How to Import Hotmail to Zimbra Desktop? Clarified

  author
Rollins Duke   
Published: April 25th, 2024 • 6 Min Read

Summary: This blog post explores the detailed instructions to import Hotmail to Zimbra desktop using free and automated ways. Nowadays Hotmail users prefer to switch to other email platforms, some of them choose Zimbra. Users are avoiding using Hotmail because of its discontinuity and security reasons.

Do you know Hotmail is still active and replaced with Outlook.com web-based email? Hence, Hotmail users are currently using it without facing any difficulties. But still, some of the reasons are not unavoidable so various users want to add Hotmail emails to Zimbra desktop.

Hotmail Vs Zimbra

Hotmail was an email service which has been available free of cost. It was acquired by Microsoft in 1997 and to date, there are millions of users of Hotmail. In February 2013, Microsoft announced to replacement of Hotmail to Outlook.com. Hotmail supports IMAP and POP3 protocols to retrieve emails so it can be configured with any desktop-based email client.

Zimbra Desktop is an offline email client that allows you to manage emails in a better way. One can search emails as well as attachments by characteristics or specified texts. With Zimbra, you can even create filters to route the received emails to designated folders. Also, you can create address book groups and tags to organize them. Besides, this Zimbra Desktop gives you many facilities such as emails, contacts, calendars, tasks, briefcases, etc.

Why Import Hotmail to Zimbra? Key Reasons

Discontinuity: Hotmail is a discontinued email service that was replaced with Outlook.com. So, users don’t want to use out-of-dated email addresses i.e. @hotmail.com.

Security: However, Microsoft provides up-to-date security features for Hotmail users. But still, several users think this is much easier to breach security due to its discontinuity.

Features: Zimbra is specifically developed for business professionals, so it offers facilities to manage emails, contacts, calendars, tasks, and briefcases. While Hotmail is primarily emailing focused service.

Quota Space: Hotmail offers 15 GB quota space to store its emails and other items. After the Hotmail storage limit is exceeded, it stops receiving new emails, so users wish to switch it.

Recommended: Expert Tips to Permanently Delete Emails from Hotmail

How to Add Hotmail Emails to Zimbra Manually?

  1. Launch the Zimbra desktop on your computer.
  2. Next, choose Setup and select Add New Account.
  3. After that, select account type as IMAP.
  4. Type your account name, your full name, and email address.
  5. Enter receiving mail details such as username, password, incoming mail server, port number, and security.
  6. Fill sending mail details as SMTP server, and port number.
  7. Choose Synchronization settings to check messages every 5 minutes.
  8. Afterward, press Validate and Save for successful configuration.
  9. Lastly, Zimbra will start adding Hotmail emails.

Constraints of Manual Processes

  • The manual method will import only Hotmail emails to Zimbra desktop.
  • Technical expertise is necessary for adding Hotmail emails to Zimbra.
  • You may receive account authentication and validation errors.
  • There is no guarantee for successful completion using a manual approach.
  • It requires knowledge about SSL, IMAP, SMTP, and Port Numbers.
  • You will still send and receive emails on your old @hotmail.com account.

Pro Tool to Transfer Hotmail Data to Zimbra

Outlook.com Backup Software is an excellent and easy-to-use all-in-one toolkit. This utility has a separate option to import Hotmail to Zimbra including emails, contacts, calendars, attachments, and other mailbox items.

This software permits to backup Hotmail account data in multiple standard email and document formats such as PST, MSG, EML, MBOX, PDF, DOC, and many more. The tool comes with a free demo version so you can immediately use it free for limited data.

How to Import Hotmail to Zimbra with All Data?

  1. Firstly, start the software on your Windows and Mac Machines.
    Run software
  2. Enter Hotmail account credentials and click Login button.
    Hotmail credentials
  3. After that, choose required items from software GUI accordingly.
    Select folders
  4. Enable additional filters if required for selective data transfer.
    Additional filters
  5. Then, choose Zimbra as a preferred saving option.
    Choose Zimbra
  6. Use the Change button to set a specific destination path to store output.
    Destination path
  7. Tap the Backup button to import Hotmail to Zimbra with complete data.
    Transfer Hotmail data to Zimbra
  8. Hotmail emails to Zimbra import process completed successfully.
    Completed successfully
  9. Lastly, if will open destination path, get resultant data in TGZ format.
    Resultant data

Note: Once you’ve exported Hotmail data to Zimbra TGZ format, follow these steps to import the TGZ files into Zimbra:

  1. Open the Zimbra Desktop and choose the Preferences option.
    Preferences
  2. Here, in the left panel select Import/ Export option.
    Import Export
  3. After that, choose the Browse button to choose TGZ files.
    Browse
  4. Choose the destination folder where you want to save the output. You can also create a new folder for saving emails.
    Destination folder
  5. Advanced settings allow checking or unchecking required items to import like Mails, Calendars, Address Book, Tasks, and Briefcase.
    Advanced settings
  6. Once all steps are done, click the Import tab to transfer Hotmail data to Zimbra.
    Import Hotmail to Zimbra
  7. Lastly, you can view the exported data from Hotmail to Zimbra account.
    Hotmail data to Zimbra added

Software Benefits Over Manual Method

  • Import All Data: This software is well suitable for moving emails, contacts, and calendars from Hotmail to Zimbra desktop.
  • Selective Items: Before adding Hotmail data to Zimbra, the software shows all items in GUI, and permits to selection of only required items.
  • Additional Filters: This utility provides various additional filtration to import data between dates, by subject, by sender, and receiver.
  • Multiple Saving Options: The tool is capable to download Hotmail emails to computer in several standard file extensions.
  • Email Marketing: Email marketers can use this tool to extract email addresses from Hotmail accounts for marketing purposes.
  • Compatibility: The tool is compatible with all latest as well as old Windows and Mac Operating Systems.

Summing Up Together

If you are one of those who wants to import Hotmail to Zimbra account, then this blog will be helpful for you. It explains a complete stepwise solution to transfer Hotmail emails to Zimbra with attachments, contacts, calendars, etc. The manual method has some limitations but still works while software is the easiest way. You can opt for any solution to perform this task accordingly.

Read Next: Best Techniques to Convert Hotmail Email to PDF