This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

How do I move my Outlook emails, currently viewed on Mozilla Firefox v26, to an external hard drive while I format my C drive?

  • 4 cavab
  • 1 has this problem
  • 74 views
  • Last reply by effgo

more options

I am using Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit version. I have been viewing my Outlook email and contacts via Mozilla Firefox v26. However I have got to format my C drive to get rid of a malfunction. How do I move my emails and my contacts from the C drive to an external drive? I need to do this so as not to lose all my email information. I would then want to restore it to Mozilla Firefox 26 after I have formatted the C drive and reloaded Firefox? I would very grateful for any detailed information about how I go about this! Nick Bannister

I am using Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit version. I have been viewing my Outlook email and contacts via Mozilla Firefox v26. However I have got to format my C drive to get rid of a malfunction. How do I move my emails and my contacts from the C drive to an external drive? I need to do this so as not to lose all my email information. I would then want to restore it to Mozilla Firefox 26 after I have formatted the C drive and reloaded Firefox? I would very grateful for any detailed information about how I go about this! Nick Bannister

All Replies (4)

more options

Firefox doesn't store your email or contacts, it displays that data from the webmail server that you connect to with Firefox.

more options

Thank you, Edmeister, for your reply. Just to be absolutely sure, does this mean that after I have formatted my C drive, and reloaded Windows 7 Ultimate and Mozilla Firefox 26, and the Outlook app, I will be able to download all my old emails, contacts, and email addresses? PS: I have forgotten where I downloaded the Outlook app. Can you point me in the right direction?

Modified by banni555

more options

Outlook has been used with several different products and services:

  • Outlook Express (Windows XP)
  • Outlook 1997, 2000, XP, 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013 (Microsoft Office)
  • Outlook.com (successor to Hotmail and online version of Windows Live Mail)
  • Outlook Web Access / Outlook Web App (corporate mail)

The first two are software that may store mail on your computer, the second two are web-based applications that keep your mail on a remote server.

more options

There's a simple way to tell.
Before you proceed with reinstallation of windows do the check:

Try to access your email 'using Firefox', i.e. logging in on a web page of your email, e.g. gmail, fastmail.fm, hotmail.com etc.:
If you see your email -> it's safe! (it's available from your email provider server)
Whatever you do with your disk won't delete it.


it is important for you to not use any email program after doing the check. Badly configured Outlook or other email program (client) may delete your email from your email provider server.


If you just love peace of mind, do the check again JUST BEFORE you proceed with reinstallation of Windows or any stuff that seems dangerous to you.

Good luck!