Move Outlook setting between computers
How to Export & Import Outlook Account Settings
In this article I explain the way to backup your Outlook account settings and then restore (transfer) them to another computer. Unfortunately there is not a user friendly way to backup your Outlook Account settings because in all Outlook versions the account settings are kept inside the Windows registry under this key:
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows Messaging Subsystem\Profiles
So if you want to backup your Account Settings from Outlook you have to export that key from your registry and then import it to your new computer. The only disadvantage of this procedure, is that you have to re-Enter your passwords for your email accounts on the new computer.
Outlook Accounts – Export
How to Export (Backup) Outlook Proflie Account Settings
To backup Outlook Accounts Settings:
1. Open Registry editor by going to “Start”
and at the “Run” box type regedit and press “Enter”.
2. Inside registry editor right-click to “Export” the “Profiles” key found under this location on the registry:*
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows Messaging Subsystem\
e.g: “HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows Messaging Subsystem\Profiles”
* In Outlook 2013 right-click to “Export” the “Profiles” key found under this location on the registry:
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\15.0\Outlook\
e.g: “HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\15.0\Outlook\Profiles” key.
3. Specify the destination location to save the exported registry key file (e.g. your backup location), the filename for the exported registry key file (e.g. “OutlookProfiles”) and press “Save”.
Outlook Accounts – Import
How to Import (Restore) Outlook Profile Account Settings
If you to want to restore your Outlook account settings to your new computer by using the exported “Profiles” registry key file (as described at Step 1) without problems, make sure that:
- The new user account on the new computer has the same name, as the old user account (on the old computer).
- You have transferred (copied) the Outlook PST data file (e.g. “outlook.pst“) to the same path (location on disk) as in old computer.
- You have installed the same Outlook version (office version) on both computers.
1. Close all Outlook windows.
2. Navigate to the location where you have saved (exported) the “Profiles” registry key (e.g. “OutlookProfiles.reg”) and double-click on it to import Outlook Accounts settings inside the registry.
3. Answer “Yes” to “User Account Control” alert message.
4. Now open your Outlook program and voila.. your Outlook Account settings are there. The only thing that you have to do is to type (enter) your password(s) for your E-mail account(s).
That’s it!
Read also: How to Backup Outlook 2003, 2007, 2010 or 2013 PST Data File. (Mail, Contacts, Calendar & Tasks)