Outlook.com stuck in "Export in progress"

Question

I've found a couple other threads about this, but none of them have answers so I'm making a new one. After 25+ years, my hotmail account is finally getting full. I want to save my emails and archive them with an online storage that I already pay for (no way in hell am I paying for a OneDrive account when I'm already paying for a similar service elsewhere). However, the export function has been stuck on "export in progress". I'd rather not delete 25 years of emails to continue using this account, and I believe you are legally required to let users download their data.

What is going on here?

Answer 1

Were you ever able to get your data? I've been stuck with the same "Export in progress" message for 14 days now. In-App support is completely useless and cannot reset this process. I'm scared I will never get my data. I did this before and it took 1-2 days max. Please advise. Thank you in advance.

Answer 2

Can you confirm how exactly you are exporting your Outlook.com account?

Settings -> General -> Privacy and data -> Export mailbox

#1 - It can take up to 4 days for the export process to complete at which point you will be able a PST file which contains the entire <Mailbox>. The larger the mailbox, the longer it takes

It's been weeks if not longer. And actually I just checked it today and it seems to have reset, it no longer shows the export in progress and I did not receive a link to the file.

#2 - Exporting a mailbox does not remove anything from the <Mailbox>

I understand, it is my intention to delete my old emails after downloading the archive.

#3 - Just as aside, the sheer fact that you have an Outlook.com account means that you have a free 5GB OneDrive account (both use the same login credentials).

My inbox currently takes up 15 GB, so unless it compressed below 5gb then that doesn't help me much.

Answer 3

Hello JasonH123123123123

Hi, I'm Karl and will be happy to help you today.

Can you confirm how exactly you are exporting your Outlook.com account?

If you are exporting the mailbox directly from with the Outlook.com account via webmail (using a browser) then the following applies

#1 - It can take up to 4 days for the export process to complete at which point you will be able a PST file which contains the entire <Mailbox>. The larger the mailbox, the longer it takes

#2 - Exporting a mailbox does not remove anything from the <Mailbox>

#3 - Just as aside, the sheer fact that you have an Outlook.com account means that you have a free 5GB OneDrive account (both use the same login credentials).

It's been a while since I've tested exporting an Outlook.com mailbox but it was definitely possible to download the export file to the local hard drive - just don't remember what the other options were and unfortunately it takes to long to check this again for the purposes of this response

Answer 4

>>

It's been weeks if not longer. And actually I just checked it today and it seems to have reset, it no longer shows the export in progress and I did not receive a link to the file.

<<

Then the only thing I can suggest i that you contact Microsoft Support and ask them you weren't able to download the file once the export was completed

To contact Outlook.com support, log into your account and click on the ? (top right)

#1 - Enter your question

#2 - When the results are returned, click on <Yes> under the question "Still need help?"

#3 - Proceed accordingly

Just so there is no misunderstanding, this is a public user-to-user support forum. We're users just like you helping other users. We do not work for Microsoft and have no access to any user account so there is nothing we can do or check from within the forum. Microsoft Support personnel do not staff this forum.