How to Get .EML Files to Office 365 – Step by Step Guide

As businesses and individuals shift toward cloud-based solutions, the need to migrate email data to secure, accessible platforms has grown rapidly. Many users have collections of .EML files stored locally from different email clients and wish to import them into Microsoft Office 365 for better accessibility, organization, and security. This blog will guide you through the process, explaining how to get .eml files to Office 365, why migration is necessary, and the methods to achieve it—along with their pros and cons.

EML is a standard file format used to store individual email messages, complete with attachments, metadata, and headers. Popular email applications such as Windows Live Mail, Thunderbird, Apple Mail, and Outlook Express often save messages in the EML format.

Now called Microsoft 365, Office 365 is a subscription-based cloud productivity suite offering Outlook for email, Word, Excel, Teams, and many more applications. Its integrated cloud storage and advanced security make it an ideal platform for managing professional communications.

Reasons to Get EML Files to Office 365

• Centralized Email Management – Store all your messages in one place for easier search and organization.
• Anywhere Access – Retrieve your emails from any device, anywhere, through Office 365’s cloud infrastructure.
• Enhanced Security – Benefit from Microsoft’s advanced threat protection and data encryption.
• Better Collaboration – Share and coordinate via Outlook, Teams, and other Office 365 tools.
• Long-Term Backup – Protect valuable email history from hardware crashes or data loss.

Manual Method to Get EML Files to Office 365 The manual process typically involves using Outlook as an intermediary:

• Install Microsoft Outlook on your system and configure it with your Office 365 account.
• Open the folder containing your EML files.
• Drag and drop each EML file into an Outlook folder.
• After adding them into Outlook, the emails will be synchronized with your Office 365 account.

Drawbacks of the Manual Method

• Consumes considerable time — practical only when handling a limited quantity of EML files.
• No Batch Import Support – You must manually drag and drop each file.
• Risk of Data Loss – Attachments or formatting may not transfer correctly.
• Requires Outlook Installation – Additional setup and configuration needed.
• Not for Large-Scale Migration – Inefficient for business-level data transfer.

Alternate Solution for How to Get .eml Files to Office 365

For a faster, safer, and more efficient migration, the BitVare EML Converter for Windows & Mac offers an all-in-one solution for Windows and Mac users. The software enables mass migration of EML files to Office 365 while preserving attachments and original formatting. With advanced filters, you can select specific date ranges, subjects, or senders for migration. The EML to Office 365 migration software also preserves email headers and ensures 100% data integrity, making it ideal for personal, professional, or enterprise-level transfers.