Most Outlook users, including myself, have customized settings and rules that we’ve configured to suit our preferences and requirements, which took a lot of time to set up.
Now having to recreate all of that when moving to a new computer, replacing a damaged one, or changing computers for work is very exhausting.
We have compiled a few solutions in the upcoming section that can move Outlook configurations from your previous device to the new one seamlessly. Continue reading.
Methods to Move Outlook Configuration to New Computer
- Outlook’s Import/Export Feature
- Registry Export/Import
- OneDrive Backup
- Office 365 Account Sync
- Outlook Migration Tools
1: Outlook’s Import/Export Feature
This method will transfer all the settings, configurations, and other Outlook data as well:
Step 1: Export the PST File
- Open Outlook, Click on File > Open & Export > Import/Export.
- Select Export to a file and click Next.
- Choose Outlook Data File (.pst) and click Next.
- Select the folders you want to export
- Choose a location, name the PST file, and click on Finish.
Step 2: Transfer the PST File to the New Computer
Copy the .pst file to a USB drive, external hard drive, or cloud storage, and then transfer it to the new computer.
Step 3: Import data on the new computer
- Install and launch Outlook on the new computer.
- Click on File > Open & Export > Import/Export.
- Choose Import from another program or file and click Next.
- Select Outlook Data File (.pst) and click Next.
- Select the moved .pst file.
- Choose Do not import duplicates and click Next.
- Select the folders to import and click Finish.
Step 4: Reconfigure email accounts
In Outlook, go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings and add your email ID
Step 5: Verify and adjust settings
- Check that all your emails, contacts, and calendar items are present.
- Recreate any rules and filters under Rules & Alerts.
- Set up your signature again in the Signature settings.
- Adjust any other personalized settings as needed.
2: Registry Export/Import
Export Outlook Profile Settings:
- Open Registry Editor (Click on Yes to allow the app to make changes).
- Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\\Outlook\Profiles
(The path may vary slightly depending on your Outlook version) - Right-click on the Profiles folder and select Export to save it as a .reg file.
Import Profile Settings:
- Import the .reg file to the new computer.
- Open Registry Editor on the new computer and double-click the .reg file to import the Outlook profile settings into the registry.
3: OneDrive Backup
If you have less complex settings then use Onedrive to sync Outlook data and settings.
- On the old PC, ensure Outlook data is being backed up to OneDrive
- On the new PC, sign in to OneDrive and allow it to sync
- Set up Outlook to use the synced data
4: Office 365 Account Sync
If you’re moving Office 365 configurations from one device to another, simply sync all the settings to your Office 365 account on the old computer. Then, on the new computer, install Outlook and sign in with your Office 365 account.
The drawback of this solution is that you will not be able to transfer all the local settings.
5: Outlook Migration Tools
As you read above all the solutions have complexities or some drawbacks, if you want an effortless transfer of Outlook configuration then you can opt for an Outlook migration tool such as Rikvr Transfer for Outlook to migrate your Outlook for a simpler and effective migration of Outlook settings and configurations.
Steps to use Rikvr Transfer For Outlook to move Outlook configurations to new computer:
Part 1: Creating a backup File on the old system
- Close Outlook and related applications.
- Open Rikvr Transfer For Outlook and click on Backup.
- Select Advanced Backup.
- Select Backup Now.
- Create a new profile and click on Next.
- A list of Outlook items will be displayed, Check if all Outlook configurations and settings are selected.
- Select a destination location to save and click on Next.
- After creating the backup file, transfer it to the other system using a pen drive or any form of external storage.
Part 2: Transferring Outlook Configurations to the New Computer
- Download, install, and launch RIKVR Transfer For Outlook on the new system.
- Click on Transfer Outlook.
- Select the Transfer option.
- Select the recently generated backup file using the Browse option and click Next.
- Ensure that all the Outlook settings and configurations are selected and click Next.
- Once the process is completed, click on Finish.
Conclusion
We hope you found this article useful in exploring various effective solutions for migrating Outlook configurations to a new computer for a smooth transition. For webmail accounts with simpler configurations, you can simply log in and manually recreate the settings
