Is your Outlook (formerly Hotmail) account full of spam or do you want to upgrade to Gmail? Switching from Outlook to Gmail can really transform your web experience! This will allow you to automatically synchronize your data between web platforms, create a Google+ account and more. Whatever the reason for this change, it's a quicker and easier process than ever.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Transfer your contacts
Step 1. Log into your Outlook account
In the left sidebar at the bottom, click on the link Contacts. When you get to the contacts page, click on the menu to manage and select export.
This will create a CSV file of all your contacts. You can open it in Excel or in another compatible spreadsheet, you can make the necessary changes in the process
Step 2. Log into your Gmail account
Under the Google logo on the left, click on the menu Gmail, as following.
Step 3. In the contacts window, locate at the bottom of the left column Import contacts
This will open the window shown below. Click on Choose file then find and open the file named WLMContacts.csv. This is your Outlook contacts file that you exported in step one.
- Click the blue button Import to import your contacts.
Step 4. Send an email to all your contacts to notify them of your new address
It is true that after switching from Outlook to Gmail you are unlikely to log into your old Outlook account often, it is in your best interest that your friends know where to reach you!
In case you are subscribed to newsletters, you will have to either look at your old Outlook account and modify your address through a link to make the change to your new address, failing which unsubscribe then subscribe again with the new address
Method 2 of 2: Transfer all your data
Step 1. Log into Gmail
Under your avatar on the right, select settings in the cogwheel menu.
Step 2. Select your matching accounts and import
In the settings window, choose the tab accounts and import in the top menu.
Step 3. Select Import Emails and Contacts
In the "Accounts and import" window, second column, click on the link Importing emails and contacts.
Step 4. Enter the address of your Outlook account
In the following window, 1st step: register with your other e-mail account, enter your email account associated with Outlook.
Step 5. Enter your Outlook password
In the following window, enter your password associated with your Outlook account.
Step 6. Choose your import options
Select the options you want to include when you import from Outlook to Gmail. You can choose to import only your messages or also your emails and contacts, or add additional options, as in the example image. When you have selected the options you want, click start import.
Step 7. Be patient
This can take a long time until your information is fully imported, especially if you have a lot of messages and contacts. Once done, you're good to go!