eml file import into the new Outlook for windows (windows live mail replacement)

Question

I had an old windows 7 computer that the motherboard died. I was using windows live mail. The hard drive is fine and I was able to copy the eml files from that old drive to the newly purchased Windows 11 computer. Recently, Microsoft updated the mail application to Outlook for windows. I have been trying to figure out how to "import" the eml files (possibly with their folder structure) to the new Outlook for windows. I have failed so far.

How do I import these eml messages into the Outlook for windows ? Please don't say drag them from file explorer and drop on Outlook for windows, as all that does is open the eml in another window, but does not import it.

Thanks.

Answer 1

Hi @Darryl Hoar

Welcome to our forum!

Please understand here that we mainly focus on general questions about the Outlook desktop client.

As far as I know, Widows Live Mail is no longer supported, and we don't have resources such as test environments, so I'm afraid we're limited in what we can do to help.

Based on my search, Windows Live Mail defaults to ELM-formatted files, not PST, so it can't be imported directly into Outlook. (More information, see: Where are the Windows LIve Mail files saved? - Microsoft Community).

To better address this issue, I found the following similar documentation on importing Windows Live Mail into Outlook.

Migrate from Outlook Express or Windows (Live) Mail to Outlook - HowTo-Outlook [f10e-3288-1bf-00e5].

Importing eml-files into Outlook - HowTo-Outlook [cbc2-4683-f55-ada3].

(Note: Microsoft is providing this information as a convenience to you. The sites are not controlled by Microsoft.)

Hope this helps!

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Answer 2

I recently transferred .eml contact group files to create Outlook contacts. This is what I did.

Step 1: switch temporarily to old outlook using the top right slider.

'Open' the .eml file in your Outlook inbox,

Click File > Move to Folder dropdown arrow > Copy to Folder > select 'Contacts' folder > OK > Save & Close.

To check if it was successful, click the ' People' icon on the left pane of Outlook, your contact groups should be there.