An OLM file is a mailbox data file created by Outlook for Mac. This file stores mailbox data such as emails, contacts, calendars etc. While transitioning from outlook for Mac to Windows or taking a backup of the mailbox data, users export their Outlook for Mac mailbox data as an OLM file. This OLM file can be easily read on a Mac with Outlook for Mac installed. However, it becomes a challenge when users try to open OLM files on a Outlook Windows. This is because Outlook for Windows doesn’t support the OLM file format.
If you are looking for ways to open OLM files and access their data, here, you will find some workarounds to do so.
How to Open OLM files?
If you have an archive OLM files, you can easily open them on a Mac via Outlook for Mac. But, if you are trying to open them on a Windows PC, you will need to follow a lengthy process to do so or you can go with third party software.
Several third-party tools can convert OLM files to PST format, such as Stellar Converter for OLM. The tool helps you to convert an archive OLM file to PST or Import it to Outlook/Office 365 without hassle.
Let’s look at the various methods to open and read OLM files on a Mac and a Windows PC.
Method 1: Open OLM files on a Mac
Follow the process below to open an OLM file on Mac –
If you don’t have Outlook for Mac installed on your Mac, install it.
• Launch Outlook for Mac.
• Click on Tools.
• Click on Import.
• It will open the Import wizard’s window. Choose Outlook for Mac archive file (.olm) option and click Continue.
• Locate the OLM file you want to open and click Import.
Note – Repeat the above steps to open more OLM files in Outlook for Mac.
Method 2: Open OLM files on a Windows PC
Outlook for Windows doesn’t support the OLM file format. Hence, you will not be able to import an OLM file in it and open it. But there is a workaround to do so. You can configure an IMAP server in Outlook for Mac and add a Gmail account to it. Doing this will allow you to open OLM files in Outlook for Windows with ease. Here are the steps to open an OLM file on Outlook for Windows
Part 1 – Export Outlook for Mac Mailbox data as an OLM File
Note – Skip Part 1 and start with Part 2 if you already have archived OLM file/s.
• Launch Outlook for Mac on your Mac device.
• Click on File in the menu bar.
• Click on the Export option.
• You will see the Export to Archive File (.olm) window. Choose the mailbox data that you want to export and click Continue.
• Select the No, do not delete items option, and move on to the next step.
• In the Export to Archive File (.olm) window, click on browse to save location and click Save.
• Outlook will begin exporting the OLM file. Once the process is complete, click Finish to exit the wizard.
Part 2 – Add another email account in Outlook
After exporting mailbox data from your Outlook for Mac mailbox to an OLM file, configure an additional email account (Gmail, Yahoo, AOL, etc.) in the Outlook for Mac application. This will allow you to move the Mailbox data from Outlook for Mac application to Gmail or any other email account.
Notes –
• We are using Gmail for this example. You can connect any other email account, like Yahoo, AOL, etc., to Outlook as well.
• Before proceeding, ensure that IMAP is enabled in your Gmail/Yahoo/AOL account.
To configure another email account in Outlook for Mac –
• Open Outlook for Mac on your Mac system.
• Click on Outlook > Settings.
• Click on Accounts under Personal Settings.
• Click on the + icon in the lower left corner.
• Click on E-mail from the drop-down menu.
• The wizard will prompt you to enter your Gmail account information. Enter it and click Add Account. Doing this will add your Gmail account to your Outlook account.
Part 3 – Move the Outlook data for Mac to the Gmail account
• Relaunch Outlook for Mac and use the two-finger-click on the newly added Gmail account. Select the New Folder option and rename the folder.
• Now, select the newly created folder and click on File > Import.
• Select the mailbox folder that you want to export from Outlook for Mac to Windows. Right-click on it and click Move > Choose Folder.
• Next, you will need to select the items that you want to move from the selected folder. Then, right-click on them and click Move > Choose Folder.
• Go to the Gmail folder and click Copy. This will move all the data in your present Outlook Mailbox into the Gmail account.
Once you have moved your OLM file to the configured Gmail account, launch Outlook for Windows on your Windows PC using the same credentials used with Outlook for Mac application. You will find all the OLM file emails, messages, contacts, etc., there.
Method 3: Using OLM to PST Converter
The workaround explained above is lengthy and time-consuming. It can also result in inconsistent data transfers or missing mailbox data. You may also encounter issues while configuring an additional email account in Outlook for Mac. Hence, to avoid such unwanted issues, you can use Stellar Converter for OLM.
It is a DIY OLM to PST converter that helps you open OLM files on Outlook for Windows by converting them into PST files. This software ensures data accuracy during the OLM to PST file conversion, thereby avoiding any data inconsistencies. This software allows users to apply Advanced Filters to auto-split large OLM files and save them as multiple PST files. Users can also use this software to import multiple OLM files to Outlook for Windows or Microsoft 365 (Office 365) in a single operation.
Conclusion
You can easily open old or archive OLM files in Outlook for Mac by importing them into it. But you may find it difficult to open an OLM file in Outlook for Windows as it doesn’t support the OLM file format. For this, you can follow the workaround explained above. However, it may result in inconsistent data transfers, missing mailbox items, or other problems. You can prevent such hiccups and issues by using a DIY OLM to PST file converter – Stellar Converter for OLM to convert OLM files into PST to open them in Outlook for Windows easily.