Windows Live Mail - Export and Import Email Accounts

How to Export and Import Email Accounts in Windows Live Mail​

   Information

This tutorial 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.
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Setup and Use Windows Live Mail as Email Client for your Messages
• How to Import Vista and Windows 7 Contacts and Contact Groups into Windows Live Mail
• How to Export and Import Contacts in Windows Live Mail
• How to Import "Windows Mail" Messages into Windows Live Mail
• How to Export and Import Email Messages in Windows Live Mail
• How to See Messages in Conversation or List View in Windows Live Mail
• How to Hide or Show the Ribbon Toolbar in Windows Live Mail
• How to Minimize Windows Live Mail to the System Tray in Windows 7
• How to Backup and Restore Signatures in Windows Live Mail
• How to See All Email in One Inbox Folder in Windows Live Mail with "Quick Views"

 

[teckneeculler]

Brink, that's all very well for Windows Live Mail 2011. But what about WLM 2009? How do you import an .iaf file into that version?

 

[Brink]

Hello Teckneeculler,

I haven't tried it in the 2009 version, but you should be able to click on Tools (menu bar (Alt+M and click on Show Menu bar)) and Accounts. Afterwards, pick up at step 3 in the tutorial to import the .iaf file.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[teckneeculler]

Thanks, Brink.
OK, the option is there to import .iaf files but, for some unknown reason, it won't import .iaf files from WLM 2011.
Thing is, I have a guy who hates 2011, and wants me put back 2009. So I did the exports from 2011 (messages, contacts, iaf) then imported the messages and contacts ok, but 2009 balks at importing the iaf files and just reports "...an error".
Anyone else run across this? That's importing WLM 2011 iaf setting files into WLM 2009?

Sheesh, if I didn't think WLM was a load of c**p before, I certainly do now. I can't understand why people want to make things harder for themselves. Outlook Express is a perfectly adequate, largely glitchless mail client.

OK, I can understand why Bill Gates keeps bringing out overblown, overpriced junkware, 'cos he 'needs' the money, but there's no excuse for anyone intelligent enough to have a choice in the matter.

Grrrrrr! :-(

 

[nanatsuaazu]

Windows 7: Migration to Win Live Mail, how to transfer files ?

Hi!
When I tried to follow this email account transfer method, the new computer (Win7) cannot import the .iaf file from the old computer (Vista) due to the presence of the account with the same specifications.
Therefore I have deleted the Windows Live Essential from the new computer and installed it again without creating any new account. But when I tried to import the .iaf file, it complained the same problem. Hence I cannot import all the email account and its content from the old machine.
What can I do?

 

[Brink]

Hello Nanatsuaazu, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You might see if deleting all files inside the hidden C:\Users\(user-name)\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Live Mail folder may allow you to import the IAF files afterwards.

Hope this helps,
Shawn