On this page, you will learn how to transfer contacts to new computer on Windows 11/10 easily, and get an simple option to backup Outlook contact for safety.
I just migrated to a new computer and realized that I did not transfer over my contacts for my Outlook. I use Microsoft 365 and Windows 11. So, how do I transfer contacts to new computer on Windows 11? Thanks much.
Upgrading to a new computer usually feels refreshing, but except for transferring Windows to new PC, it is always necessary to transfer some important data, like contacts. They are business connections, personal addresses, or years of carefully maintained email records.
Contacts on Windows aren't always stored in one obvious location. Some live in Outlook, others sync through Microsoft accounts, and a few might be stored away in legacy folders. This guide walks through 2 reliable methods on how to transfer contacts from one PC to another PC for Outlook.
The export-and-import method is one of the most straightforward and widely supported ways to transfer Outlook contacts to new computer. It uses a CSV (Comma-Separated Values) file, which is compatible with all modern versions of Outlook and can also be opened in Excel if needed.
Exporting contacts creates a portable snapshot of your contact list. This file can then be copied to a USB drive, external hard disk, or cloud storage and moved to the new computer. Follow these steps on the old computer:
Step 1. Open Microsoft Outlook on old computer and click File in the top-left corner.
Step 2. Choose Open & Export and then select Import/Export.
Step 3. Choose Export to a file and go on to select Comma Separated Values (CSV) as the export format.
Step 4. Choose the Contacts folder associated with your account, click Browse, and select a save location.
You can get the CSV file moved to new computer via cloud storage, USB drive, and other devices. With the exported contact CSV file ready, importing it into Outlook on the new computer completes the transfer.
Step 1. Run MS Outlook on new computer, click File, and select Open & Export > Import/Export.
Step 2. Select Import from another program or file and proceed.
Step 3. Choose Comma Separated Values (CSV) as the file type, then browse to the location of the exported CSV file and select it.
Step 4. Choose Contacts as the destination to import the address book and click Next.
Step 5. Manage contact fields by tapping Map Custom Fields, if needed. Then, enable the required CSV values and Outlook Contacts fields. Finally, click Finish.
That's how to transfer contacts from old computer to new computer for Outlook. However, if you have organized your contacts into folders, the folder structure may not be preserved correctly during importing. Therefore, you may need to manually rebuild the folders and move the addresses back to their correct locations.
If you’d rather not rely on a single CSV file, the backup-and-restore method, using a reliable Outlook backup software like AOMEI Backupper Professional, offers a more resilient approach to transferring contacts to new computer on Windows 11/10. This tool is designed for Windows users who want professional data protection and easy recovery.
Before moving to the new computer, backing up Outlook contacts ensures you have a secure copy ready for restoration. You can directly backup Outlook contacts to a network location on new PC for quick transfer.
Step 1. Run Outlook, type email, then follow the on-screen instructions to add your Outlook account.
Step 2. Run AOMEI Backupper on the old computer, click Backup > Outlook Backup.
Step 3. Click Select Source to choose the Outlook contact folder.
Step 4. Click on the destination box > Network Share to select the target backup location, or another location to save the Outlook contacts file.
Step 5. Tap on Start Backup.
Restoring contacts on the new computer is just as straightforward and brings everything back exactly as it was. Learn how to move Outlook contacts to new computer as follows:
Step 1. On the new computer, launch AOMEI Backupper, click Home > Restore > select the Outlook Backup task > Next.
Step 2. Select the Outlook folders you want to restore.
Step 3. Choose Restore to a new location to select a path on the new computer, and click Start Restore.
If the Outlook contact folder is saved in MSG format, you can copy the MSG files, open Outlook, and paste them into the desired Outlook folder to make all contacts transferred to new computer smoothly.
#1. Where are contacts stored in Windows 11?
Contacts in Windows 11 are typically stored within the applications that manage them. For Outlook users, contacts are stored in PST or OST files linked to the email account. Cloud-based accounts store contacts online and sync them locally for access.
#2. How to export Outlook contacts to Excel?
Exporting Outlook contacts to Excel uses the same CSV export process. Once the CSV file is created, it can be opened directly in Excel, where each contact field appears in a separate column for easy viewing or editing.
#3. How to transfer info from one computer to another in Windows 11?
Windows 11 supports several transfer methods, including cloud syncing, external storage, network transfers, and backup software. For contacts specifically, Outlook export/import and backup/restore remain the most dependable options.
That's all about how to transfer contacts from old PC to new PC. Moving to a new computer doesn’t have to mean starting from scratch. To transfer contacts to new computer in Windows 11, you can choose the export-and-import method or the backup-and-restore solution.
With AOMEI Backupper, you can also perform file transfer from one computer to another. And it comes with cloning features, allowing you to moving OS to a new drive or new computer without reinstalling.