# How to Export Outlook Express Address Book Between Computers

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-export-outlook-express-address-book-between-computers/58768>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 20, 2001, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-export-outlook-express-address-book-between-computers/58768 "2001-03-20T19:51:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Ivar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@Ivar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ivar)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2001, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-export-outlook-express-address-book-between-computers/58768/1 "2001-03-20T19:51:17Z")

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I was wondering how I export my Outlook Express address book to my laptop without having to retype everything in there again.

Any ideas?

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**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2001, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-export-outlook-express-address-book-between-computers/58768/2 "2001-03-20T20:32:46Z")

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I’m more familiar with the “real” version of Outlook, but it looks to me like in Outlook Express you can export & import an address book.

From the “File” menu of the Outlook that holds the Address book you wish to copy, choose “Export” and then choose “Address book”. Export it out to disk.

Copy that file over to your laptop, then from the File menu on the laptop, choose “Import” and then choose “Address book.”

I haven’t actually done this, but it looks pretty simple.

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**Author:** ![Mooney252](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7c8e57/32.png) [@Mooney252](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mooney252)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2001, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-export-outlook-express-address-book-between-computers/58768/3 "2001-03-20T20:43:12Z")

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Microsoft’s knowledge base is good for this type of information:  
[http://search.support.microsoft.com/kb/c.asp?ln=en-us&sd=gn](http://search.support.microsoft.com/kb/c.asp?ln=en-us&sd=gn)

Whenever reinstalling Windows (and its mail client), MAKE SURE that you make a back-up copy of the address book. This also applies to the transfer. You’ll find the \*.wab files in c:\windows\applications data

Personally, I like to use Laplink to move the files to a laptop and keep the two address books synchronized.

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**Author:** ![Ivar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@Ivar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ivar)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2001, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-export-outlook-express-address-book-between-computers/58768/4 "2001-03-20T22:09:13Z")

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Thank you!

Kudos to all!