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Don’t know where to start to import OLM file to Apple Mail account? Not only you, but various large firms as well as professionals suffer the most when they seek a transition from Outlook for Mac to Apple Mail. As Apple Mail doesn’t support Outlook’s OLM archive format natively, they also face challenges.
Also, you cannot simply drag emails from Outlook for Mac OLM to Apple Mail. Still, your emails aren’t locked away. You’ll need to follow a workable migration process to preserve your emails and mailbox folders. Since understanding the correct approach can also save time and prevent data loss, follow this guide and learn how to import OLM to Apple Mail account manually. Moreover, know what to do if the manual process isn’t an option under circumstances like OLM file corruption, bulk import, or other.
Can Apple Mail Open OLM Files Directly?
No. Apple Mail cannot read or import OLM files directly. Outlook for Mac and Apple Mail both use different mailbox structures; Apple Mail cannot recognize OLM files.
An OLM (Outlook for Mac Data File) is a proprietary archive format of Microsoft Outlook for macOS. On the other hand, Apple Mail supports mailbox formats such as MBOX.
Therefore, to move OLM files to Apple Mail, you’ll first need to import OLM file into Outlook for Mac and then export the mailbox as MBOX. After that, those MBOX files you can import in Apple Mail.
Checklist to Follow Before You Start to Import OLM to Apple Mail
Preparation first strategy goes a long way. So, make sure you have the following before you start to move OLM to Apple Mail manually:
- A healthy and accessible OLM file.
- Installed and configured Outlook for Mac
- Apple Mail installed on your Mac.
- Enough free disk space for exporting mailbox data.
How to Import OLM to Apple Mail Manually: Step-by-Step Guide
To import manually, you have to accomplish the 3 stages. These are:
Stage 1: Import OLM file into Outlook for Mac and export emails
Stage 2: Import MBOX into Apple Mail
Let’s go to each stage respectively and import OLM to Apple Mail:
Stage 1: Import OLM File into Outlook for Mac and Export Emails
In this stage, just import your OLM into Outlook for Mac and export emails one by one to the local storage via drag and drop. Here are the steps to follow:
-
- Open Outlook for Mac, go to File > Import.
- Choose Outlook for Mac archive (.olm) and click on Continue.
- Browse to your OLM file and click Import.
- Wait until Outlook completes the import process. After the process is done. Click on Finish.
- Once imported, go to the folder that you want to import in Apple Mail.
- Select the email and drag it to the desktop. It will create an MBOX file.
- Do the same for each email in any folder that you need in Apple Mail.
After the import finishes, verify that all mailbox folders and emails appear correctly.
Stage 2: Import MBOX into Apple Mail
Now you can import all your email in MBOX format. Since Apple mail supports importing MBOX format, you can move them easily. Follow these steps:
- Launch Apple Mail, tap on File, then go to Import Mailboxes.
- Select Files in MBOX format, browse and select your exported MBOX files and click on Continue.
- Preview your selected files and then click on Choose option.
Wait for the process to complete. Once the process finishes, Apple Mail creates an Import mailbox where your Outlook emails become accessible. Review your folders carefully to ensure all emails and attachments have been transferred successfully.
Things To Keep in Mind During Manual OLM to Apple Mail Import
Although the manual approach is free, there are few things to keep in mind to avoid any inconvenience:
- Outlook for Mac needs to be installed
- Users with more than 50 emails may feel difficult
- Large OLM files may take a long time to export and import
- Corrupted or inaccessible OLM files can’t be imported successfully
- Folder hierarchy may not be preserved with some Outlook versions
- Apple Mail only handles email data; contacts, calendars, notes, and tasks are not imported.
On a major note, if your OLM file is very large or contains critical business data, do remember to verify the imported mailbox first, then delete the original archive.
Need to Import Bulk OLM to Apple Mail in No Time? Here’s How To Do It
If you are dealing with large OLM data or organization-wide OLM files, then you can try Kernel OLM to PST Converter which can quickly convert bulk emails from multiple OLM files into MBOX format that Apple Mail supports natively. Here this solution provides escape of your overall dependency on Outlook for Mac, the OLM import process, and the export process of each OLM email. Apart from that, if your OLM file is already corrupted, this tool automatically repair OLM files effectively.
Final Words
Now you’re expert enough to move OLM files to Apple Mail. If you need to import OLM to Apple Mail, the safest free method is to import the OLM file into Outlook for Mac. Just export the required emails to MBOX and import in Apple Mail. However, the right method you go with totally depends on your requirements and the complexity you can handle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Can I import an OLM file directly into Apple Mail?A. No. Apple Mail does not support OLM files directly. You must first convert or export the mailbox to MBOX.
Q. Is Outlook required to migrate OLM to Apple Mail?A: For the free manual method, yes. Outlook for Mac is required to open the OLM file and export the mailbox, but make sure your OLM file is healthy and accessible.
Q. What happens to contacts and calendars?A. They are not imported into Apple Mail. You must migrate them separately using Apple Contacts and Apple Calendar.
- Choose Outlook for Mac archive (.olm) and click on Continue.
- Open Outlook for Mac, go to File > Import.
