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Move 'On My Computer' Folders from New Outlook to Legacy Outlook for Mac
Question details
Users need to restore or migrate their local 'On My Computer' folders after reverting from New Outlook to Legacy Outlook on Mac.
- Product
- Outlook for Mac
- Device & OS
- Mac
- Scenario
- Switching the interface back from New Outlook to Legacy Outlook and attempting to access previously saved local email folders.
- Observed behavior
- The 'On My Computer' folders are unavailable in Legacy Outlook, and New Outlook does not provide a standard option to export these folders to an OLM or PST file for migration.
Do not delete your local folders or uninstall New Outlook for Mac until you have confirmed your emails are preserved, as doing so may cause permanent data loss.
Contact Support and Preserve Local Data
Because New Outlook for Mac currently lacks the ability to export local folders to OLM or PST formats, standard migration is not possible. You must preserve the data and seek official alternatives.
Microsoft has not yet implemented a native export feature for 'On My Computer' folders within the New Outlook for Mac experience. As a result, when you toggle back to the Legacy version, these local files are not automatically transferred or accessible.
To prevent permanent loss of your local emails, keep your current New Outlook profile intact and reach out directly to the Outlook product team for the latest migration workarounds.
Switch back to New Outlook for Mac temporarily to ensure your 'On My Computer' folders are still visible and intact.
Open Outlook for Mac, navigate to the 'Help' menu at the top of the screen, and select 'Contact Support' to ask a Microsoft agent about available manual migration options for your local data.
Go to the 'Help' menu and click 'Suggest a Feature' to request that the Outlook product team add OLM and PST export capabilities for local folders in New Outlook.
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- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the Mac version of the software.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my 'On My Computer' folders disappear after switching to Legacy Outlook?
New Outlook and Legacy Outlook store local data differently. Because New Outlook doesn't automatically synchronize its local folder structure with the legacy database, the folders become hidden when you switch interfaces.
Can I export my New Outlook for Mac emails to a PST or OLM file?
No. Currently, the New Outlook for Mac interface does not support exporting local emails or folders to standard .pst or .olm backup files.
Will I lose my cloud emails when switching between New and Legacy Outlook?
No, emails stored on cloud servers (like Exchange, Outlook.com, or Gmail) will resync automatically when you switch back to Legacy Outlook. Only the local 'On My Computer' folders are affected by this limitation.
