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Import Export Option Greyed Out in Outlook Mac – Fix in Top 6 Ways

  author
Jamie Kaler   Contribution
Rollins Duke
Rollins Duke  Approved By
Published On August 23rd, 2024 • 7 min read

If your import export option is greyed out in Outlook Mac, then you are on the right page. We are excited to introduce you to the best 6 solutions to fix the export button greyed-out in Outlook Mac error. Here you will find a step-by-step process for this error arising in New Mac Outlook with the easiest techniques.

Several Mac Outlook users facing the same problem since they have switched to an updated version of Outlook Mac. Therefore, somehow New Outlook is not showing old Outlook user’s data properly. Hence they are even unable to use the key features of Import and Export of Outlook. However it has now become challenging for users since the new import-export option greyed out Outlook Mac New and they are unable to export their emails, contacts, calendars, tasks, notes, etc.

Well, you do not have to worry about it, as we have solved the error “Import Export Greyed Out in New Mac Outlook” and we are happy to explain to you how. But before we get into the solution, let’s know why the is export greyed out in Outlook Mac in the first place.

Know More About the Issue

New Outlook for Mac is released by Microsoft without the Import and Export option. Let’s know why is the import/export option greyed out in Outlook for Mac.

  • If your import export option greyed out Outlook Mac, it might be because your app language is different from the system language.
  • Furthermore, in trial versions, the import/export feature is often disabled, so it won’t work during the demo.
  • If your admin group blocks certain features in Mac Outlook, the import-export option will be greyed out.
  • Outlook needs regular updates. If it’s not up to date for months, features may not work properly.
  • Uninstalling unnecessary plugins or add-ons can also cause this problem.
  • Large OLM file sizes can make Outlook options inaccessible.
  • Unexpected virus attacks can also disable the export option in Outlook.

Note: Microsoft keeps making new updates in Outlook to enhance productivity and add more useful features. Since Microsoft has launched Import export option greyed out in Outlook Mac. However, Microsoft will soon fix this issue. Till then users can take help of authentic applications.

How to Solve the “Import Export Option Greyed Out in Outlook Mac” Error?

There is not only a simple method to resolve the error Mac Outlook export option greyed out, hence you can do it in several ways. We have provided all the solutions step-by-step below:

Solution-1: Switch to the Old Version of Outlook for Mac

  1. Simply connect your Mac to the internet and open Mac Outlook.
  2. Navigate to the Outlook button from the top bar and choose click on New Outlook.
  3. Just after clicking on New Outlook, you will see a pop-up message that will ask you to “Are you sure you want to revert to the legacy version of Outlook”, Click on the “Revert” option.
  4. Now hit the File tab where you can see the Import and Export option.
  5. Choose the Export button, and select the data you want to export.

Solution-2: Check for Export Option Greyed Out in Outlook Mac

Hence, the legacy version of Outlook often shows several errors. One such error is Outlook Mac export option is disabled. Follow these steps to update your Outlook outdated version:

For Outlook Mac application

  1. Open the App Store on your Mac computer.
  2. Navigate to the search bar and search for Outlook.
  3. Hit the update button.

For Apple Outlook.com

  1. Navigate to Mac Outlook.com and the Menu bar.
  2. Click on Help the select Check for update.
  3. Hit the Update Now button if your export option is greyed out in Outlook Mac.

Solution-3: Ensure your Mac OS is Updated

However, one more reason for the Outlook for Mac export option greyed out can also lie in your system. If your Mac is not updated, it may often create these errors. I should immediately update your Mac if your import export option is unavailable in Mac Outlook. Follow these steps:

For Ventura and later Versions of Mac OS

  1. Go to System Settings and click on the general button.
  2. Navigate to software update then click on check for updates.
  3. If it’s not up to date, click on the update now button.

For Monterey and Earlier Versions of Mac OS

  1. Go to System Preferences then select Software Update.
  2. Next, Just like the above step, click on the update button if it’s not updated.

Solution-4: Check If Mac Outlook Missed to Detect Damaged File

Sometimes Outlook has problems with its data file. To fix it, you can use Microsoft’s built-in tool which is specially designed to repair corrupt or damaged Outlook PST files called Scanpst.exe. It’s like a doctor for Outlook.

Start Microsoft Outlook in Safe Mode to check if the “Work Offline” option is greyed out due to an incompatible add-in. Before proceeding, close the Outlook. Follow these steps to fix the export option greyed out in Outlook Mac:

  1. Press and hold the “Command” key, then press R.”
  2. Type “Outlook.exe/safe” and press “Enter.”
  3. Outlook will start in safe mode to fix the import-export option disabled.
  4. Click on “File,” then select “Options,” and go to “Add-Ins.”
  5. Click “Go” in the “Manage COM Add-Ins” section.
  6. Disable each add-in by clearing them and clicking “OK.”
  7. Restart Outlook for Mac as you normally would.

Solution-5: Import/Export Feature Deactivated by Admin

Import-export features can be inactive if it’s disabled by the Admin. To resolve this, you need to contact the administrator to address the issue.

Solution-6: Instant Solution to Export Option Greyed Out in Outlook Mac

If the above manual solutions don’t work to fix the issue of the Outlook Mac export option being disabled, you can try using the Email Backup Tool. The software is very efficient and completely secure, allowing you to export the data directly to the Outlook profile or to export to a different file format. The advanced options fetch the emails from the Outlook for Mac account to export.

Moreover, with the tool you can get the direct transfer option along with the filters for selective migration of Mac Outlook emails. You can export olm to Thunderbird profile or save emails in different file formats. Apart from this, you can save contacts in VCF and calendars in ICS format.

Steps to Export Mac Outlook Data with Tool

Rather than stressing yourself using different methods to fix the export option greyed out in Outlook Mac, directly use the tool to easily export your Outlook data.

Note: This method works for exporting old Mac Outlook data, not for new Outlook data.

  • Step 1: Launch the toolkit on the Mac OS System.
  • Step 2: Select the Outlook.com from the Email Source.
  • Step 3: Enter Outlook for Mac credentials and press the login button.
  • Step 4: All the emails in Outlook will be displayed in the left panel.
  • Step 5: Choose the desired emails to export and go to the next step.
  • Step 6: Select any saving format and press the Export button.

Conclusion

Overall, Microsoft recently released Outlook New for Mac, but people are having trouble moving their files because the export option is greyed out in Outlook Mac. In the steps above, we made it simple for you to deal with the issue of the Outlook import export disabled in the new Outlook for Mac. You can download the software we mentioned to easily export all your data from the new Outlook for Mac, even if the regular export option is not available.

FAQs for Import Export Option Greyed Out in Outlook Mac:

Q. Why import export option greyed out in the Outlook Mac 2016?

A) It may appear the option Import/Export is greyed if you are using the older version of Outlook. Once update the Outlook to new version. It is a common issue among Mac & Windows users.

Q. Can I enable the Import Export option in Mac Outlook with Settings?

A. Certainly, however, it’s tricky and might cause issues. Similarly, it’s easier to use the utility we talked about for exporting data.

Q. Is there any other way to export Mac Outlook data?

A. Yes, use the tool we mentioned if you’re facing the export option greyed out in Outlook Mac issue. It makes exporting data easy.