Contact Problems

How to Transfer an Outlook Address Book from Windows 10 to Windows 11

John Wilson Oct 7, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user needs to move their Outlook address book from an old Windows 10 computer to a newly set up Windows 11 computer, as the contacts did not transfer automatically and the export/import menus are difficult to locate.

How to Transfer an Outlook Address Book from Windows 10 to Windows 11

Product: Microsoft Outlook
Device & OS: Windows 10, Windows 11
Scenario: Migrating email client data to a new computer.
Observed behavior: The address book is missing in Outlook on the new Windows 11 computer after initial setup, requiring a manual transfer of the contact list.

Before you start

Have a USB flash drive or a cloud storage account (like OneDrive) ready to move the exported contact files between your two computers. Additionally, check your Outlook account settings to see if you are using a Microsoft 365 or Exchange account, as these may sync your contacts automatically over the internet.

Solution 1Recommended

Manually Export and Import Outlook Contacts

Use Outlook's built-in Import/Export wizard to save your address book to a transferable file, then load it onto your new computer.

If your email is set up as a POP or IMAP account, your contacts are stored locally on your device. You will need to export them to a Comma Separated Values (CSV) file or an Outlook Data File (.pst) to move them.

Access the Export Menu on Windows 10

On your old Windows 10 computer, open classic Outlook. Click on 'File' in the top-left corner, select 'Open & Export', and then click on 'Import/Export'.

Export the Address Book

In the wizard, select 'Export to a file' and click 'Next'. Choose either 'Comma Separated Values' or 'Outlook Data File (.pst)'. Select your 'Contacts' folder from the list, choose a save location on your computer, and finish the export process.

Transfer the File

Copy the exported CSV or PST file to a USB thumb drive, or upload it to a cloud service, and transfer it over to your new Windows 11 computer.

Import Contacts on Windows 11

Open Outlook on your new Windows 11 PC. Navigate to 'File' > 'Open & Export' > 'Import/Export'. Select 'Import from another program or file', locate your transferred file, and follow the prompts to restore your address book.

Manually Export and Import Outlook Contacts

Format Recommendation: Using the Outlook Data File (.pst) format is highly recommended if you want to export your calendars, tasks, and old emails alongside your contacts.

Solution 2

Synchronize Contacts via Exchange or Microsoft 365

Skip the manual export process if your contacts are backed up to a Microsoft Exchange or Microsoft 365 cloud account.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Manage Documents Effectively on Windows 11 with WPS Office

While setting up your new Windows 11 computer, consider installing WPS Office as your primary productivity suite. It is a highly compatible, feature-rich, and completely free alternative to Microsoft Office.

1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website to download the free installer for your Windows 11 PC.
2. Install WPS Office: Run the downloaded setup file and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the fast installation.
3. Open Your Files: Launch WPS Writer, Spreadsheet, or Presentation to immediately start working on your existing documents.

Easily open, view, and organize exported Outlook CSV contact files using WPS Spreadsheet.Fully compatible with Microsoft Office formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx) for a seamless transition.Lightweight design that runs incredibly fast on Windows 11 without draining system resources.Familiar tabbed user interface, ensuring a zero learning curve when switching suites.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are my Outlook contacts stored on Windows 10?

If you use a POP3 account, contacts are saved locally inside an Outlook Data File (.pst), usually found in C:\Users\[YourUsername]\Documents\Outlook Files. For IMAP accounts, they may be stored in an .ost file. It is always safest to use the Import/Export menu rather than moving the raw files directly.

Why didn't my contacts transfer when I copied the Outlook data folder over to Windows 11?

Simply copying the application data folder often leads to file permission errors or corrupt profiles. Address books tied to IMAP accounts (which only sync mail, not contacts) must be manually exported to a CSV or PST file to successfully migrate them to a new computer.

Can I open the exported Outlook CSV file to check my contacts before importing?

Yes, a CSV (Comma Separated Values) file is a standard text format. You can easily open and review your exported contact list using a spreadsheet program like WPS Spreadsheet or Microsoft Excel before importing it into your new Outlook client.

Outlook & Email Problems