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Import/Export Greyed Out in Outlook For Mac or Win? – Get Rid of It

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Written By Ashwani Tiwari
Anuraag Singh
Approved By Anuraag Singh
Published On January 3rd, 2024
Reading Time 7 Minutes Reading

Microsoft Outlook Import/Export option greyed out or disabled. Don’t worry, here you will get verified solution to either fix Outlook import/export greyed out issue or use alternate ways to archive, backup, manage New Outlook for Mac database. Let us find out:

Quick Navigation:

Microsoft developed Outlook for Mac and Windows OS users and included in Office suite. It popular among both home and professional users and widely used mail client. It provides inbuilt Import/Export option to manage email data. But in some cases Import/Export option either not working properly or greyed out.  

Outlook Import/Export either greyed out or unavailable due to technical glitch or human error. Find the solution, that best suites your need. 

Note: New Outlook for Mac released by Microsoft for Mac OS users with some Coming Soon features. User will find the import/export option for OLM and PST  file in same list. So, after upgrading New Outlook for Mac user will not be able to use Import/Export option.    

Why Import/Export Option Greyed Out in Outlook?

Here are following scenario that will help to understand this when Import Export option is unavailable in Outlook 2021, 2019, 2016 , 2013, 2010, 2007 File Menu more clearly. 

Reasons behind import/export greyed out or not working may be different for Windows and Mac Outlook. Let us understand:

For Windows Outlook

  • Users run an English version of the Windows machine. For example, users can run Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7.
  • Users can install a non-English edition of MS Outlook. For example, users can install a non-English version of MS Office Outlook 2003, 2007, or 2010.
  • Users will try to import or export data in Microsoft Outlook.

For Mac Outlook New

  • New Outlook for Mac released without Import/Export option. It leads to Mac Outlook import/export greyed out issue. (Note: This issue will fix by Microsoft soon.)

In cases of above scenarios, the Import and Export option on File tab or File menu becomes unavailable.

Main reason behind occurrence of outlook Error is the latest language for non-Unicode programs in Microsoft Windows is set to different language than an installed version of Outlook mail client.

Guide for Mac Outlook Users

Solution for New Outlook for Mac Export Greyed Out Issue

It is quite easy to try the New Outlook for Mac, but going back to Legacy Outlook is not that easy. It requires certain conditions to meet. As of recent Microsoft update, Import/Export option still in Coming Soon queue. In this case SysTools provides an authenticated solution to overcome Mac new Outlook export greyed out issue.

SysTools Mac Outlook Recovery provides an option to export Mac Outlook mailbox with or without Mac Outlook. User can use this tool to export new Outlook for Mac mailbox even if Export option greyed out. SysTools developers are working for the alternate solution for Outlook import option greyed out issue. 

mac new outlook export greyed out

Microsoft suggested users to revert back to legacy Outlook for exporting or backup data from New Outlook for Mac. Follow below steps to revert back to legacy Outlook:

  • Launch New Outlook for Mac and Hit Help Menu 
  • Hit on Revert to Legacy Outlook.
    revert to legacy Outlook
  • Now a popup will appear and ask you for feedback (Why reverting back to legacy Outlook?), its optional, hit Submit button. New Outlook for mac export greyed out
  • Now you have successfully reverted back to legacy Outlook from New Outlook for Mac. Now you have to add accounts in legacy Outlook, in which you want to import/export data. After adding account, click on File menu and perform either Import or Export process. greyed out options

Guide for Windows Outlook Users

Manual Steps to Fix “The Import and Export option in Outlook is Unavailable”

To resolve this issue, set the recent language for a non-Unicode program in Windows to the same language as installed version of MS Outlook. For this, follow the given below steps:

For Windows Vista or Windows 7

a) Go to Start icon and then click on the Control Panel
b) Then, choose Clock, Language, and Regional
c) After that, click on the Regional and Language
d) Select an Administrative tab
e) If the latest language for non-Unicode programs are set to the multiple language from an installed edition of MS Outlook, click on Change system locale
f) In the latest system locale box, select the locale that matches an installed version of MS Outlook and press OK button
g) Click OK button to close the Regional as well as Language dialog box

Fix on Windows XP: Import/Export Option Not Available in Outlook 

a) Click the Start button and choose Control Panel
b) Select Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options
c) Now, choose Regional and Language Options
d) After that, click on the Advanced tab
e) Under the Select language to match the language version of a non-Unicode program you wish to use box, then choose the locale that matches an installed version of MS Outlook and press OK button.

Guide for IMAP Accounts in Outlook 

If you are using Outlook with IMAP configured profiles and you are unable to export or archive mailbox. Then SysTools OST converter can help you complete this task. It will help you backup mailbox with same folder structure and data integrity. 

It will allow you to perform the export option and save output data from OST to PST, EML, MSG, MBOX, PDF, HTML, TXT, DOC, DOCX, RTF, etc., file formats. 

Use the free demo version of this tool:

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Step-1: Download and install the software, click on Add File button. 

outlook for mac export greyed out

Step-2: Browse OST file into software panel and preview complete data and click on Export button.

Import and Export Option in Outlook is Unavailable

Step-3: Select one export file type from the list and browse path to save output and hit Export button. 

Import and Export Option

Step-4: Now you have accessible file that can can be accessed easily.

Import and Export Option in Outlook is Unavailable - solved

Guide for POP Configured Outlook Profiles

If the users are not able to fix the Outlook error “the import and export option in outlook is unavailable” by applying the above solutions. Then, users can take help of a reliable third-party tool named as SysTools PST Converter, which helps to export Outlook items including emails, contacts, tasks, etc.

Moreover, it allows a user to migrate all or selective data items from Outlook PST file. It is designed in such a way to save all data in different file formats i.e., EML, MSG, VCF, PDF. convert all or selective items from an Outlook.pst file. It has an interactive interface that even a novice user can understand its working without taking an external help or guidance.

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Working Guide of the Tool

  • Run this software on your system and you will see the tool’s home screen, as shown below.

export option greyed out in outlook mac

  • Click the Add File button and select PST files that you want to export.

why is import/export greyed out in outlook mac

  • The software will then view the Outlook items stored in PST file.

best solution

  • Now, select the desired file format in which you want to export data.

export option greyed out

Final Thoughts

It is necessary to eliminate any sort of Outlook related error as these errors may lead to data loss. Out of which, one such error to be shown like this “the Import and Export option in Outlook is unavailable”. Therefore, in this write-up, we have described a manual approach along with its symptoms and reason. Furthermore, we have recommended a professional approach, So users can easily import all data items from Outlook PST without any difficulty.

Frequently Asked Queries

Q. Is this software capable enough to export the Outlook data in some other file format than PST?

A. Yes, the software provides you the option to export your data in 9 file formats whereas Import and Export wizard provides less export options.

Q. Is there any free trial version available to try all the features of tool before purchasing it?

A. Yes, you can easily download the software for free and try software features before buying licensed version.

Q. Why new Outlook for Mac export option greyed out?

A. Export option greyed out in new Outlook for Mac because of it is still in coming soon feature. Microsoft developers are working day and night to integrate import/export option in new Outlook for Mac. However, Microsoft does not provide any specific date regarding same.  

  author

By Ashwani Tiwari

Being a Chief Technical Analyst, I am aware of the technicalities faced by the user while working with multiple technologies. So, through my blogs and articles, I love to help all the users who face various challenges while dealing with technology.