How to Migrate Outlook Data to a New PC

A precise guide to exporting and importing Outlook PST files to transfer your email, calendar, and contacts to a new Windows computer.

1. Locate and export the Outlook data file. Open Outlook on your source computer. Navigate to File > Open & Export > Import/Export. Select Export to a file, click Next, select Outlook Data File (.pst), and choose your primary email account to ensure all subfolders are included.
2. Save the PST file to external media. Choose a destination folder on an external hard drive or USB flash drive. Name the file clearly, such as OutlookBackup.pst, and click Finish. You may be prompted to set an optional password for the file; keep this blank if you prefer a standard migration.
3. Move the file to the new PC. Safely eject your external storage device from the source computer. Insert the drive into your new PC and copy the .pst file to a local directory, such as Documents\Outlook Files.
4. Import the data into the new Outlook instance. Launch Outlook on the new computer. Go to File > Open & Export > Import/Export. Select Import from another program or file, then choose Outlook Data File (.pst).
5. Finalize the data mapping. Browse to the location where you saved the copied .pst file. Select 'Import items into the same folder in' and choose your new account from the dropdown menu. Click Finish to begin the synchronization process.