How to Export Outlook Emails to External Hard Drive on MacBook Pro?

Ritu Roy | how to mac os outlook PST PST to PDF on Mac software technology | 4 minutes read | Modified on: 16-12-2025
export outlook to external hard drive

Microsoft Outlook is widely recognized as a dependable email client for managing important data. However, with reliability comes the need for strong security measures. Lately, some users have experienced performance issues and reported various account security concerns. Until Microsoft provides a more robust solution, it is recommended to export Outlook emails to external hard drive.

In this article, we will explain a manual method to save Outlook emails locally. For a faster and more efficient approach, you can also consider using a professional Outlook Backup Tool. Before diving into the steps, let’s briefly explore why creating a backup is important.

Reasons to Backup Outlook Emails to a Hard Drive

There are several key reasons why users choose to back up their Outlook emails to an external hard drive:

  • To safeguard important emails from accidental deletion, corruption, or security breaches.
  • To make email data easily accessible whenever needed.
  • To prevent potential data loss or unauthorized access.
  • To manage Outlook storage effectively and avoid exceeding storage limits.

Keeping these reasons in mind, users can also opt to save Outlook emails as PDF files as an additional backup. In this guide, we will cover two approaches to saving Outlook messages to an external hard drive. First, we’ll explore a manual method, followed by a professional solution for a secure and reliable backup.

Manual Method to Download Outlook.com Emails to an External Drive

You can back up your Outlook emails to a hard drive on a Mac by following these simple steps:

  1. Open Microsoft Outlook on your Mac and sign in to your account.
  2. Click the File menu at the top of the screen.
  3. From the dropdown, select Export.
  4. In the Export to Archive File window, choose the data you want to back up.
  5. Click Continue to move forward.
  6. Choose a custom location to save the resulting .olm file.
  7. Finally, click Continue to begin the backup process.

While this manual method allows you to export Outlook emails, it has some limitations:

  • Outlook must be installed on your Mac.
  • Emails with attachments cannot be backed up separately.
  • The process can be time-consuming and lengthy.
  • Duplicate emails cannot be filtered or removed during export.

To overcome these restrictions, it is recommended to use a professional Outlook backup tool, which provides a secure, faster, and more efficient solution for Mac users.

Professional Method to Backup Outlook Emails to Hard Drive

The MacArmy Outlook PST Converter Tool offers a reliable and user-friendly way to back up Outlook emails to an external hard drive. With its advanced features, the tool simplifies the backup and migration of Outlook.com or Hotmail emails. It also allows users to export emails into more than 10 different file formats, making it versatile for various needs. Follow the steps below to use the tool:

Steps to Save Outlook Emails to an External Drive

  1. Install and launch the MacArmy PST Converter on your Mac.
  2. Sign in using your Outlook/Hotmail credentials.
  3. Select the emails you wish to back up from the tree-structured mailbox list.
  4. Choose the preferred file format from the available options in the dropdown menu.
  5. Specify a custom location where you want the exported file or folder to be saved.
  6. Click Export to start the process and save your Outlook emails to the external hard drive.

This professional approach ensures a secure, fast, and complete backup without the limitations of the manual method.

Final Thoughts

In summary, using a professional tool like MacArmy Mac PST File Converter Tool is the most reliable way to back up Outlook emails to a hard drive. The software ensures a smooth, secure, and accurate backup process with 100% effectiveness. While a manual method is available, it comes with several limitations that can make the process time-consuming and less efficient. Therefore, for a hassle-free and complete backup, opting for the professional solution is the recommended choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How can I back up Outlook emails to a USB drive?
Answer: The easiest way to back up Outlook emails without using PST files is through a professional tool. Follow these steps:

  1. Install and open the Mac Outlook Backup Tool, then log in to your Hotmail or Outlook account.
  2. Select the emails you want to back up from the tree-structured mailbox list and click Next.
  3. Click Destination Path and choose a location on your USB drive.
  4. Finally, click Export to start the backup process.

2. How do I save Outlook emails to a hard drive without PST files?
Answer: You can export emails from Outlook.com to a local drive using the following steps:

  1. Log in to your Outlook account with the necessary credentials.
  2. Click the Export option from the menu.
  3. Choose a custom location where you want to save the exported file.
  4. Click Continue to begin the backup process.

3. How can I save emails from Outlook 365 to a hard drive?
Answer: There are two approaches for backing up Outlook 365 emails, manual and automated.

  • Manual method: Export emails individually to the local drive, which requires Outlook installed on your system.
  • Automated method: No prerequisites are needed; the tool can back up your entire Outlook 365 mailbox to the hard drive quickly and efficiently.