the .pst file and try to import again for this 1 address?
Jess-Q 12,705 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-07-18T08:51:25.1566667+00:00
Hi Elizabeth

Thank you for the response.

I'm glad that you were able to follow my solution to resolve your issue smoothly, and about your issue the message “This Outlook data (.pst) is already in use in the current profile” means that the pst file you’re trying to import is already connected to your Outlook profile. Because Outlook won’t allow the same pst file to be imported twice which is why you’re having this error.

Here are a few steps you can try:

Check for your .pst file name

If there’s a chance of naming conflicts (e.g., two PST files named the same), try renaming the PST file on your computer and then attempt opening it again.

Check is the .pst file is already accessible

In Outlook, go to the View > Layout > Folder Pane

Scroll down and look for a folder name that matches the name of your .pst file.

If it’s there, you can drag and drop emails or folders from it into your main mailbox or desired location.

Remove and reattach the .pst file

Doing this can help avoid duplicate import errors and gives you full access to the data

In Outlook, go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings.

Under the Data Files tab, find the .pst file in question.

Select it and click Remove (don’t worry this will not delete the file from your computer).

Go to File > Open & Export > Open Outlook Data File and reattach the .pst.

Important note:

Do not delete the PST File because this file contains your backed-up emails, deleting it would permanently remove that data unless you have another copy. It’s safe to keep it and just manage how Outlook accesses it.

You can give it a try to see if it works and if there’s any update, please don’t hesitate to let me know.
Elizabeth 20 Reputation points

2025-07-22T02:08:07.8933333+00:00

Hi I have spent 3 days now trying to get my emails sorted. I actioned the last step. However, I assumed my emails would load as it were on the old PC as POP, but this is not so, outlook auto loaded everything to IMAP. I have many emails!!!! I cannot just change IMAP to POP.

So, can I just deleted all the email addresses, reload manually to setup as POP, then somehow reload the emails from the old PC to the new PC? (except not happy with losing many emails).

Frustrating, cannot find someone local to assist, or to just phone Microsoft Tech to discuss and fix!
Elizabeth 20 Reputation points

2025-07-22T02:18:51.96+00:00

Hi I have spent 3 days now trying to get my emails sorted. I actioned the last step. However, I assumed my emails would load as it were on the old PC as POP, but this is not so, outlook auto loaded everything to IMAP. I have many emails!!!! I cannot just change IMAP to POP.

So, can I just deleted all the email addresses, reload manually to setup as POP, then somehow reload the emails from the old PC to the new PC? (except not happy with losing many emails).

Further, this issue has caused my mailbox on the isp server to log 'over quota' so all emails from others are bouncing back to them, so I am NOT receiving emails for my main email address.

Frustrating, cannot find someone local to assist, or to just phone Microsoft Tech to discuss and fix!
Elizabeth 20 Reputation points

2025-07-22T02:20:36.6766667+00:00

now when I submit my comment to you, I get ERROR
Jess-Q 12,705 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-07-22T10:45:01.88+00:00
Hi Elizabeth

Thank you for the response.

I understand how frustrating you are right now but I’m here to help you as much as I can right now with the step-by-step through the process of switching your Outlook from IMAP to POP without losing any important emails.

Here are a few steps you can try:

Backup your Emails (Export to pst)

Open Outlook.

Go to File > Open & Export > Import/Export.

Choose Export to a file, then click Next.

Select Outlook Data File (.pst) and click Next.

Choose your email account and make sure to check Include subfolders.

Click Next, pick a save location, and click Finish to create a full backup of your emails. (Since you are doing a backup, so I suggest choosing allow duplicate to make sure nothing is skipped or list)

Remember to save the .pst file somewhere safe (e.g. external drive or cloud).

Copy IMAP emails to local folders

In Outlook, create a new local Outlook Data File (PST) via File > Account Settings >Account Settings > Data Files > Add.

Under the new PST, create folders to match your IMAP mailbox (Inbox, Sent Items, etc.).

In your IMAP account, select the emails in each folder, then copy them to the corresponding local PST folder (right-click > Move > Copy to Folder, or drag with Ctrl key).

Repeat for all important folders to ensure all emails are copied locally.

Verify the emails appear in the local folders.

This moves your emails from the IMAP account (server-based) to local storage on your PC.

Remove the IMAP Account

Go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings.

Under the Email tab, select the IMAP account and click Remove to delete it.

Add your Account as POP manually

In Outlook, go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings > New.

Choose Let me set up my account manually, click Connect.

Select POP or IMAP

Enter your account details, ensuring you choose POP as the account type.

Use your email provider's POP server settings (you can find these on their support site or Microsoft’s POP/IMAP server settings page).

Complete setup and test sending/receiving emails.

Move Emails into POP inbox (if needed)

When setup completes, the POP account will download new emails from the server inbox only.

You can now move any locally stored emails (from step 2) into the relevant folders of your new POP mailbox if you want them integrated.

I know this is very hassle for you but taking it step-by-step like this gives you full control and protects your important data.

Hope that clears things up, if you have any other questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask.
Elizabeth 20 Reputation points

2025-07-24T02:15:18.39+00:00

okay, I will have to look at this when I have time in a few days time
Elizabeth 20 Reputation points

2025-07-29T01:22:12.0633333+00:00

I really do NOT like the new Outlook. your instructions confused me: In Outlook, create a new local Outlook Data File (PST) via File > Account Settings >Account Settings > Data Files > Add.

I then realised that this is not available in the new outlook, which I tried to work around, and found: Home > View > View Settings > Accounts > (Your Accounts, email accounts). which obviously is nothing like your instructions.

So, again, I have changed back to Classic Outlook (a number of times but this is auto changed back to the New Outlook GRRRRR).

Anyway, I have now changed back to the Classic Outlook and followed the folders as you mention.

But, I'm not really understanding: Under the new PST, create folders to match your IMAP mailbox (Inbox, Sent Items, etc.). :

I see a folder: "Outlook Data File C:\Users\beth2\One Drive\Documents\Outlook Files\Outlook Data File - New.pst" I am assuming this was created the last time I loaded my pst files from the old PC to the new PC???? (another thing! I turned One Drive of! No, I do NOT like it! and do not ever want to use it. But it seems to just pop up and take over). So should I delete this? Or will deleting this delete all my emails?

And, Do you mean" I have to create all the folders individually? ie inbox, sent items, junk, outbox etc etc.

Then the following, 'In your IMAP account' select the emails in each folder, then copy them to the corresponding local PST folder (right-click > Move > Copy to Folder, or drag with Ctrl key). do you mean import the pst files backed up? and where is the IMAP account?

Whatever happened to the fantastic service to phone a techie and this was resolved by them? Perhaps this is all beyond me?
Elizabeth 20 Reputation points

2025-07-29T01:58:23.1866667+00:00

I really do NOT like the new Outlook. your instructions confused me: In Outlook, create a new local Outlook Data File (PST) via File > Account Settings >Account Settings > Data Files > Add.

I then realised that this is not available in the new outlook, which I tried to work around, and found: Home > View > View Settings > Accounts > (Your Accounts, email accounts). which obviously is nothing like your instructions.

So, again, I have changed back to Classic Outlook (a number of times but this is auto changed back to the New Outlook GRRRRR).

Anyway, I have now changed back to the Classic Outlook and followed the folders as you mention.

But, I'm not really understanding: Under the new PST, create folders to match your IMAP mailbox (Inbox, Sent Items, etc.). :

I see a folder: "Outlook Data File C:\Users\beth2\One Drive\Documents\Outlook Files\Outlook Data File - New.pst" I am assuming this was created the last time I loaded my pst files from the old PC to the new PC???? (another thing! I turned One Drive of! No, I do NOT like it! and do not ever want to use it. But it seems to just pop up and take over). So should I delete this? Or will deleting this delete all my emails?

And, Do you mean" I have to create all the folders individually? ie inbox, sent items, junk, outbox etc etc.

Then the following, 'In your IMAP account' select the emails in each folder, then copy them to the corresponding local PST folder (right-click > Move > Copy to Folder, or drag with Ctrl key). do you mean import the pst files backed up? and where is the IMAP account?

Whatever happened to the fantastic service to phone a techie and this was resolved by them? Perhaps this is all beyond me?
Jess-Q 12,705 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-07-29T14:42:58.63+00:00
Hi Elizabeth,

Thank you for the response.

I apologize for not stating that the steps should be done on classic Outlook not new Outlook, because classic Outlook will have better functionality than New Outlook, so I hope you'll try to follow the steps in classic Outlook until your issue is fully resolve.

About your question, here are a few answers I can provide

What’s That PST File?

The folder you’re seeing

Outlook Data File C:\Users\beth2\One Drive\Documents\Outlook Files\Outlook Data File - New.pst

was most likely created when you moved your emails from your old PC.

Important: Don’t delete it unless you’re 100% sure your emails are backed up elsewhere. Deleting it could remove emails stored in that file.

About OneDrive

Even if you turned OneDrive off, Outlook might still save files there by default. You can move the PST file to a different folder, but don’t delete it unless, you’re sure.

Do you need to create Folders? Yes you’ll need to manually create folders like: Inbox, Sent Items, Junk, Outbox, etc inside your new PST file.

How to Move Emails

Go to your IMAP account (this is your regular email account in Outlook).

Open each folder (Inbox, Sent, etc.).

Select the emails you want to move.

Right-click > Move > Copy to Folder or Drag them to the matching folder in your PST file while holding.

What’s an IMAP Account?

It’s your main email account in Outlook usually listed with your email address.

So in summary this is the steps you should do:

Open Outlook.

Open your PST file (File > Open > Outlook Data File).

In the PST, create folders to match your IMAP folders.

In your IMAP account (your email account in Outlook), select emails in each folder and copy them to the corresponding PST folder (right-click > Move > Copy to Folder, or drag with Ctrl). Hopefully it will answer most of your questions.
Jess-Q 12,705 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-08-01T12:40:53.48+00:00

Hi Elizabeth,

It has been a while and I am writing to see how things are going with this issue. Are you still having any issue with migrating your Outlook emails and folders from your old PC to your new one? Any update would be appreciated.
Elizabeth 20 Reputation points

2025-08-01T13:02:30.08+00:00

Hi Jess, I felt I needed to refresh, so I uninstalled M365. Reinstalled, uninstalled copilot (hate it) and one drive. Opened Outlook in Classic (and have saved this version as I don’t like the new version), installed my email addresses in POP. Then loaded the files. Unfortunately, the backup pst may have been corrupt so not all migrated well but new emails are working ok. so appears all good now thanks.
Jess-Q 12,705 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-08-01T14:46:53.4333333+00:00

Hi Elizabeth,

Thank you for the response.

I'm glad that your issue is resolved, if you think my first answer is helpful to you, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it as other users will also search information in this community and your valuable vote will definitely also help other users who have similar queries easily to find the correct channel and useful information more quickly. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread