How to Import EML to Office 365 – Learn the Quick Way

Since Office 365 uses its own proprietary PST files for its email storage, it is impossible to directly transfer EML files to Office 365. Therefore, in this detailed write-up, we have covered some of the most commonly used strategies and explained them step by step, to be tailored for users of all technical skill levels. But before getting into the solution, let’s first start with the reasons to move on from the EML format.

Important Scenarios to Import EML File to Office 365

Query:

I have been a Windows user through and through; however, since the discontinuation of Windows Live Mail back in 2017, I have been stuck with some EML files. I tried many alternatives, like Thunderbird, MailBird, etc., but none of them offered what Microsoft 365 could. So I purchased a subscription now, I need to move the remaining Email files. 

This is the case for many individuals out there. Although EML is a universally accepted format, the lack of functionality of email clients pushes people towards Office 365.

During a recent merger, our organization welcomed a ton of new faces. During the final proceedings, we found that they still used the default EML files for conducting email communication. Now as the IT admin, I have to bring in those files to the Office 365 environment. Is there an easy way to speed up the process?

Mergers are a bittersweet moment, and one way to deal with your newfound difficulty is to directly hop on the automated solution provided ahead.

After the recent changes to the compliance structure, our organization no longer allows us to keep private EML files. Now I have to shift and import all these EML files to the Office 365 ecosystem. Can we make the task more efficient as the manual method is too complicated?

The feature of EML files to keep all data separate instantly becomes the greatest problem during migration scenarios. Here we have covered various scenarios demanding EML file movement, including personal storage, company mergers, legal mandates, etc. In all these different cases, the best solution is none other than the automated utility, so let’s see why.

Expert’s Tool to Open or Import EML files in Office 365

When experts want to import EML to Office 365, they trust the one and only SysTools EML to Office 365 Import Tool. The generic design of the tool contains state-of-the-art algorithms for quick and efficient data transfer. In the entire market for such utilities, no one else offers the quality service that matches the tool provided here. On all criteria, be it UI, feature set, price, or customer support, it shines above the rest.

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Get a copy and follow these steps to bring all EML files to the Office 365 environment.

1. Launch and load the software on your machine, then select File System as the Source and Office 365 as the Destination.
2. Now, scroll to the bottom and click on Workload Selection and mark the box next to Emails; if required, apply the Date Filter as well.
3. Next, on the Source page, perform the Validation task after selecting your original file location.
4. Similarly, on the destination page, add your Admin Credentials and validate them.
5. Choose a mapping option from Fetch, Import, and Download.
6. Finally, when user selection and validation are done, click on Start Import.

Characteristics of the Automated Tool

• The advanced utility import EML to Office 365 directly, removing unwanted intermediate conversions along with minimizing the time of the entire process.
• Provides the feature of batch conversion for users to process numerous EML files simultaneously without any size limitations.
• EML to Office 365 migration guarantees the protection and preservation of information, including attachments, metadata, formatting, and inline images. consisting of EML files during and after the conversion process is completed.
• Offers users the ability to pause and resume the import process at any time in order to cross-check the files they processed to import.
• Concludes with a summary report including all information regarding users, EML, along with the emails in a ZIP file.
• Gives the option of “Delta Migration” where users can add upcoming emails along with the selected ones to import EML to Outlook 365.
• Users can also re-run the entire process as many times as they require in case the import process failed.

Add EML to Microsoft Office Through Drag & Drop Method

1. Firstly, Install and launch the Microsoft Outlook email client.
2. Next, visit the folder that houses the EML files and open it
3. Pick an EML file, drag & drop files into the inbox folder of the Outlook app
4. Now, repeat the same steps for all EML files; using Ctrl + A, select all at once and drop them in the same manner
5. Finally, EML files can now be opened and viewed in Outlook.

Other methods, like using Windows Live Mail or Outlook Express, are no longer valid.

The absence of a direct method to import eml to Office 365 forces users to use this as an alternative. As EML files themselves are fundamentally different than PST files, this drag and drop can cause some issues, which are discussed ahead

Limitations of Manual Method in Importing EML to Office 365

• There is a risk of crashing the Outlook app itself if too many EML files are put there at once.
• Does not have a direct option to simply import EML files to Outlook, obligating users to repeat the same steps depending on the number of EML files.
• Consists of a high chance to prone to human errors while dealing with crucially large EML files.
• Traditional methods, like the drag and drop method, often fail to preserve the folder structure, metadata, and attachments during the EML to Outlook transfer.
• Often crashes, freezes, creates duplicates, or consumes a lot of time when users attempt to process multiple files of large sizes to import EML to Outlook 365.
• If the user moves the same data more than once, it can overwrite and cause data loss.
• Instead of becoming part of the inbox, they end up triggering a new email request and become part of the attachment.
• Even after you can put an .eml file in a separate folder, the Microsoft Office Outlook 365 application may refuse to open it due to security reasons. (You may try to restart Outlook to see if the EML is available or not).

Also Read: Complete SharePoint Online Migration Checklist for Shifting Data

Conclusion

The blog as briefly provided alternative solutions on how to import EML to Office 365 for users to have an idea of how to proceed with the task.

While methods like dragging and dropping come in handy to import EML files into Outlook, which are a few in number, they often come with a heavy baggage of many limitations, as they do not have the appropriate amount of reliability for heavy business imports. To eliminate such drawbacks, a dedicated software solution for EML to Outlook 365 migration is the solution for such users, as it offers bulk and controlled import process for users to effortlessly import EML file to Outlook Office 365 with a centralized and protected folder structure.

For users like administrators in organizations who import EML to Outlook on a regular basis, this ultimate software tool is perfect, further offering it to be scalable, compatible with all operating systems, and time-efficient, outperforming the traditional environment of EML to Outlook transfer.

Commonly Asked Questions

Q1. I have a large quantity of EML files that I want to move to Office 365. How can I achieve this task?

Ans- Download the utility and follow the steps outlined in the article. You will find all EML files in the Office 365 environment sooner than you realize.

Q2. Are my EML files expired? I had a lot of important information there. What should I do now?

Ans- File formats cannot expire, but they can get corrupt. Therefore, you should move your files to a more robust place like Office 365, and the tool here is the best way to do this.

Q3. I can view all my EML files in Thunderbird; why should I move those files anyway?

Ans- It is a volunteer-led project that can shut down without notice. Office 365, on the other hand, is part of a multibillion-dollar firm that shows no signs of stopping. Not to mention the other advantages, like seamless connectivity with apps like Teams, OneDrive, etc.

Q4. Will I experience any data loss if I import EML files to Office 365?

Ans- No. The tool guarantees complete data security, which manual methods can’t match. So this is another reason to choose the expert-recommended tool.

Q5. Are EML files obsolete? What does the future hold for a file format with such a rich legacy?

Ans- EML files are not going anywhere. Well, as long as people don’t stop sending emails. However, we cannot ignore the fact that there are better alternatives to EML file formats, with PST being one of them. Technology is constantly evolving, and if EML files their end of life, something better will replace them.