Are you an Outlook user and configured other email accounts in Outlook? Do you think your Outlook data is safe because it is synchronized with an IMAP account? If you think so, then you are wrong. Many times we do not bother to backup Outlook emails as it is connected to IMAP account. However, some folders of local Outlook profile get saved on the system only. If your system encounters any issue, you will end up losing all your Outlook data. To avoid such disaster, it is advisable that users take backup of their IMAP configured Outlook account. In this post, we will describe how to backup email that is configured as IMAP in Outlook 2013/ 2016. Before going into the step by step guide to the procedures, we will know why it is important to backup Outlook 2013 and 2016 account that has other email accounts configured in it.

Importance of IMAP configured Outlook Backup

Beginning with the 2013 version, IMAP configured Outlook accounts came across certain changes in terms of managing IMAP accounts. Earlier, emails used to get saved in one PST file, while contacts and calendar data used to get saved in another PST file. Now, all IMAP configured Outlook data related to contacts, calendar, appointments, tasks, and notes get saved in a single OST file. Though all data is stored at the same place within the system, all non-mail data is stored in “This computer only” labeled folders. This is the reason, these non-mail data is left out during automatic IMAP email backup.

As the data of this category are stored in the system only, it can be lost easily during any virus attack or any other system related errors. To protect non-mail Outlook data, OST backup is a compulsory process. By converting OST files into PST, not only the data will remain secure, but also it can be easily transferred between machines. Let’s learn best way to convert OST to PST format in the next section.

Different Methods to Backup Configured Outlook Account Emails

To take backup of IMAP enabled Outlook email, users can apply different methods. They can either use the manual method or they can use any third-party application as the alternative method. Here are both the methods in details:

• Manual Technique to Backup IMAP Outlook 2013/ 2016

To perform this backup manually, users need to take the help of import-export wizard of Outlook 2013/ 2016. Using this Outlook wizard, OST files can be easily converted into PST format. Thus OST file also remains lightweight and its data can be transferred to other machines too. Follow these steps to perform this method:

1. Launch Outlook 2016/ 2016 on your system. Click on the File option from the menu bar and then click Open & Export >> Import/Export.

2. Import Export wizard will open on screen. From the list of options, click on Export to a file and click Next button.

3. On the next page of wizard, select Outlook Data File (.PST) option. Click on Next.

4. At this stage, you have to choose the email account you wish to backup. Through this particular manual method, data of only one account can be exported at a single time.

5. While selecting the account name, do not forget to check the box beside Include subfolders. This will help you to backup Outlook Inbox along with contacts and calendar. Click on Next button.

6. Select a location for the resultant backup file. Your selected Outlook data will be moved to that folder as a backup.

Tip: This method is not capable of moving different types of metadata. Users can only backup their Outlook folders and folder structure.

Disadvantages of Manual IMAP Outlook Backup

There are many disadvantages of performing the manual method. The main disadvantage is the chance of data loss. While taking backup of Outlook data, the instances of partial or complete data loss are not unusual. Moreover, if users are interested in the backup of meta properties, that will not be possible by this technique. These are some of the reasons people choose alternative technique to backup IMAP Outlook account data.

• Alternative Technique to Backup IMAP Outlook

There is an application that can help users to avoid these limitations of manual OST backup method. OST to PST Converter Tool can backup your IMAP configured Outlook files without any chances of data loss or corruption. Users do not have to go through the lengthy manual procedure to perform this backup/ conversion. What is more, users can convert OST files made on any system by using this application. Here are some of the basic features of OST to PST Converter:

• Converts all items of OST files in Outlook PST format

• Supports OST file backup for IMAP configured Outlook

• Compatible with OST files created in Outlook 2013/2016

• Preview all OST file items before exporting into PST file

• Capable of recovering deleted data from OST files

• Does not require MS Outlook installation on the system

• Retains original folder structure and metadata after export

Conclusion

In this post, we have learned how to backup email that is configured as IMAP in Outlook. As IMAP configured Outlook saves some data only in the system, it is important to backup those OST files. To safeguard the data from system failure, it is better to convert the OST files in PST. We have discussed two different methods of configured IMAP configured Outlook backup. To avoid the limitations of manual technique, it is wise to use OST to PST Converter.

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