Import Contacts from Outlook 2011 to Outlook 2016

When you install Outlook 2016, choose File > Import from its menu. You will get this popup:

Choose the bottom radio button option and click Continue. It will bring in all of your Outlook 2011 data. Which will include all mail boxes (including those you created), your Account settings, Contacts, and everything else.

At the bottom of Outlook 2016, they'll be under the heading People.

Curious minds need to know. 🙂

Are you actually running Office 2016 under Mountain Lion, or did you just post your question in the wrong forum? Wondering because I kind of though Office 2016 wouldn't run under any version of OS X older than Yosemite.

Is that the right button to click?

No. I noted below the image:

Choose the bottom radio button option and click Continue.

I just hadn't bothered to click that button before taking the screen shot.

When I do this, I go to my "Microsoft User Data" Folder and there are a million folders and files

You want your combined Office 2011 data.

In Outlook 2016, choose Import. Choose the radio button for Outlook 2011 data on this computer. Click Continue. This box should appear, assuming you haven't moved the Main Identity folder from its default location:

The radio button for Main Identity is initially off. Click that to turn it on. The Continue button will then be active.

That's pretty much all there is to it. When your data has been imported, the Office 2011 Outlook data will remain as it was, and will no longer be used. The new data is in your user account in a different location. To manually backup your Outlook 2016 data (and some other items like the default template for Word 2016), go to:

~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office

The UBF8T346G9 part will like be different for your folder name. Backup that entire folder.

I have a new MBP that I will be putting Office 2016 on. My old MBP has Office 2011 and is on the same wireless network as my new MBP. To copy my 2011 Outlook data to my new 2016 Outlook, can I use this same method but direct the search for data using "Import from another location" to my old MBP?

I can't find the answer to this, but it seems like it might work.

Yes, just redirect with the Import from another location choice. If it can't be located over a network, then copy the Main Identity folder onto a flash drive and drop it anywhere onto the new computer; such as on the desktop, then import it. Once done, the copy on the desktop can be deleted.

Thank you so much. Had lots of info on what to do when you upgrade on the same computer, but not much when it came to a new MAC. Will be trying this right away. Merry Christmas!

You're welcome. 🙂

Finally got the time to set up my new MBP today with Outlook 2016. I followed your instructions and didn't try to copy the data over the network. I copied it to a thumb drive and from there to the desktop of my new MBP. I directed the search to my desktop to find the Main Identity folder for the Outlook 2011 data and everything went just like clockwork. Everything transferred over flawlessly. I so appreciate the help.

I'm having trouble importing my 2011 main identity. My MBP crashed and when I got my new MBP I used time machine to get back on track. Then, I downloaded my recently purchased Office 2016 Mac. I tried to import but it just keeps telling me that "The data does not exist in the selected location". I've routed it to my 'main identity' folder under my 2011 Outlook user data but its not working. Any thoughts? I didn't open Outlook after setting the MBP up with time machine - I just went straight to downloading Office 2016 Mac. I'm on OS X 10.10.5

Help! I have a lot of data that I need to access.

Have you tried copying the 2011 Main Identity folder to your desktop? When it gives you the message the data does not exist, click the radio button to "Import from another location", browse to your desktop and try it again.

Ok. I tried that but I still get the same message.

What if you copied the Main Identity folder directly from your Time Machine backup to a thumb drive and then dropped the folder from the thumb drive directly on the desktop? You could then direct the search to your desktop again after you dragged the first attempt to the trash. Might be worth a shot. I know there's a lot of info in that Main Identity.