Windows 7: Windows Live Mail - Export and Import Email Accounts

   Information

This will show you how to export (backup) and import (restore) your email accounts in Windows Live Mail.

OPTION ONE

Export or Backup Email Accounts in Windows Live Mail

1. Open Windows Live Mail.

2. Click on the Tools icon drop down arrow (or press Alt+F), select Export email, and click on Account. (see screenshot below)

3. Select the email account that you want to backup, then click on the Export button. (see screenshot below)

4. Navigate to where you want to save the .iaf file (exported account) at, type in a name if you do not like the default name, and click on Save. (see screenshot below)

5. Save the .iaf file to a safe location. This .iaf file is what is needed to restore your email account with in Windows Live Mail.

   Warning

The exported email account will not have it's password included in the export. Be sure to keep the password for this email account written down somewhere safe to help remember it to manually enter it back in the account's properties when imported below.

6. Repeat step 2 to 5 for any other email account that you wish to backup by exporting it.

7. When finished, click on the Close button. (see screenshot below step 3)

OPTION TWO

Import or Restore Email Accounts in Windows Live Mail

1. Open Windows Live Mail.

2. Click on the Tools icon drop down arrow (or press Alt+F), select Export email, and click on Account. (see screenshot below)

3. Click on the Import button. (see screenshot below)

4. Navigate to and select the exported email account's .iaf file from OPTION ONE above, and click on Open. (see screenshot below)

5. Click on the Close button. (see screenshot below)

6. Since the now imported email account's .iaf file does not contain the password, you will need to enter the email account's password using either step 7 (POP account) or step 8 (IMAP account) as an example based on what type of email account it is.

7. If this is a "POP" Email Account Type

A) You will now be prompted to enter the password for the email account. Enter the password, check the Remember Password box, and click on OK. (see screenshot below)

B) Go to step 9.

8. If this is a "IMAP" Email Account Type

A) Click on OK for the error message. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: You only got this message since it is trying to connect and log in without the email account's password entered yet.

B) In the left pane of Windows Live Mail, right click on the imported email account (ex: Seven Forums), and click on Properties. (see screenshot below)

C) Click on the Servers tab, enter the password, check the Remember Password box, and click on OK. (see screenshot below)

D) Click on the Download button for the imported email account. (see screenshot below)

E) After the email account is finished syncing, click on OK. (see screenshot below)

9. The email account is now imported into Windows Live Mail with password entered.

10. Repeat these steps for any other exported email account that you want to import back into Windows Live Mail.