How to Transfer Outlook Email to Gmail

By Jim Campbell

Microsoft Outlook provides you with an e-mail client that runs on the desktop. You have options for transferring Outlook e-mail to Google's e-mail service, Gmail. Copy and paste your entire inbox folder from Outlook to Gmail using Outlook's interface. Also, Outlook connects to Gmail, and you can export your personal folders and e-mails directly to your Gmail online e-mail address. This process lets you synchronize e-mail messages and creates a backup copy of Outlook e-mail to your Gmail account.

Open a Web browser on your computer. Navigate to the Gmail home page, and type in your user name and password to log in. Click the "Gear" icon in the top-right corner and click "Mail Settings." Click the "Forwarding and POP/IMAP" tab at the top of the "Settings" window. Click "Enable IMAP" and click "Save Changes." Enabling the IMAP feature lets your Outlook client connect to Gmail.

Click the Windows "Start" button and select "All Programs." Click "Microsoft Office," then click "Microsoft Outlook." Click the "Tools" menu item at the top of the window and click "Import And Export." The import and export wizard opens.

Select "Import from another program or file" in the options and click "Next." Click the "Personal Folder File (.pst)" option and click "Next." Choose a folder location for the PST file and type a name for the exported personal e-mail. Click "OK," then click "Finish."

Right-click the "Personal Folder" icon in the left Outlook panel after the export wizard closes. Select "Copy." Right-click the "Gmail" icon in the same panel and select "Paste." The Outlook e-mail copies to the Gmail account.

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