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How Do I Export / Import Outlook Rules?

 

This article applies to Outlook for Windows clients only. Outlook for Mac does not have option to import/export rules.

Outlook rules can be imported/exported as .rwz files within different versions of Outlook.

Export Rules

Import Rules

In previous versions of Outlook rules were stored in default Outlook files location, but since Outlook 2010 they are stored inside your .ost file, so there will not be a separate .rwz file in this location.
To open the default folder for Outlook files, go to Start > Run and insert the path below for your operating system:

Windows Vista/ Windows 7/ Windows 8/ Windows 10:
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Outlook

 

To export the rules:
• Outlook 2007: navigate to Tools > Rules And Alerts > Options. In the Options window, click Export Rules, and choose a file location.

• Outlook 2010/2013: on the File tab on the Ribbon, navigate to Info > Manage Rules and Alerts > Options. In the Options window, click Export Rules, and choose a file location.

• Outlook 2016/2019: navigate to Home > Rules > Manage Rules & Alerts > Options. In the Options window, click Export Rules and choose a file location.
By default Outlook 2016 uses this location: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook

 

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To import the rules:
• Outlook 2007: navigate to Tools > Rules And Alerts > Options. In the Options window, click Import Rules, and choose a file location.

• Outlook 2010/2013: on the File tab on the Ribbon, navigate to Info > Manage Rules and Alerts > Options. In the Options window, click Import Rules, and choose a file location.

• Outlook 2016/2019: navigate to Home > Rules > Manage Rules & Alerts > Options. In the Options window, click Import Rules and choose a file location.
By default Outlook 2016/2019 uses this location: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook

 

Always check all the imported rules to make sure they are still active. Sometimes they can appear deactivated (especially in the case of rules for moving or copying to a folder) because Outlook can't be sure that the destination folder is the same as in your original rule.