Migrate IMAP to Outlook.com: 2 Manual & Automated Ways
Migration from an IMAP account to Outlook.com is a common scenario for users facing issues with their old/small IMAP provider and now want a Microsoft-centric personal email account due to familiarity & reliability. You can import IMAP emails to Outlook.com either manually using drag-and-drop by configuring source & destination account in Outlook Classic application or directly using a secure IMAP to Outlook.com migration tool in case you are dealing with larger mailboxes.
IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) enables email clients/webmail to access and sync messages held on a mail server. Outlook.com supports IMAP for use with compatible email clients, but does not support adding new third-party IMAP accounts directly to Outlook.com. Here is a quick comparison between general IMAP accounts and Outlook.com accounts.
| Factor | General IMAP Account | Outlook.com IMAP |
|---|---|---|
| Where Emails are Stored | Third-party email provider’s server or a self-hosted/on-premises mail server | On Microsoft’s Exchange server |
| Email Address | Based on IMAP account – can be free IMAP ending with @gmail.com, @yahoo.com or custom business emails ending with @company.com | Ends with @Outlook.com |
| Costing | Free or paid based on plan | Outlook.com is a free email service by Microsoft but you may pay for Microsoft 365 subscription |
| Secure Connection & Authentication | Old App Password or General Password – Not very secure, but based on ESP | OAuth2 / Modern Auth |
Using Outlook Classic migrate IMAP to Outlook.com: Manual Way
It is possible to manually move IMAP folders to Outlook.com account via Outlook Classic via drag & drop or Copy to Folder option on Outlook Classic. Yet it is recommended for only smaller or mid level mailboxes.
- Open Outlook Classic on your Windows desktop.
- Click on File >> Add Account and configure your source IMAP mailbox as well as Outlook.com account.
- Wait for both IMAP & Outlook.com accounts to be fully synced in the Outlook desktop.
- Migrate Custom Folders: Right Click on the custom folder in the source IMAP account >> Choose Copy Folder and select the destination under the Outlook.com account.
- You cannot directly move special folders like – Inbox, Drafts, Sent, etc but you can copy them easily using the in-built application. Using the copy folder option is better suggested this also prevents sudden data loss that is possible due to sync errors.
- Right-Click on the special folder >> Copy Folder and select the destination under the Outlook.com account.
Where Manual Approach May Lack
- Loss of folder structure and transferred manually.
- Time consuming in case you have a large mailbox.
- Users often encounter “Permission Errors” and “Sync Issues”.
- Although you can use the Outlook desktop application (available via a Microsoft 365 trial if needed) – it is not always free. Suggestion: You can alternatively use Thunderbird instead of a fully free desktop client.
Important Things to Know When Migrating IMAP to Outlook.com Account Manually
- Have your IMAP account server details beforehand – they are generally available on the ESP’s website or connect with your IT. You can also use https://imapsettings.com/.
- Do not close Outlook in the middle of IMAP emails to Outlook.com sync. You can track the status at the “Status Bar” at the bottom before closing.
- Outlook.com provides 15 GB of free email storage for your mailbox. Make sure your IMAP account does not exceed that as the migration will be incomplete in such a case.
Migrate IMAP mailbox to Outlook.com Using BitRecover Solution
BitRecover IMAP Backup Tool is a direct and secure way to automatically migrate emails from multiple IMAP accounts to Outlook.com accounts including all folders (hierarchy maintained), attachments and metadata without manual copy or drag & drop.
- Download the Microsoft Market Place approved BitRecover IMAP to Outlook.com importer.
- Enter your IMAP credentials.
- Select the IMAP folder you want to move to the Outlook.com account.
- From the Saving Option choose Outlook.com
- Enter your Outlook email ID and press Next to sign in with Microsoft.
Key Benefits of Using the BitRecover IMAP to Outlook.com Import Tool
- Bulk migrate multiple folders from IMAP account to Outlook.com without any throttling limit. You can even use “Batch Mode” to migrate multiple IMAP mailboxes to Outlook.com.
- Selectively move IMAP folders & emails to Outlook.com using filters like Date Range, Senders & Receivers Address, Exclude Folder, Subject Title and more.
- Secure IMAP to Outlook.com with the use of “Proxy Mode” & secure connection with Microsoft OAuth.
Let’s conclude
In the above blog, we have explained the method to migrate IMAP to Outlook.com account. It’s a reliable and smart solution that will give you effective results. You can take a free trial and can test its working. For unlimited migration, you can purchase the license keys.
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