How to Import Your Contacts from Outlook to Gmail

A few people asked about importing their contacts when Cody insisted they dump Microsoft Outlook for a webmail alternative. It's actually fairly simple, so I'm going to lay it out for you here.

First I'll do Outlook, then Outlook Express.

"There's a difference?"

YES! There is a difference. Express comes free with Windows and has slightly less features, while Outlook comes in the Microsoft Office Suite and is the whole shebang. Anytime you ask someone for help setting up an email account in an Outlook program, you do need to specify to them which one you have, lest ye anger a nerd. Please just look at the task bar and see if it says Outlook Express or Microsoft Outlook.

But I digress.

Export from Microsoft Outlook:

-At the top, click on File -> Import and Export.

-This will open Import and Export Wizard. You want to choose Export to a file.

-Click Next.

-Then Comma Separated Values (Windows).

-Click Next.

-Select folder to export from: under Personal Folders, choose Contacts

-Click Next.

-Select the folder on your computer to which you would like to export it. Somewhere easy to remember like Desktop so you can get to it quickly.


Export from Microsoft Outlook Express:

-At the top, click on File -> Export -> Address Book

-A window will open that says Address Book Export Tool. In there, choose Text File (Comma Separated Values)

-Click Export

-Save exported file as: choose a name for it. You can do something generic like Contacts. I called mine Floopyfloo, because I'm awesome.

-Click Next

-You will be able to select the fields you would like to export. It gives you a whole bunch of options, select whatever you want, though I'd make sure Name and E-mail Address are selected, since that's the point.

-Click Finish

And that's how you export.

I'm going to explain how to import to Gmail, because it rocks. It's probably fairly similar with other webmail clients. If there's a demand, I can look into any other one you need.

Import to Gmail:

-Log in

-Click Contacts

-In the lower, left-hand corner, click Import.

-Browse to the file you exported form Outlook or Outlook Express.

-Click OK.


That should be it. Please note that I did this with Outlook and Outlook Express 2003. If you've got an older or newer version, the steps necessary should be extremely similar, if not exactly the same. Please feel free to ask any questions you might have in the comments section.

I hope I have been of some help. Thanks for reading.
 

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Users' Comments (2)

Posted by jade 06-24-2008 22:30, , Guest   god bless you mitchell hargrave   » Reply to this comment...   Posted by Raenita 07-24-2008 14:10, , Registered   I did this last year and it's best thing to do! If your computer crashes and you lose everything, no worries! Gmail keeps EVERYTHING for you on the web where you can access it from any computer. I don't particularly like not being able to insert pictures directly into the email, but rather as attachments. That's ok, though. Small price to pay for a great email program that won't disappear!   » Reply to this comment...

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