3 Verified Methods to Open OLM Files to Apple Mail

Updated On - October 23, 2024 by Nasir Khan | Reading Time: 7 minutes

You have landed on the correct page if you’re looking for a solution to move your Outlook data to Apple Mail to open OLM file into Apple Mail. This guide covers all the dimensions of this task, keep reading!

MS Outlook is a popular email client, and Microsoft developed it. MS Outlook is compatible with both systems such as Windows system and Mac systems. But both email client saves their data in different file format. Windows saves in PST format, while Mac Outlook saves in OLM format.

However, when using Outlook for Mac, some users have reported experiencing compatibility concerns. Outlook-related issues prevent it from functioning on macOS. Because of this, they like using Mac Mail, the preinstalled email client on Macs. With Mac Mail, a free email program, the user can personalize several aspects of the inbox to suit their preferences. Both systems support high-quality email communication between users but behave in quite different ways. All information from Outlook for Mac is saved in an OLM file format. Which must be imported into the Mac Mail program.

To begin, let’s define an OLM file and see what it stores

Comparable to the PST file format used by Outlook for Windows, OLM is the standard for Mac OS X’s version of Outlook.

Since Outlook for Mac 2011 uses OLM files as its container format to store all of its local data, its introduction coincided with that of OLM files. This file type saves all of the information present in a mailbox, including messages, contacts, tasks, notes, calendars, diaries, etc. Each directory and its contents get saved sequentially in a single file. At present, you can open OLM files in Apple Mail all versions.

Why do users need to open OLM file into Apple Mail?

You’ll receive an OLM file when you export information from Outlook 2011, 2016, or 2019 for Mac. Everything from emails and tasks to calendar events and journals is archived. When using a Mac, you’ll automatically be using Apple Mail for your email. It’s free of charge and supports many email protocols (SMTP, POP3, Exchange, IMAP, etc.) without requiring additional software or registration. As a result, many people are looking for a way to transfer their email messages from Mac Outlook to Apple Mail.

Open OLM file to Apple Mail Manually

If you have OLM files and want to use them in Apple Mail, you will need help finding a simple manual way to do it. However, if you insist on taking the manual route, you’ll be shown how to convert your OLM file to an Apple Mail-compatible format like MBOX so that you can send it to your inbox.

1st Method. Switch from Mac Outlook to Mac Mail

• First, launch Microsoft Outlook on your Mac PC. Select the inbox you’d like to open in Mac Mail.
• Secondly, move the inbox folder to your desktop by dragging and dropping it there. An MBOX file will be created automatically.
• Repeat the steps for each of the necessary Mac Outlook 2011 and 2016 mailboxes. Create a folder to store all MBOX files in.
• The next step is to open the Apple Mail email program. Click the import mailbox option under the File menu.
• A new tab or window will appear. To begin, users must select the Files in MBOX format and hit the Continue button.
• Navigate to the directory where your MBOX files are stored. In order to import MBOX files in Apple Mail, pick the option to do so.
• Now, click the MBOX icon and the folder with all your MBOX files will open. You can choose which mailboxes to convert by checking or unchecking the boxes next to them.
• Go ahead and press the Next button. A complete copy of the contents of the chosen mailboxes will get import into Mac Mail. A notification will advise that the specified files can be discovered in the Import subfolder of its mailboxes.

2nd Method: Import OLM Files Using Gmail

1. Open the Outlook on your Mac O.S.
2. Click on the File tab and select Import from the drop-down menu.
3. Make a selection for the Outlook file that you want to import and click on Continue.
4. Locate the Outlook Files for importing and click on Import.
5. Now click on Tools, and from the drop-down menu, select Accounts.
6. Here, using the (+) button, add the Gmail accounts by providing the credentials.
7. Finally, move OLM data from Outlook to Gmail (better to create a new folder).

Phase 2: Now Configure your Gmail Account in IMAP

1. Open the Gmail and go to Settings.
2. Click on the Forwarding POP/IMAP and ensure that IMAP is enabled.
3. After that, open Apple Mail on your Mac system.
4. Now click on the Mail tab, and from the drop-down menu, select the preferences.
5. Click on the Accounts, then the (+) button (present in the bottom left corner).
6. You must choose the last option, “Other Mail Account”. Then click on Continue.
7. Provide the Gmail account’s credentials to Sign In.
8. Finally, after signing the OLM file’s data on the Gmail account in the Mail App.

Why Professionals Don’t Prefer a Manual Method?

No professional wants to mess with the technicalities of manual method. As well as there are multiple demerits to manual ways. Some of the are:

• There is a lack of practicality when working with many mailboxes. If you have multiple mailboxes, you will need to follow these steps for each one.
• It’s a slow and laborious procedure.
• The folder structure of the inbox’s contents is lost during the initial save to MBOX format.
• Information loss is always a possibility.
• This method does not allow for selectively saving data.
• Also, there is no guarantee that the migration will succeed every time.
• Orphan or damaged OLM files cannot be imported into Apple Mail.
• The person doing the import must have a good understanding of the technical aspects of both systems.
• Outlook for Mac and Mail must be preinstalled on the user’s computer.

Users always prefer to go with the easier and more trustworthy third-party commercial solution because of the aforementioned drawbacks of the Manual Method.

An Automated tool to Open MAC Outlook emails into Mac Apple Mail

To provide an efficient and simple tool to professionals, Regain Software has developed Regain OLM Converter tool. It has been tried in several OLM migration scenarios, and every time, this tool has become a data savior. You can simply convert OLM files to MBOX file format and open OLM file into Apple Mail. The tool fulfills all users’ needs. It has several advanced and user-oriented features.

Free Download100% Secure Buy NowPrice: $29

Some of the salient features:

• The tool is 100% secure and allows user to convert multiple MAC Outlook emails to PST file simultaneously.
• It offers several popular file formats to save OLM files. Also, you can import OLM files to Office 365 and other cloud server.
• You can preview the added OLM file data before converting/ exporting it to another location.
• Software maintains the meta-properties and data integrity as it is as it was before.
• Regain software offers a free tool variant that can save the first 30 items per folder without restriction.
• The tool is convenient; even non-technocrats can get the desired results without technical assistance and setup.
• You also get free technical support with Regain OLM Converter.

Follow these steps to convert OLM to MBOX:

• Install and open Regain OLM Converter.
• Browse the OLM files to open in Apple Mail by converting; select OLM files.
  
• Now the tool will scan the file and show a preview. You can also expand to see content within it.
  
• In the next wizard, provide a destination path where the resultant MBOX file will get saved. Select MBOX format as the preferred choice however, there are multiple file formats available.
  
• Click on Save Data and your OLM file data will save in MBOX file format.

Wrapping up:

Importing Outlook data files (OLM) to Apple’s Mail program (Mail. app) is difficult, yet it consistently ranks among the most sought-after customer inquiries. This is because you can only open MBOX files in Apple Mail while Outlook in Mac creates OLM file format. So, we’ve developed a precise answer to carry out the conversion smoothly. This program quickly and securely transforms your Mac Outlook data into an MBOX format. Those who have MBOX can quickly and easily open OLM file into Apple Mail. You can also download and try the free demo version of Regain OLM Converter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Does Apple Mail open OLM files?

Ans. No. OLM file created by Outlook installed on the Mac System. At the same time, Apple Mail synchronizes and opens the MBOX file only.

Q2. What compromises must a user make if using a Gmail Account to add and copy OLM files to Apple Mail?

Ans. Using Gmail, you can add a Gmail account by enabling IMAP to copy to Apple Mail. See 2nd manual method for details. This way, you can copy the OLM data, but your folder hierarchy will be compromised.

Q3. Will there be any changes in the data after converting OLM to MBOX file format using the professional tool?

Ans. This professional utility keeps meta-properties and folder hierarchy intact even after converting OLM to MBOX. After converting to MBOX file format, you can easily add and open in Apple Mail.

Q4. Can I have a trial of this professional tool to ensure that it works and provides a way to open OLM file into Apple Mail?

Ans. Yes, you can have a free trial. The professional tool allows the conversion of 30 items per folder. By converting items and opening them in Apple Mail, you can get ensured about the tool and its working.