File transfer of files from new outlook to classic outlook

Question

File transfer of files from new outlook to classic outlook

Frank Wilson 0

Hi I have now reverted back to classic outlook from new outlook. How can i recover my new outlook stored files into classic. I've tried import/export file in classic but wont let me transfer.

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2 answers

Your answer

Answer 1

Welcome Frank Wilson,

Thanks for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A Forum. I understand that you switched from new Outlook back to classic Outlook. You'd like to bring the items you had in new Outlook into classic Outlook, but Import/Export in classic Outlook won't let you transfer them.

To narrow down the issue, could you please confirm:

What type of email account is it (Outlook.com, Hotmail, Microsoft 365, Gmail or another provider), and which items are missing in classic Outlook: emails, calendar, contacts, or attachments you saved?
When Import/Export fails, what exact message or error appears on the screen?

Please make sure you already tried the Q&A Assist steps. In addition, please try the following:

1, Check whether the items are still stored online in your mailbox

Sign in to Outlook on the web with the same account and look for the missing emails, folders, calendar events or contacts.
If the items are there, they don't need to be imported. Classic Outlook should show them once the account fully syncs.

2, Force the folders to sync again

Go to the Send / Receive tab and click Send/Receive All Folders.
For a folder that looks empty or incomplete, select it and click Update Folder.

3, Rebuild the local mailbox cache if items are still missing

Close classic Outlook.
Press Windows + R, type %localappdata%\Microsoft\Outlook and press Enter.
Rename the .ost file for your account, for example by adding .old to the end of the name.
Open classic Outlook again and let it download your mailbox from the server.
Only do this if Exchange, Microsoft 365 or Outlook.com is your account type. Don't do it for a POP account.

Looking forward to your update.

Emma1-N 14,925 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-11-11T07:37:26.46+00:00

Hello Frank Wilson,

I just wanted to check if my previous response addressed your question correctly. If there is anything I may have misunderstood, I would truly appreciate it if you could provide a bit more detail to help me better understand your needs.

Answer 2

If the data was stored in a local .pst file, recover it in classic Outlook by opening or importing that .pst:

In classic Outlook, go to File > Open & Export.
To view the file without copying items, select Open Outlook Data File.
- This adds the .pst to the navigation pane so mail, contacts, and calendar in that file can be accessed.
To copy items into the current mailbox, select Import/Export.
Choose Import from another program or file > Next.
Select Outlook Data File (.pst) > Next.
Browse to the .pst file, choose how to handle duplicates, then continue.
If prompted, enter the .pst password.
Choose the destination:
- Select the Microsoft 365 mailbox to import into that mailbox, or
- Select Import items into the current folder.

If the file cannot be found, check the common .pst locations used by Outlook:

drive:\Users\user\Documents\Outlook Files\archive.pst
drive:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook\archive.pst

Important limits for new Outlook:

New Outlook can open or import .pst data, but importing a mailbox or calendar using a .pst was noted as not supported in some guidance, and classic Outlook is the supported path for full .pst import.
If the items in new Outlook were mailbox-synced items rather than local .pst data, there may be nothing to import. In that case, after switching back to classic Outlook, the data should reappear after the account syncs.

If classic Outlook still will not import, use Open Outlook Data File first. That confirms whether the .pst is valid and lets the items be accessed even if import is failing.

References: