Windows 7 - Windows Live Mail - Import Windows 7 and Vista Contacts

Brink

How to Import Vista and Windows 7 Contacts and Contact Groups into Windows Live Mail

Information

This will show you how to import your contacts and contact groups from Vista into Windows Live Mail that is in Windows 7.

Note

If you already have your contacts saved (step 2), then Windows Live Mail will automatically import them after installing and opening Windows Live Mail the first time.

Tip

You can get information on how to download the latest version of Windows Live Mail here.

Warning

In Contact Groups from Vista Windows Mail, only the contacts that are also included as normal Contacts will be imported into Windows Live Mail. Contacts that were created for the Contact Group only will not be imported into Windows Live Mail. You will need to write these down and manually add them back into Windows Live Mail.

Here's How:

1. To Import Windows 7 Contacts and Contact Groups into Windows Live Mail
A) Go to step 3.

2. To Import Vista Contacts and Contact Groups
NOTE: This is if you wanted to import your contacts and contact groups from Vista into Windows 7 first, then import them into Windows Live Mail that you have installed in Windows 7.
A) In Vista, navigate to the C:\Users\(user name)\Contacts folder, then copy all of your contacts and contact groups to something (ex: DVD, USB drive, etc...) to use to save into Windows 7 from. (see screenshot below)
WARNING: Be sure to read the warning box about Contacts that were created only for the Contact Group.

B) In Windows 7, copy the Vista contacts and contact groups into your C:\Users\(user name)\Contacts folder. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: If you already have your contacts saved here, then Windows Live Mail will automatically import them after installing and opening Windows Live Mail the first time.

3. Open Windows Live Mail.

4. In the left folder pane towards the bottom left of Windows Live Mail, click on Contacts. (see screenshot below)

5. In the Windows Live Mail Contacts window, click on the Import ribbon icon, and click on Address book for current Windows user. (see screenshot below)

6. Click on OK. (see screenshot below)

7. The Vista or Windows 7 contacts and contact groups are now imported into Windows Live Mail. (see screenshot below)

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

thinktank24 · 02-20-2011

thanks forthat shaun

much appreciated

Brink · 02-20-2011

You're most welcome Thinktank.

coolhand · 01-31-2012

Shawn: I have done exactly what you've described to import contacts from Vista Windows Mail into Win 7 Windows Live mail - with problems resulting. I have 16 folders (groups) of contacts, containing approx 500 contacts, and about 350 contacts not categorized. The first time I tried the process, I transferred 15 of 16 contact groups, and about 850 total contacts. Since one group was missing, I deleted everything and tried again. Now when I go though the process, I transfer only 2 of 16 contact groups (folders) and about 850 contacts go into the preset "all contacts" folder. I have deleted all contacts and re transferred with the same results. How do I transfer all the groups and contacts accurately, at this point?

Thanks for any help
coolhand

Brink · 01-31-2012

Hello Coolhand, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Were these contacts that were added to a group, or were they contacts Created for Group Only like in the red warning box at the top of the tutorial?

Do you by chance have these contacts and contact groups tied to a Windows Live account (ex: hotmail)? If so, Windows Live Mail has a feature to transfer all contacts from the Live account into Windows Live Mail automatically.

Windows 7 - Windows Live Mail - Import Windows 7 and Vista Contacts

Windows Live Mail - Import Windows 7 and Vista Contacts

Windows Live Mail - Import Windows 7 and Vista Contacts problems?