How to backup outlook mails and contacts

Backing up your Outlook emails and contacts is an essential step to ensure that your important data is safe and can be recovered in case of a disaster or data loss. Here are the steps to backup your Outlook emails and contacts:

Method 1: Using Outlook's Built-in Backup Feature

1. Open Outlook and go to the "File" menu.
2. Click on "Options" and then select "Advanced" from the left-hand menu.
3. Click on the "Export" button under the "Export" section.
4. Select "Export to a file" and choose the file format you want to use (e.g., PST, EML, or CSV).
5. Choose the folders you want to backup (e.g., Inbox, Sent Items, Contacts).
6. Click "Export" to start the backup process.

Method 2: Using Windows Backup

1. Go to the "Control Panel" and click on "System and Security" > "Backup and Restore (Windows Backup)".
2. Click on "Set up backup" and select the drive or location where you want to store your backup.
3. Click on "Let Windows choose" to select the files and folders to backup.
4. In the "File types" section, select "Outlook" and choose the folders you want to backup (e.g., Inbox, Sent Items, Contacts).
5. Click "Save changes" to start the backup process.

Method 3: Using Third-Party Backup Software

1. Download and install a third-party backup software, such as EaseUS Todo Backup, Acronis True Image, or Macrium Reflect.
2. Launch the software and follow the prompts to create a new backup job.
3. Select the Outlook data you want to backup (e.g., emails, contacts, calendar).
4. Choose the backup location and schedule the backup job to run automatically.

Additional Tips

• It's a good idea to backup your Outlook data regularly, such as weekly or monthly, to ensure that your data is up-to-date and can be recovered in case of a disaster.
• Consider using a cloud-based backup service, such as Microsoft OneDrive or Google Drive, to store your Outlook data and access it from anywhere.
• Make sure to test your backup files regularly to ensure that they can be restored successfully in case of a disaster.

Common File Formats for Outlook Backup

• PST (Personal Folders File): A proprietary file format used by Outlook to store email messages, contacts, and other data.
• EML (Email Message File): A standard file format used to store individual email messages.
• CSV (Comma Separated Values): A text file format used to store contacts and other data in a comma-separated format.

Remember to always keep your backup files in a safe and secure location, such as an external hard drive or cloud storage service, to ensure that your data is protected from loss or corruption.