How to Fix Cannot Move Emails Between Accounts in Outlook for Mac
Question details
Users are unable to move email messages between different accounts within the Outlook for Mac application.
- Product
- Microsoft Outlook for Mac
- Device & OS
- Mac
- Scenario
- Attempting to organize and transfer emails across multiple configured email accounts.
- Observed behavior
- Outlook prevents messages from being moved from one account to another, particularly when using the New Outlook interface or Microsoft sync accounts.
Ensure you have your email account passwords readily available, as you may need to remove and re-add your email accounts to adjust the synchronization settings.
Switch Back to Legacy Outlook
Reverting to the classic Outlook for Mac interface resolves the known bug that prevents cross-account email transfers in the New Outlook experience.
The inability to move messages between accounts is a documented known issue in the New Outlook for Mac. Switching back to the older version temporarily bypasses this restriction.
Click on the 'Outlook' menu located at the top-left corner of your Mac's menu bar while the application is open.
Look for the 'New Outlook' option in the drop-down menu and click it to uncheck and disable the new interface.
Confirm any prompts to switch back, then restart Outlook for Mac for the legacy interface to fully load.
Select an email and drag it to a folder in your secondary account to confirm the issue is resolved.
Reconfigure the Account as IMAP
Microsoft sync accounts can restrict email movement. Manually setting up the account as an IMAP server restores basic email transfer capabilities.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't I move folders between accounts in the New Outlook for Mac?
The New Outlook for Mac uses a different synchronization technology (Microsoft sync) that currently has structural limitations preventing cross-account data transfers. This is a documented known issue by Microsoft.
Will I lose my calendar and contacts if I switch my account to IMAP?
Yes, IMAP protocols are designed only to synchronize email messages. If you reconfigure your account as IMAP, you will not be able to sync calendars and contacts through that specific account setup in Outlook.
Is the Legacy Outlook going away permanently?
Microsoft is gradually transitioning users to the New Outlook experience. However, the Legacy version remains available as a toggle while they continue to add missing features and fix known issues like this one.
How do I know if I am using a Microsoft sync account?
You can check your account configuration by navigating to Outlook > Preferences > Accounts. If the server settings do not display specific IMAP servers and ports, it is likely configured as a Microsoft sync or Exchange account.
