Convert Outlook to Windows Live Mail: Reliable Solution

User Query: I have been using Microsoft Outlook for a long time, and I have hundreds of emails, contacts, and calendar entries saved in it. Recently, I started using Windows Live Mail on my home computer, and I want to transfer all my Outlook data into it. Can someone explain a simple method to convert Outlook to Windows Live Mail without losing any data?

Introduction: A lot of people find themselves in this exact situation. You have been using Microsoft Outlook for years, built up a large collection of emails and folders inside it. Now you want to transfer everything over to Windows Live Mail. The problem is that Outlook and Windows Live Mail store data in completely different ways. Outlook uses PST files. Windows Live Mail works with EML files. Data gets lost, folders end up in the wrong place, and attachments go missing if not converted properly. This blog explains the manual method and a professional DRS Outlook PST Converter Tool

Why Outlook and Windows Live Mail Are Not Directly Compatible

  • Outlook is a full productivity application. It stores everything, including emails, contacts, calendars, and tasks, inside a single PST file. This file is built specifically for Outlook and does not open cleanly in other applications.
  • Windows Live Mail is a much simpler email client designed for everyday home use. It stores emails as individual EML files in folders on your computer. It does not understand the PST format at all.
  • So when you want to transfer data from Outlook to Windows Live Mail, you are essentially translating between two different storage systems. That translation requires either a manual process that takes a lot of time or a dedicated conversion tool that handles everything cleanly.

What Data Can You Convert PST to Windows Live Mail?

  • Emails including body content, subject lines, sender and receiver details, timestamps, and attachments can all be converted as EML files.
  • Contacts can be exported from Outlook and imported into Windows Live Mail with names, email addresses, and phone numbers intact.
  • Folder structure can be preserved so your emails land in the correct folders rather than being dumped into one big pile.
  • Additionally, Attachments that were inside your Outlook emails should come through fully intact when you use a proper tool.

Manual Method to Convert Outlook to Windows Live Mail

A manual way to transfer Outlook emails to Windows Live Mail is by exporting emails into EML format and then importing them. Steps to Follow:

  1. Firstly, open Microsoft Outlook on your computer.
  2. Locate the email messages you want to transfer.
  3. Then, drag and drop those emails to a folder on your desktop.
  4. After that, Outlook will save them as MSG files.
  5. Convert the MSG files into EML format using an email client or converter.
  6. In the end, open Windows Live Mail.
  7. Import the converted EML files into Windows Live Mail.

Limitations: Manually Migrate Outlook to Windows Live Mail

  • Manually exporting and converting emails can take a lot of time.
  • The process requires intermediate conversions before the emails can be imported.
  • Attachments or metadata may sometimes be lost during conversion.
  • Moreover, handling thousands of emails manually is not practical.

Professional Tool to Convert Outlook to Windows Live Mail

If you have 1000+ emails that are saved in Outlook PST format. Then, you can directly use the reliable DRS Outlook PST Converter. This tool allows you to convert a single or multiple PST files at once without any data loss. It maintains the original email formatting, structure, and metadata during the entire process. Offer multiple advanced features, like Preview, Remove Duplicate, Date Filter, and more. With this tool, you can migrate Outlook Calendar to Office 365 and other formats.

Step-by-Step Process to Migrate Emails from Outlook to Windows Live Mail

  1. Download and install the DRS Outlook PST to EML Converter.
  2. Choose “Select Files” or “Select Folder” to add your PST files.
  3. Then, you can preview and select the PST emails to convert.
  4. Pick EML as the Saving Format from the drop-down list.
  5. Apply advanced features and filters as per your needs. 
  6. Lastly, press Convert to start the conversion of Outlook PST to Windows Live Mail.

What Goods in a DRS Outlook to Windows Live Mail Converter

Direct PST Reading

The tool should be able to open and read Outlook PST files directly without needing Outlook installed on the same machine.

EML Export Support

Since Windows Live Mail works with EML files, the converter must produce clean and properly formatted EML output. 

Folder Structure Preservation

If you have spent years organizing your Outlook emails into folders and subfolders, the last thing you want is for all of that to collapse into one messy pile. A reliable tool will recreate your exact folder layout in the output.

Attachment Handling

Every attachment that was inside your Outlook emails should come through fully intact. Whether those attachments are PDF documents, Word files, images, spreadsheets, or ZIP archives, nothing should go missing after the conversion.

Metadata Accuracy

Email metadata covers things like the date and time the email was sent, who sent it, who received it, the subject line, and any CC or BCC details. 

Preview Before Converting

A good tool lets you browse through your loaded Outlook data before you start the actual conversion. 

Batch Conversion Support

The tool should be able to process all your folders and emails together in a single run rather than making you go folder by folder. 

Date Filter Option

Sometimes you do not need to convert everything. Maybe you only need emails from the last couple of years or from a specific time period. 

Real-Life Scenario: Transfer Emails from Outlook to Windows Live Mail

A small accounting firm used Microsoft Outlook for several years to store client communication. When they decided to transfer to Windows Live Mail for a simpler email setup, they discovered that PST files could not be opened directly. To solve the problem, the IT team converted their Outlook emails into EML format. After the conversion, they imported the emails into Windows Live Mail and continued working without losing any important client data.

Conclusion

Converting Outlook to Windows Live Mail is helpful when users want to access their Outlook data in a simpler email environment. In this blog, we discussed the manual method and a professional tool to convert Outlook to Windows Live Mail. The manual method is used to convert a small number of Outlook PST files. However, it has several limitations. Thats why its best to use the professional tool. It supports bulk conversion with several advanced features. At the end, this utility is 100% safe and secure.

About The Author:

I, Aaradhya Jain, a technical content writer at DRS Solutions, specializes in delivering clear, practical guides on data management, migration, and recovery tools. With a detail-oriented and user-first approach mindset, I transform complex processes into actionable insights for IT professionals and decision-makers.

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