How to Export Hotmail Emails to Text Files Easily?

Written By Loic Traves
Approved By Mithilesh Tata
Publish on June 4th, 2026
Reading Time: 4 minutes

User Query: “I need to export the Hotmail emails to Text files for documentation and offline storage. Manually saving each email takes too much time, especially when dealing with a large mailbox. Is there a secure and simple way to export multiple Hotmail emails to TXT format at once?”

Many IT admins need to export Hotmail Emails to Text Files for backup, documentation, compliance, & long-term storage purposes. Text files are lightweight, easy to access, and supported by almost every operating system. However, manually saving large mailbox data can be time-consuming. This guide explains simple methods to complete the process and introduces the ConverterTools Hotmail Backup Tool for secure and efficient email export.

Download Now Purchase Now

Export Hotmail to Text (.txt): Overview & Challenges

Converting Hotmail emails to TXT format helps create lightweight & easily accessible backups. Before starting the export process, consider the following important points.

TXT files are lightweight & easy to store.
Users can read email content without internet access.
Text files are supported by almost all operating systems.
Manual exporting is suitable only for a small number of emails.
Exporting emails individually can take significant time.
Email formatting, images, and HTML elements are not preserved in TXT format.
Automated software helps simplify bulk email export tasks.

Top Techniques to Export Hotmail Emails to Text Files

Below are the most commonly used methods to export Hotmail to Text format safely and efficiently.

Native Approach
Automated Solution

01 Way: Native Approach to Convert Hotmail Emails to Text

The native method uses Microsoft Outlook to save Hotmail emails as TXT files. It is suitable for users who need to export a limited number of emails while preserving the email content in a readable text format.

Steps to Export Emails from Hotmail to TXT Format

Firstly, open Microsoft Outlook & configure your Hotmail account.
Then, navigate to the mailbox folder containing the required email.
Afterward, double-click the email to open it in a separate window.
Then, go to the menu bar >> click the File tab.
Now, select the Save As option.
Choose Text Only (*.txt) from the Save as Type dropdown menu.
Subsequently, browse and select the destination location.
Finally, click the Save button to export the email as a TXT file.

Limitations of the Manual Method

Users can export only one email at a time.
The method becomes time-consuming for large mailboxes.
Microsoft Outlook installation is required.
Email formatting, images, and HTML elements may not remain preserved.
Bulk email export is not supported.

02 Way: Automated Solution to Export Hotmail Emails to Text Files

The ConverterTools Hotmail Backup Tool provides a reliable way to export the Hotmail emails to Text files without manually saving individual messages. The software allows users to convert complete mailbox folders into TXT format while maintaining email content accuracy. Additionally, it supports multiple export formats and helps users manage large mailbox data efficiently. Additionally, if you need to preserve webpage-style formatting, you can also convert Hotmail Emails to HTML.

The software also includes advanced features such as:

Bulk email export capability.
Date-based email filtering.
Selective folder migration.
Duplicate email exclusion.
Preservation of email properties.
Support for multiple saving formats.

Quick Steps to Save Hotmail Emails as Text File

Firstly, download and install the Hotmail Backup Tool on your system.

Next, sign in using your Hotmail account credentials.

Then, preview and select the mailbox folders you want to export.

Next, choose TEXT as the output file format.

Apply the desired filters according to your requirements >> Tap Next.

Finally, press the Download button to start exporting emails.

Note: Likewise, organizations planning cloud migration can Migrate Hotmail to GSuite for centralized email management and collaboration.

Real-Life Scenario

Sarah was responsible for managing legal records and often dealt with important client communications stored in her Hotmail mailbox. She needed a simple way to keep email records for future reference. She originally relied on manually saving emails as text files. As the number of messages expanded, performing the manual method can become challenging. The Hotmail Backup Tool enabled her to export emails in bulk and organize them with minimal manual intervention.

End Note

In this article, we discussed different methods to export Hotmail Emails to Text Files. The manual technique is useful for exporting a limited number of emails. However, handling hundreds or thousands of messages manually requires considerable effort. The Hotmail Backup Tool provides a more convenient way to export large volumes of emails together.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Does TXT format keep email formatting?

Ans: No, TXT files store only the email text and do not preserve formatting, images, or HTML elements. If maintaining email content during bulk exports is important, the Hotmail Backup Tool helps export emails accurately and efficiently.

Q2: Does Hotmail provide a direct option to export emails to text files?

Ans: No, Hotmail does not offer a direct TXT export feature. The Hotmail Backup Tool provides a simpler alternative by allowing users to export multiple emails to TXT format without manually saving each message.

Q3: What happens to spam emails during export?

Ans: Spam emails can be exported if they are available in the Junk Email folder and selected during the process. With the Hotmail Backup Tool, users can choose specific folders for export, including Junk or Spam folders.

Q4: Do TXT files support images or HTML emails?

Ans: No, TXT files only contain plain text content. However, the Hotmail Backup Tool supports multiple file formats, allowing users to choose formats like HTML that preserve email formatting when needed.

Rate this post

About The Author:

Loic Traves

Loic Traves is a seasoned technical expert who has helped thousands of clients with Microsoft Outlook and various cloud-based email platforms. He enjoys writing about email client backups and migration processes. Passionate about supporting users in need, he strives to provide the latest insights, clear explanations, and practical, user-friendly solutions.