Open DBX File in Outlook

You double-click a DBX file and Outlook shows nothing. Years of Outlook Express mail sit in a folder or on an old CD, and no menu in your Outlook says DBX. Outlook Express saved every mail folder as its own DBX file, and Microsoft ended that program long ago. Your mail is still there, and three ways below get it out. Below are three ways to open DBX file in Outlook, from a free wizard to batch conversion. All three also work for DBX files you import to Outlook from old backups.

Where are DBX files stored?

Outlook Express keeps one DBX file per mail folder, such as Inbox.dbx and Sent Items.dbx, in a hidden store folder. Find it before any method below.

1. In Outlook Express, open Tools, Options, Maintenance and select Store Folder. Note your path.
2. On Windows XP, that path sits under C:\Documents and Settings\<UserName>\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{GUID}\Microsoft\Outlook Express.
3. Turn on hidden files and folders in Windows Folder Options to see it.
4. Copy your full store folder to a normal folder, including Folders.dbx, and work on that copy.
5. If you copied from a CD or DVD, clear Read Only attribute in file Properties.

A Microsoft MVP gave these steps on Microsoft Q&A. A Wintips guide shows same XP path.

How to open DBX file in Outlook 2010 and older?

Outlook 2010 and older include an import wizard for Outlook Express mail. It costs nothing and needs your copied store folder.

1. If Outlook Express is on that same PC, open Outlook 2010 and select File, Open, Import. Choose Import Internet Mail and Addresses, select Outlook Express, tick Import mail and finish its wizard.
2. If Outlook Express is on another PC, copy your store folder to your Outlook PC first.
3. In Outlook 2010, select File, Open, Import and choose Import from another program or file.
4. Select Outlook Express 4x, 5x, 6x or Windows Mail and browse to your copied folder.
5. Select Save in Inbox or finish wizard, then check folders in Outlook.

Windows Report shows these Outlook 2010 import steps. Newer Outlook builds drop that wizard, so Outlook 2013 needs another route. A Slipstick forum user with Outlook 2013 found no direct DBX import, and answers sent them through another mail program or an older Outlook.

Catch: you need Outlook 2010 or older, and account settings do not transfer. Write them down and add accounts again.

How to open DBX file in Outlook 2013 and newer with Windows Live Mail?

Import DBX into Windows Live Mail, then export those folders to Outlook through Microsoft Exchange. Microsoft no longer supports Windows Live Mail, so use it only for one job.

1. Install Windows Live Mail on a Windows PC. Open it without creating an account.
2. Select File, Import, Messages and choose Microsoft Outlook Express 6.
3. Browse to your copied store folder. Import all folders or select some.
4. Open classic Outlook and set it up with your account. Keep it open.
5. In Windows Live Mail, select File, Export email, Email messages and choose Microsoft Exchange.
6. Confirm that prompt, select folders to export and wait. Large stores take a long time.
7. Look in Outlook for a folder named after your Windows Live Mail account, level with Inbox and Sent Items.

Steps 5 to 7 follow a migration guide on HowTo-Outlook, which says to use 32-bit Outlook for export and warns that Outlook's own Import can reset Received dates. One reader of a Wintips guide lost over 1,000 messages and its author linked that to Outlook's PST size limit. Our guide on Windows Live Mail to Outlook covers more on that route.

Catch: that chain needs two programs, an old installer and classic Outlook. Large stores export slowly and folders move one batch at a time.

Steps to convert DBX to PST with software

1. Install Corbett DBX to PST Converter on a Windows PC and start it as administrator.
2. Select Open, then Email Data Files, then DBX Files. Select Choose File or Choose Folder and browse to your copied DBX files.
3. Tick DBX files you want in its folder tree. Skip Folders.dbx, which stores only your folder list.
4. Check mail in Content, Message header, Raw message or Hex view.
5. Use Quick Search for a keyword, or Advanced Search for Subject, date range, To, From, Cc or Bcc.
6. Select Export, choose PST, set a destination and press Save.

Then add your PST to Outlook. Our guide on how to import PST to Outlook covers every Outlook version. You can also convert that load to MBOX, EML, MSG, PDF, HTML or TEXT, or send mail to Gmail or Office 365. A PST leaves out Outlook Express settings, mail rules, address book and account passwords. Convert large DBX files soon, because Outlook Express files grow unreliable near 2 GB, and keep a copy of every original.

Which way to open DBX file in Outlook is best?

Use Outlook 2010's wizard for one folder on an old PC, Windows Live Mail for a free path into newer Outlook and software for many files, filters or other formats.

Prefer Thunderbird? See how to import DBX to Thunderbird.

Why does opening a DBX file in Outlook fail?

Outlook does nothing when you open a DBX file

No current Outlook reads DBX, and renaming a DBX file does nothing. Convert it to PST or import it through Windows Live Mail.

Import finds no DBX files in Outlook

Point import at your store folder, not at one DBX file. Include Folders.dbx and turn on hidden items so you can see them. An eM Client forum user with .dbx files on a CD hit that same wall. A reply advised saving files in a separate folder and pointing import at one folder above them.

Files copied from CD are locked

Clear Read Only attribute in Properties, then retry.

Some mail is missing after you import DBX to Outlook

Check Outlook's PST size limit and create a new PST for large stores. Convert files near 2 GB early, because Outlook Express files grow unreliable there.

Contacts and accounts did not come across

DBX holds mail only. Export contacts from Outlook Express as WAB or CSV and add accounts again by hand.

What to do after you open DBX file in Outlook?

Compare folder names and message counts with your originals, then open mail with attachments. Keep your DBX copies until counts match. Want a quick look inside a finished PST? See how to open PST file. Need single messages as files? See how to convert DBX to EML.

Questions about open DBX file in Outlook