Where is Windows Mail, or Outlook Express, in Windows 7?

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Summary: Windows Mail has been removed from Windows 7, along with several other applications. We'll look at where to find their replacements.

I did not realize Windows Mail is not included in Windows 7 Professional. Is there a way to add Windows mail?

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It's true - Outlook Express was replaced by Windows Mail in Windows Vista, but with the release of Windows 7 even that has disappeared, along with Windows Messenger and a few other items.

To be honest, that's good news for those of us who never used these tools.

But for those who did, it means an extra step or three.

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The official replacements are all now part of Windows Live. For Windows Mail, you can now download its replacement, the free Windows Live Mail. Miss your Windows Messenger? Grab Windows Live Messenger.

"The official replacements are all now part of Windows Live."

Microsoft has an page specifically directing you to the replacement applications: Finding your applications in Windows 7 .

So the replacements are there; Microsoft has simply removed the years of duplication by making Windows Live the official, single set of tools you can download and use if you like.

The problem, of course, is migration. The Microsoft page above indicates that you can Import directly from Outlook Express and Windows Mail folders stored on your hard disk. I've also seen advice to actually download and convert to Windows Live Mail before upgrading or installing Windows 7. (There's even one hack out there that supposedly allows you to copy the Windows Mail executable from your Windows Vista system, but I don't recommend it.)

The full list of applications "replaced" by downloads from Windows Live includes:

Outlook Express -> Windows Live Mail
Windows Address Book -> Windows Live Mail
Windows Calendar -> Windows Live Mail
Windows Contacts -> Windows Live Mail
Windows Mail -> Windows Live Mail
Windows Messenger -> Windows Live Messenger
Windows Movie Maker -> Windows Live Movie Maker
Windows Photo Gallery -> Windows Live Photo Gallery

And as I alluded to earlier, there's no requirement that you download or use any of these replacements.

In fact, it might be a fine opportunity to evaluate alternatives.

I've written a new article detailing the steps you might take to move your Outlook Express email on Windows XP to Windows Live Mail on Windows 7. You'll find it here:
How do I move my Outlook Express email from Windows XP to Windows 7?

Related:

How do I move my Outlook Express email from Windows XP to Windows 7? I'll show you how to move from Outlook Express to Windows Live Mail on Windows 7 (the easiest moving option), step by annoying step.
What's the difference between Windows Mail, Windows Live Mail, Windows Live Hotmail and MSN Hotmail? Microsoft has created a lot of confusion with how it names its mail products. Add the transition from MSN to Windows Live branding and it gets worse.
How do I upgrade from XP or Vista to Windows 7? The upgrade path from XP to Windows 7 is clear, albeit some work. The path from Vista can be simpler, but I recommend a clean install anyway.

Article C3912 - October 29, 2009

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Recent Comments

75 Comments

which is best mail storage program ? cause i daily receive 60 mail and i have to use old mails also , so plz somebody advise me to which is best mail program ......

thanks

Posted by: Bhavik at June 4, 2010 6:17 AM

I used Outlook and was disapointed to learn that it was no longer available.

BUT-Check out Mozzila Thunderbird. It is very very much like outlook express.

Good Luck

To be clear: Outlook is still available. It's part of Microsoft Office. Outlook Express is no longer available. The two programs are not related to each other.

21-Jun-2010

Posted by: Mr. M. at June 20, 2010 1:02 PM

I spent 3 weeks trying to get Thunderbird to work on my ISP, and finally gave up. It makes a huge difference who you have! I have Comcast.net and Thunderbird has huge problems with comcast because of the authentication codes along with multiple servers with slightly different names. It doesn't stop there, the Help instructions for Thunderbird are not even a replica of the screens you are looking at! Thunderbird Help doesn't even know what Thunderbird screens look like! I'm now using Outlook with windows 7 and am much happier!
I still miss my Outlook Express, but I caution anyone trying to convert to Thunderbird if you ISP is Comcast.net! Seemed like each new day was a different authentication problem.

Posted by: Mr. KHE at July 1, 2010 8:30 PM

does anybody know why Microsoft removed these programs that so many people liked.

Many computer pros such as myself intensely dislike Outlook Express and are happy to see it gone. MANY people lose email and have other problems due to OE. I do wish that MS had fixed it rather than replaced it, but I can only assume that it was architected so poorly that a total replacement was the only viable cure for its many problems.

14-Jul-2010

Posted by: steven at July 13, 2010 3:54 PM

Leo - or anyone else.

I'm moving from Outlook Express on a W2K machine to Outlook 2007 on a new Windows 7 machine. There doesn't seem to be a guide for migrating this scenario - everything points to moving OE to Windows Mail.

Thus it seems this is going to be a two stage process. Load Outlook (a compatible copy) on the old machine, let it create a .PST there. Take that .PST and drop it into the Windows 7 machine so that Outlook 2007 can do its import.

Does this sound right?

Tnx

That's probably the safest approach, and the one I'd take.

22-Jul-2010

Posted by: Herb S at July 21, 2010 8:22 AM

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