Forum Discussion

ALP19's avatar
ALP19
Copper Contributor
Oct 08, 2019

Outlook 2016, the export feature is grayed out and cannot be selected

I just downloaded my Outlook 2016 program on a brand new PC with Windows 10. My Outlook data file is of the * .ost type because I sync with Exchange with my hotmail. It all works perfectly. BUT, I ...
VasilMichev's avatar
VasilMichev
MVP
Oct 08, 2019

The steps to export are as follows: File -> Open & Export -> Import/Export -> Export to file -> PST. Which one of those do you see as greyed out?

ALP19's avatar
ALP19
Copper Contributor
Oct 09, 2019

VasilMichev 

Thanks. This one is greyed out:  "Import/Export"

  • VasilMichev's avatar
    VasilMichev
    MVP
    Oct 09, 2019

    Right. So one of the reasons this might happen is because of the language settings. More specifically, the language version of Windows does not match the language version of Office. To fix that, go to Control panel -> Region -> Administrative -> Language for non-Unicode programs and make the change there.

     

    Another option is that the setting is disabled by policy, but it looks like this is a personal machine, so that's more unlikely.

    • RadoslawG's avatar
      RadoslawG
      Copper Contributor
      Aug 29, 2023
      Solution with language worked like a charm as well with Outlook from Office O365 package.
      Just setup the same language for non-Unicode and Outlook, then system restart and voila.

      Thanks!
    • Solun460's avatar
      Solun460
      Copper Contributor
      Nov 23, 2020

      VasilMichevHi there, I know this is an old case but just wanted to add info from me. I also have the option greyed out but unlike the question poster, I have Windows in English and my Office 2019 in Czech language so I thought it will help me change this setting you write about but unfortunately it did not so I will also need to contact support. But thanks for the effort, I see it could be the cause in some cases.

      • Gpickard's avatar
        Gpickard
        Copper Contributor
        Apr 16, 2021

        I figured out that the "New" Demo version of outlook keeps the import/export grayed out.  Try selectiing the "old" version of Outlook up on the top right of the Outlook App... should show up on a Mac after that. Solun460 

    • ALP19's avatar
      ALP19
      Copper Contributor
      Oct 09, 2019

      VasilMichev 

      Outlook 2016 is in Danish. Windows 10 is in Danish. Language for non-Unicode programs is in Danish. I changed this previously from English as part of the finding the problem.

      This my new personal PC was originally set with region English, but had Windows 10 installed in Danish - can it have affected something?

      My e-mail hotmail.dk account in Outlook 2016 was automatically setup to sync with Exchange which has always worked fine, and on my old PC running Windows 7 and Outlook 2016, the export function worked.

      Can you help me?

       

      PS. This is a personal PC, but just to make sure, where do I check the policy seeting?

Resources