How to Migrate Outlook 2016 for mac to Windows | Complete Guide

Outlook for Mac saves emails in OLM format, but Windows Outlook only works with PST format. This can be confusing for a lot of users. So, to migrate Outlook 2026 for Mac to Windows. This guide will show you how to quickly and easily export your emails, contacts, calendars, tasks, and other mailbox items from Outlook for Mac and open them in Outlook for Windows without losing any data.

Why You Should Move Outlook from Mac to Windows

Even though both platforms use Outlook, the files are in different formats. Outlook for Mac makes one file called OLM, while Outlook for Windows makes many files called PST. You can't directly import an OLM file into your Windows system because these formats don't work together.

A lot of users need this export when they switch from a Mac Outlook to Windows.

A change in the workplace or an upgrade to the system usually means a change in the platform.

Mailbox problems or corruption make users have to safely rebuild their data.

They like Windows Outlook better because of its interface and features.

Choosing the right method makes sure that the migration goes smoothly and without mistakes because the data is important.

Ways to move Outlook from Mac to Windows

Here are the main ways you can do it:

Use the IMAP Method by Manually

Use a different method to change OLM to PST.

The next section will go over all three ways. So, you can choose the best choice based on what you need.

Method 1: Manually export Outlook for Mac to Windows using IMAP

This manual method uses Gmail's IMAP feature to move your Outlook for Mac data to Windows Outlook. It takes a while, but these extra steps will help you manually change Outlook Mac to Windows:

Step 1: Export the OLM file from Outlook for Mac

To export, open Outlook for Mac and click on File.

Choose the things you want and then click Next or Right Arrow.

Select "No, don't delete items."

Type in a name for the file, choose a place to save it, and click Save.

Click Finish when the export is done.

Step 2: Add your Gmail account to Outlook for Mac

Go to Outlook, then Preferences, and then Accounts.

To add a new account, click the + sign.

Choose Google and sign in with your Gmail account.

Step 03: Use IMAP Sync to move Outlook Mac data to Gmail

In Outlook for Mac, make a new folder in your Gmail mailbox.

Now, go to File >> Import and open the OLM data you exported.

Right-click on the folder you just imported and choose Move>>Choose Folder.

Then, click Copy after choosing the Gmail folder you made.

Wait for the IMAP sync to finish.

Step 04: Open the Same Gmail Account in Windows Outlook

On your Windows PC, open Outlook and add the same Gmail account.

After that, let Outlook sync all of your Gmail folders.

Go to the Gmail folder where your Outlook Mac emails were copied.

Problems with the IMAP Manual Method

This method lets you move Outlook Mac emails without using any outside tools, but it has some problems:

Takes a long time: IMAP syncing emails can take a long time.

Limited Data Transfer: You can only move emails; you can't move contacts, calendars, tasks, or notes.

Problems with the folder structure: The original order of the mailboxes may not stay the same.

Problems with attachments: Big attachments might not sync or take longer to send.

Internet Dependency: You need a stable and always-on internet connection.

Requires Manual Work: There are a lot of steps in the process, which can be hard for people who aren't tech-savvy to understand.

This method works well for sending small amounts of email, but it doesn't work as well for sending large or complicated Outlook data.

An Easier Alternative

As I said at the beginning, the method above takes a long time and is hard to do. Also, it needs a lot of manual work, which can lead to mistakes.

Using an automated third-party tool to convert OLM to PST is a simpler way to do it. You can directly migrate Outlook 2016 for Mac to Windows to see all of your data. For this job, we recommend GainTools OLM to PST Converter, a tool that is both reliable and skilled. This program takes all the information from OLM files, such as emails, attachments, calendar entries, notes, journals, and more, and changes it into a PST file. You can then move the PST file to a Windows computer and import it directly into Windows Outlook.

Concluion

The automated tool method is much better than the manual method because it takes less time and is less risky. Also, this software is a lot cheaper than other commercial OLM to PST converters on the market. So, it is the best choice.