Migrating an cPanel Email POP/IMAP onto Office 365

When migrating an account from a cPanel POP or IMAP setup onto Office 365 you want to carry with you the emails, folders, contacts, and calendar events that you've already setup into the new Office 365 account. To do this Microsoft Office desktop application offers an export and import feature so you can create a portable PST file that you will import into Office 365.

To start, ensure you have access to both your existing and the new Office 365 email address. In this example we are migrating the same email, but these steps would work to import data from one account into another.

  • Create your PST Export

    • Open Outlook Desktop (WINDOWS)
    • Select File, then Open & Export, then Import/Export
    • Select "Export to a file" from the dialog and press Next
    • Select "Outlook Data File (.pst)" from the dialog and press Next
    • Select thge folder (account) you wish to export
    • Check the "Include Subfolders" option and press Next
    • Enter a file path/name for the export (eg d:/backup.pst)
    • Select "Replace duplicates with items exported"
    • Press Finish
  • Remove the Account from Outlook

    • If you have ONE account, then follow the steps "Remove your Outlook Profile"
    • If you have TWO or MORE accounts, then continue
    • Select File, then Account Settings, then Account Settings again
    • If the account you are removing is the primary, select another account and press "Set as default"
    • Select the account you are replacing and press "Remove"
    • Skip to "Add your Office 365 account to Outlook"
  • Remove your Outlook Profile (SKIP IF REMOVED ACCOUNT ABOVE)

    • Close Outlook Desktop (WINDOWS)
    • Press the Windows Key (WIN) and type "Control Panel", hit Enter
    • In the control panel window, search for "Mail" and open the "Mail (Microsoft Outlook)" application
    • Select "Show Profiles"
    • You should have one profile. If you have more than one you will need to determine which is appropriate to remove.
  • Add your Office 365 account to Outlook

    • Open Outlook Desktop (WINDOWS)
    • Select File, then Account Settings, then Account Settings again
    • Select "New"
    • Enter the email address of your Office 365 account
    • Enter your password
    • Close the dialog
  • Import your PST backup

    • Select File, then Open & Export, then Import/Export
    • Select "Import from another program or file" from the dialog and press Next
    • Select "Outlook Data File (.pst)" from the dialog and press Next
    • Browse and select the backup you created
    • Select "Replace duplicates with items exported" and press Next
    • Select the folder to import from (Select the top level folder)
    • Check the "Include Subfolders" option
    • Select the new account in the "import items into the same folder in"
    • Press Finish