Transfer WorkMail Email to Outlook

AWS ends support for Amazon WorkMail on 31 March 2027, and you need your mail in Outlook before console access ends. WorkMail has no Move to Outlook button, and its own export gives a ZIP file in an S3 bucket. Below are four ways to transfer WorkMail email to Outlook, with clear limits for every method.

Why transfer WorkMail email to Outlook now?

AWS has set a shutdown date. Its end of support page says new sign-ups closed on 30 April 2026 and support ends on 31 March 2027. After that date you lose access to WorkMail console and its resources.

AWS names Kopano Cloud, Zoho Mail and Zoom Mail as replacements, and says other providers are available. If your team already uses Outlook and Microsoft 365, move mail there before that date. A mailbox in Outlook also keeps your history safe if someone closes your AWS account.

What WorkMail IMAP settings do you need to transfer email to Outlook?

You need your region, your full email address and your password. An Amazon WorkMail IMAP guide lists IMAPS on port 993 with SSL required, and your username is your WorkMail email address.

• US East (N. Virginia): imap.mail.us-east-1.awsapps.com
• US West (Oregon): imap.mail.us-west-2.awsapps.com
• Europe (Ireland): imap.mail.eu-west-1.awsapps.com

Sending uses SMTPS on port 465 with matching smtp.mail. server names. Ask your admin if you do not know your region.

How to transfer WorkMail email to Outlook with IMAP and PST?

To transfer WorkMail email to Outlook, add WorkMail over IMAP, let folders sync, export a PST file and import it into your Outlook mailbox. It works for one user and a modest mailbox.

1. Open classic Outlook and add your WorkMail account over IMAP with your region server, port 993 and SSL.
2. Wait until your folders finish syncing.
3. Select File, then Open & Export and Import/Export.
4. Select Export to a file, then Outlook Data File (.pst), and save it.
5. In your Outlook mailbox, open Import/Export again and select Import from another program or file.
6. Select Outlook Data File (.pst) and import your PST file.

Catch: Outlook syncs your entire IMAP mailbox first, and you repeat every step for every user. IMAP also brings mail only, so contacts and calendars need a separate CSV and ICS export.

How to transfer WorkMail email to Outlook with Microsoft 365 IMAP migration?

Microsoft 365 admins can transfer WorkMail email to Outlook mailboxes with an IMAP migration batch. A Microsoft IMAP migration guide sets clear limits, so read them before you start.

1. Sign in to Exchange admin center and open Migration under Recipients.
2. Select Add, then Migrate to Exchange Online and IMAP migration.
3. Create a CSV file with every WorkMail email address, username and password.
4. Enter your WorkMail IMAP server, port 993 and SSL encryption.
5. Upload your CSV file, review settings and start your batch.

Microsoft says IMAP migration does not migrate contacts, calendar items or tasks, and that you can migrate up to 500,000 items per mailbox from newest to oldest. Its biggest email is 35 MB. Microsoft also advises you to switch off retention and archive policies before migration.

How to transfer WorkMail email to Outlook with AWS mailbox export?

Amazon WorkMail can export a mailbox to a ZIP file in S3 in MIME format. It is an admin task, and it does not transfer WorkMail email to Outlook by itself. AWS describes it in its mailbox export guide.

1. Create an S3 bucket with public access blocked and a symmetric AWS KMS key in your WorkMail Region.
2. Create an IAM role that trusts export.workmail.amazonaws.com and can write to your bucket.
3. Start a job with aws workmail start-mailbox-export-job and your organization and user IDs.
4. Check progress with aws workmail list-mailbox-export-jobs until state is COMPLETED.
5. Download your encrypted ZIP file from S3.

Catch: AWS says export covers email and calendar items, and contacts and tasks are not exported. You get 10 concurrent jobs per organization and one export per mailbox every 24 hours. You still need a way to open MIME files in Outlook.

Steps to transfer WorkMail email to Outlook with software

1. Install it on a Windows PC and start it.
2. Select Open, then Email Accounts and Add account.
3. Enter your WorkMail email address and password. Open Advance Settings and add your Region IMAP server with port 993 and Secure Port ticked.
4. Select Add and wait while your folder tree loads.
5. Tick folders to transfer and preview messages.
6. Select Export, then Office 365 under Email Services.
7. In Office 365 Export Options, switch on Create empty folders, Include email headers or Append into default folders only if you need them.
8. Enter a Backup folder name, your Email address and your Password for your Outlook mailbox.
9. Select Save.
10. Watch progress. Use Pause or Stop if you need a break.
11. Wait for a success message, then select Open Outlook Mail.
12. Check your new folder and messages in Outlook.

That batch moves WorkMail mail into your Office 365 mailbox with folders in order. Its page says it also saves PST, MBOX, EML and PDF files, so you can keep a file copy before AWS closes access. Lifetime licence starts at $99 with a 30-day money-back window. Moving to Gmail instead? See how to transfer WorkMail email to Gmail.

Which way to transfer WorkMail to Outlook is best?

Match your method to your role and volume. Use IMAP and PST for one user, Microsoft 365 migration for admins who need mail only and software for full mailboxes.

Need documents instead? See how to export WorkMail emails to PDF.

Why does WorkMail to Outlook transfer go wrong?

WorkMail email to Outlook transfer misses contacts and calendars

Microsoft IMAP migration skips contacts, calendar items and tasks. Export contacts as CSV and calendars as ICS from Outlook, then import them into your new mailbox.

Outlook cannot connect to WorkMail to transfer email

Your IMAP server depends on your Region. Use your Region server, port 993, SSL and your full email address as username.

Large messages fail in Microsoft 365 migration

Microsoft sets 35 MB as its biggest migrated email. Move those messages another way, or save them as files first.

Migration stops after 500,000 items

Microsoft migrates up to 500,000 items per mailbox, newest first. Older mail beyond that limit needs a PST export or software.

AWS export gives you a ZIP file, not an Outlook mailbox

Export lands in S3 as an encrypted MIME ZIP file and needs your KMS key. Convert it or use IMAP software to fill Outlook.

What to do after you transfer WorkMail email to Outlook?

After you transfer WorkMail email to Outlook, compare folder counts in both, then open a few messages with attachments. Update MX records only after mail has moved, so new mail reaches Outlook. Keep a PST copy on another drive until 31 March 2027 passes. If you need files saved from that mail, read how to import EML files to Outlook.

Questions about transferring WorkMail email to Outlook