Live Mail to Gmail

Author: Raymond Abdallah

It’s been a long while since I’ve been thinking to change my Windows Live Messenger account from my old Hotmail account to my Gmail one! I wanted to migrate totally from the Microsoft Corp (not totally since in the end I’m still using WLM)! I searched the net over and over to know how to export my Hotmail contacts to import them into Gmail, but none of the sites had a clue about what the new Windows Live Mail was hiding since you can find many sites on how to export contacts from the old Hotmail service!

This is a Step-by-Step process on how to rid yourself completely from your Hotmail/Live Mail account and use Gmail as if you started with it:

1- Log on to your Windows Live Mail and go to Options -> Export Contacts (It’s at the very end of the list).

2- Click on the “Export contacts” button and save the “.csv” file somewhere you know to use in a bit. (You can log off Live Mail and say goodbye to it )

3- Log on to your Gmail account now and click on “Contacts” in the end of the list on the left.

4- Click on “Import” which is the third button in the top right of the site.

5- Browse for the .csv file you exported before from your Live Mail and click on “Import Contacts”.

Congratulations! You’ve just imported all your contacts into your Gmail account! Now it’s time to say goodbye to your Windows Live Messenger account! You need to make your Gmail account a Windows Live ID so you can log into WLM! To do so, just go to Passport.net and put in the “E-mail address” box your Gmail account and follow the procedure to verify the account! The password you submit in the Windows Live ID will be the one you use to log on to your Windows Live Messenger with your Gmail account (i.e. passwords are separate).

Finally, just log into your WLM/MSN using your Hotmail account! Once you do just click on “Contacts” from the list above and then on “Save instant messaging contacts…” and save it somewhere to be used in a bit. Sign out of this account and log on with your Gmail account (you need to finish the previous step and verify your Gmail account as a Windows Live ID so you can log on to WLM). Once you do, Click on “Contacts” again and then on “Import instant messaging contacts…” and browse for the file you just downloaded for the Import.

Voila! You have just left the Hotmail world Now you have to wait for all people to accept your invitation to add you! Hopefully they all will!

Hope this helped,

Ray…