Outlook 2003 Import/Export instructions

Although these instruction were wrote for Outlook 2003, the process for Outlook XP and 2000 are very similar.  There are a few exceptions and assumptions to these instructions.  If you have any questions concerning a specific option or process, please feel free to contact us here.

With Outlook open, click the 'File' drop-down menu and choose 'Import and Export...'.

On the window that appears, choose 'Import from another program or file' and click next.

Scroll down a bit and choose 'Personal Folder File (.pst)' from the list and click next.

Click the 'Browse' button to choose the file to import, and also set the option for how the system should handle duplicate items.

This step assumes that you have moved the backup file from the export procedure to the desktop of the machine you are importing to.

Click the desktop button on the left, choose the backup.pst file from the list, and choose open.

After hitting OK in the above window, you will be sent back to the previous window.

Here you will click 'Next'.

Here you will select the location you want to import the items to, this varies depending on what was exported.

For the scope of this article, which is to backup and restore an entire mailbox, choose to 'Include subfolders' and to 'Import items into the same folder in:' and choose the current mailbox you want the items imported into from the drop down box.

After hitting 'Finish' the import procedure will start.  Depending on what was contained in the backup, the procedure could take a few minutes to complete.

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This is just a general backup procedure and is not intended for use in all applications.  If you have any questions about these instructions or a particular setup, please contact us here.