How to Import MSG to Outlook? – A Detailed Guide
Many Outlook users have a question in their minds – how to import MSG to Outlook? Even though Outlook doesn’t provide a direct method for the data import process, users can indirectly add their MSG file data to Outlook. We will mention the best methods and reasons to add your MSG emails to MS Outlook in this blog, so don’t forget to read it till the end.
Microsoft Outlook is a renowned email client with features like email scheduling and antispam filters for secure and reliable email communication. Many Outlook users wish to import their emails in MSG format to the Outlook application for various reasons. If you are one such user looking for solutions to import MSG to Outlook, this blog is the right place for you!
About MSG File Format
An MSG file is an email format developed by Microsoft for Outlook and MS Exchange. This email format stores email messages and the related metadata (sender, date, recipient, email address, and subject) and the attachments. The MSG file comes with the advantage of saving every email individually rather than a collective database (like the PST format) on the user’s computer. Moreover, users can save their Outlook calendar, tasks, and appointments in MSG file format to access the data without using the Outlook app.
Reasons to import MSG files into Outlook
There are many reasons to add MSG emails to MS Outlook, and we will mention some of them in the following points:
a. Data Centralization: The core reason to add the MSG email files to Outlook is data centralization or consolidation. It allows you to streamline your emails and other data stored in MSG format under Outlook’s unified interface. Moreover, it reduces the need to manage multiple .msg data files.
b. Data Backup & Recovery: Another reason to import .msg emails to Outlook is data backup and recovery. Since Outlook has many robust security features like antispam filters and multi-factor authentication (MFA), your MSG format emails get secured when moved to Outlook’s interface. This way, users can safeguard their emails against data loss and other issues. Moreover, users can also retrieve accidentally deleted MSG file emails under the data recovery process.
c. Data Migration: Another reason to import MSG to Outlook relates to data migration. Outlook users may shift from one computer to another, and in that case, importing your MSG file emails to Outlook will immensely help you access your emails on the second computer without any issues.
d. Offline Accessibility: Users can see their MSG file emails without internet dependency using the “Work Offline” mode in the Outlook app. This feature helps Outlook users access their emails when their internet network is having issues.
These reasons justify MSG data migration to Outlook, and the next section explores the reasons behind the data import process. Keep reading this blog post to get to know them!
Read More: How to Save Outlook Message as PDF?
How to Import MSG to Outlook?
We will now explore two approaches to import .msg emails to Outlook – manual and automated – in this section, beginning with the manual process, followed by the professional solution.
Manual Approaches for MSG Import Process to Outlook
The manual process to import MSG files into Outlook involves two workarounds – Drag & Drop and Copy & Paste. We will mention them in the following sections.
a. Use the Drag & Drop Method
This process to add your MSG file data to Outlook is fairly easy – you have to just drag and drop the MSG files into the Outlook app. The following points mention the entire process.
1. Open the Outlook app on your computer.
2. Next, click on the New Folder option under the Folder menu and name it “MSG Emails.”
3. Then, open the folder where your MSG files are stored on your computer.
4. Select the email files, drag them to the Outlook app, and drop them in the new MSG folder.
b. Use the Copy & Paste Method
This method is almost the same as the previous one but saves the hassle of dragging and dropping MSG files to the Outlook app.
1. Follow the first three steps of the previous method.
2. Select all the MSG files using the Ctrl + A command, copy them with the help of the Ctrl + C command, and use the Ctrl + V command to paste them into the newly made MSG folder.
These methods to add the MSG file data to Outlook sound easy, but they have some limitations.
Why The Manual Methods Fail?
Many Outlook users may begin to follow the manual workarounds to add their MSG file data to the Outlook app. However, these approaches have certain limitations, and we are mentioning them in the following points:
a. Data Loss: The first drawback is the biggest one – data loss. Yes, both methods carry the worrisome possibility of permanent data loss. During the data transfer process, factors like system failure, Outlook app freezing, MSG file corruption, and accidental import process stoppage may lead to critical data loss for MSG and even Outlook email data.
b. Small-scale Data Transfer: These methods work only when you have limited emails to import to Outlook. Moreover, these approaches are time-consuming due to the large number of emails involved during the process to import MSG files into Outlook.
c. Imperfect Data Integrity: Another disadvantage of these methods is unguaranteed data hierarchy and integrity (text formatting and metadata preservation) during the import process. Your emails may lose some properties or data during the entire process, making these methods unsuitable.
Now that these manual approaches to import MSG to Outlook are not feasible, we will mention the best solution for the data import process in the following section.
Professional Method to Import .msg Emails to Outlook
Now that the manual approaches are not suitable to add MSG file to Outlook, we will mention the best method for data transfer – automated software. The software we discuss here is the perfect answer for the MSG to Outlook email transfer process.
Moreover, it can help you import multiple MSG files to the MS Outlook app without any limitations. Features like Date Filter and Document Format conversion (PDF, HTML, and TXT) make it the preferred choice for many Outlook users. This software is SysTools MSG Converter Tool. Another benefit of this tool is the Split PST option, which helps users split the resultant PST file(s) into multiple small-sized files.
Software Working Guide to Import the MSG Data File to MS Outlook
1. Install the automated tool on your computer.
2. Select the folder having MSG files from the folder preview panel on the left side.
3. Click the Export or Export Selected button to import MSG to Outlook completely or selectively.
4. Select PST as the resultant file format from the Select Export Type list.
5. Next, click on the Advanced Settings button to apply filters like Split PST, Date Filter, and Categories for a selective data conversion process.
6. Click the Browse button to save the resultant PST file(s) according to your preferred location.
7. Finally, click the Export button to import MSG files into Outlook.
8. Add the resultant PST file(s) to your Outlook account using the Import/Export Wizard.
Note: Try the demo version to import ten MSG files per folder to PST format and test the software’s performance.
Conclusion
This blog explored the solutions and reasons to import MSG to Outlook. The reasons mentioned here compel Outlook users to quickly add their MSG file data to Outlook. The manual methods sound easy to use to import MSG files into Outlook, but the limitations restrict their usage. Therefore, the automated software described here becomes the perfect answer to add the MSG file data to Outlook without data loss.
