Outlook.live.com E-mail Backup

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SHO_GuN

Member
Although you can still go through these steps on the site, the export never happens:
Code: 
Click "Gear" Icon - then "View all Outlook settings"

Click "Privacy and data" option from "General" tab

Click "Export mailbox"

The last time it worked for me was December 2022. I tried the Outlook for Windows free desktop app from MS Store and its backup procedure is the same as the web page. Actually, I can't tell any difference between the app and viewing outlook.live.com in a web browser so I don't know what the point of the app is.

Anyway, has anyone found a way to do a backup? I see a couple of "pay for" programs but I don't know how reputable the developers are. Everything I find web searching cites the above instructions or instructions for using Outlook (not web based).

Thanks
 
SHO_GuN said:
Although you can still go through these steps on the site, the export never happens:
Click to expand...
I logged into Outlike via the normal desktop website and when I do your steps it tells me, "This process may take up to 4 days to complete. After your copy is ready, you'll receive email with a link to download the content from your mailbox." I clicked Export and it changes the status to, "Export in progress." Has 4 days gone by for you with no link?

SHO_GuN said:
I can't tell any difference between the app and viewing outlook.live.com in a web browser so I don't know what the point of the app is.
Click to expand...
Money. The only reason apps and mandatory online accounts are being pushed by everyone nowadays is because that's a primary revenue stream in this digital age. Businesses are making so much money from datamining and selling your information (with and without your consent), that even businesses whom have absolutely no justification for doing so, are getting in on the action.

Spend some time Googling the subject, such as how many lawsuits are going on right now for this stuff. There are hospitals in the USA being sued for example, because they are tracking users on the websites as they browse through private patient data and so forth, and the hospitals are violating HIPAA by selling this protected information to third parties, such as Facebook, whom then use it to tailor their ads to your medical diagnosis, to sell you on alternative medicine, books, whatever.

I'm lucky enough that I got to see the computer world before it turned into this dumpster fire. I vividly remember when all video games were free of predatory and greedy practices, such as loot boxes, reserving parts of the base game as DLC, in-game advertisements, pre-orders, alpha releases, online DRM, Apps, etcetera. It was a much better place not that long ago.

Every morning you go to your coffee place and scan that app too, it's the same story. They track what you buy, spending habits, etcetera, and then companies use this to try to find ways to capitalize on people's needs and desires, to urge them to lower their inhibitions and spend more than they are comfortable with (impulse purchase), all while still profiting if you don't change your spending at all because they still sell your information at the end of the day regardless. Apps are essentially the embodiment of digital theft, and what's worse is the digital laws in the USA are years behind...
 
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SHO_GuN said:
The last time it worked for me was December 2022. I tried the Outlook for Windows free desktop app from MS Store and its backup procedure is the same as the web page. Actually, I can't tell any difference between the app and viewing outlook.live.com in a web browser so I don't know what the point of the app is.
Click to expand...
There are two strategies with reading mail from Outlook servers (or Outlook.live.com):

1. Outlook Web Access (OWA) is universal to anyone with a supported browser, and the right user credentials. This requires no footprint on your PC, because everything is kept on the server's end. But it's slow because every action is translated through a Web API, which can be limiting.

2. Outlook (from Office 365), or Outlook desktop apps offer better UI performance, but require dedicating disk space to saving recent messages to a local folder store. Mail folder files are in .PST format, which is what Outlook desktop clients read.

If you want to backup OWA, a batch job has to be executed on MS's side, to pull your account's contents together.
If you want to backup from the Outlook client, you sync the mailbox and export the PST file(s).
 
Hellbovine said:
I logged into Outlike via the normal desktop website and when I do your steps it tells me, "This process may take up to 4 days to complete. After your copy is ready, you'll receive email with a link to download the content from your mailbox." I clicked Export and it changes the status to, "Export in progress." Has 4 days gone by for you with no link?

Same behavior here. It used to work. But since December 2022 the "Status: Export in progress" message disappears without ever providing a link to the export file.
Click to expand...

I contacted MS and was told the export function had been discontinued, yet it is still there but not functional for me anyway. In the same conversation, I was told that the free MS Store Outlook app would let me export. It does not - it has the exact same verbage as trying to backup via the web page. I first installed that app yesterday and when I tried to export it was already showing the "Export in progress." message....just like the web browser method.
 
garlin said:
2. Outlook (from Office 365), or Outlook desktop apps offer better UI performance, but require dedicating disk space to saving recent messages to a local folder store. Mail folder files are in .PST format, which is what Outlook desktop clients read.
Click to expand...
When you say "Outlook desktop apps", are you referring to the paid download and install Outlook or the free Windows Store Outlook? As stated above the freebie looks just like web browser access for me.

Since my OP I have been looking at Outlook 365. HERE it says for free: "Email and calendar on web and mobile" and for the cheapest subscription "Ad-free email and calendar on web, mobile, and desktop". If that can export that would be great as I already pay MS the same amount for ad free browser based use so it would cost the same as I am paying now.

Guess I will just give a try and find out - can do a month for $1.99.
 
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