Migrating Microsoft 365 email over IMAP
Want to leave Microsoft 365, or pull mail out of it? Over IMAP and an app password you migrate your Outlook mailbox safely.
Enable IMAP and create an app password
First check that IMAP is enabled for the account (in the Microsoft 365 admin center or via your mail settings). Then turn on modern authentication/two-step verification and create an app password for mail.
The IMAP server is outlook.office365.com, port 993 with SSL.
Why IMAP and not exporting to PST
A PST export produces a file you have to import again by hand — error-prone and time-consuming. An IMAP migration copies directly from server to server, preserving your folders, and you download or import nothing.
Large mailboxes and shared mailboxes
Microsoft 365 mailboxes are often large. Measure the size beforehand so you know what the migration costs. Shared mailboxes you migrate separately with their own IMAP access.