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How to Import OLM to IMAP Server in Batches ?

  author
Jamie Kaler   Contribution
Rollins Duke
Rollins Duke  Approved By
Published On March 18th, 2026 • 6 min read

Microsoft Outlook Mac stores mailboxes’ data in OLM format, which includes the emails, contacts, calendar, journal and other data. However, the OLM files are not compatible with other email clients by default. That being the case, there are users who want to migrate from Outlook for Mac to an IMAP-supported email service, such as Gmail, Yahoo, Zoho Mail, or other hosting servers; therefore, they need to import OLM to IMAP server.

IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) is a system that manages the communication between a local client and a remote server. It allows access from multiple devices at the same time. Many email providers support IMAP. When users need to access emails from different locations, importing the data to the IMAP server becomes very important. 

The article will explain why users migrate OLM to OMAP, the manual and automated methods to upload the files to the IMAP server without losing any data.

Why Import OLM to IMAP Server?

Here are some of the common reasons why users want to move from Outlook for Mac to a cloud or cross-platform email service:

  • Switching from macOS to Windows or getting Webmail access.
  • Move data to a server like Gmail, cPanel/Webmail, etc.
  • To get more advanced access to Outlook for Mac files.
  • Backup vital mailbox data to the cloud server.

More importantly, IMAP allows instant sync between the server and the email client; it is the best choice for data migration and backup. For this purpose, we offer a powerful tool that eliminates the complexities of manual methods and provides the easiest way to migrate OLM files to an IMAP server.

Method 1: Manual Import with Outlook Mac and IMAP Client

We can use Outlook for Mac as a bridge to add OLM data to an IMAP account. Here are the steps to follow.

Import the OLM file into the Mac Outlook

  1. Start Microsoft Outlook for Mac on the system.
  2. Go to File and select Import.
  3. Choose the Outlook for Mac Archive (*.olm) from the list of options.
  4. Browse the location of the OLM File and click Import.
  5. Wait for the import process to be complete.

It may take some time depending on the size of the data.

Add IMAP Account to Outlook

  1. In Outlook, go to Tools > Account.
  2. Click on Add Account.
  3. Enter the IMAP email address and then follow the steps.
  4. Outlook will auto-detect the IMAP server settings for major email providers.

For a custom server, enter the IMAP host, port, and login credentials manually.

Copy Emails from OLM to IMAP

  1. Drag and drop the emails from the OLM Import folder to the IMAP folder.
  2. Let Outlook sync to move items to the IMAP Server.

Limitations: The attachments may not always transfer correctly. The process does not work for large mailboxes with hundreds of folders.

About the OLM to IMAP Tool

OLM to IMAP migration can be executed using OLM Converter. If you have a limited number of OLM files to be transferred to the IMAP server, then get the Trial version. 

The Trial version of the tool is free of cost, using which the user gets to convert over 25 email files from the Outlook folder. Further, understanding the workings of the tool can easily upgrade the tool by purchasing the licensed version of the tool. That is a Pro version to migrate unlimited OLM files to the IMAP server without any restrictions.

How to Import OLM to IMAP Server?

The tool mentioned above will solve the problems relating to the migration of OLM to IMAP Servers. This is a cost-effective service not need any external installation or services. Before transferring, use the OLM Viewer to get complete details of the files. The program allows users to move OLM directly to other email clients, which requires only login credentials of the corresponding IMAP Server, i.e. User ID. Password, host address, and port number. Most of the time, IMAP’s default port number is 993, which is defined by the email provider by default.

How to Transfer OLM Files to an IMAP Server?

To know more about the working of the software to import OLM to IMAP server, just follow these simple steps:

  1. Download, install and launch the software.
    start the software
  2. Then, select the OLM files for migration using Add File(s) or Add Folder(s). Then, press the Next button.
    add olm files
  3. Now choose a specific folder to import to the IMAP server. Then, click the Next button.
  4. Here, select the IMAP option from the Select Save Option.select imap option
  5. Now, enter the login details of the IMAP server into the software panel.
  6. Finally, the tool displays a notification for OLM to IMAP Migration. import olm to imap server

From the above, we infer that the migration of mailboxes from the Mac Outlook file to any IMAP server. Simply enter the IMAP server details. Within seconds, the program will transfer all mailbox items from the OLM file to the IMAP account.

Follow a similar procedure to Import OLM to MS Exchange Server.

Why Use Software to Import OLM to IMAP Server

Importing OLM to the IMAP server can be easily done with the software here. It has several characteristics to ensure a smooth and effective migration. Here are the primary features:

  • All Versions of OLM Files are Compatible: The software supports various OLM files, ensuring compatibility with different versions of Outlook for Mac.
  • IMAP Server Support: Capable of connecting to a wide range of servers, including popular email services like Yahoo Mail, Gmail, or a Custom IMAP server.
  • User-Friendly Interface: Intuitive and easy-to-use interface which allows users to perform the migration of OLM files to the IMAP Server. There will not be a need for any external support.
  • Batch OLM to IMAP Migration: You can select multiple files from the software panel and perform the migration in batches without repeating any steps.
  • Preserve Data Integrity: The software ensures that all the email attributes, attachments, calendars, contacts, etc, are preserved accurately during the migration.

Summarize

In Conclusion, it is quite clear from the above sections that the tool offers a completely safe and secure solution to import OLM to the IMAP server. Transfer any number of Outlook for Mac 2016 and 2011 to the IMAP server. Altogether, the application is one of its own types of state-of-the-art utilities which provide seamless migration of data from Mac Outlook OLM files.