I'm migrating a Windows 10 computer with Office Pro 2019 to a new Windows 11 / Office Pro 2024 computer. As far as I'm aware of Office versions after 2007 keep the autocomplete list inside the pst file rather than in an .nk2 file. However when I import the Outlook 2019 pst file into an Outlook 2024 pst file the autocomplete list is missing.


So how can I get the autocomplete list out of the Outlook 2019 file into the Outlook 2024 pst file?

Addendum: In the past I vaguely remember when someone's nk2 file was lost because their profile was damaged I was able to use the Nirsoft Nk2edit to create a new Nk2 file and then create records in the Nk2 file by importing addresses from the sent items in the message store and then importing the Nk2 file into the new pst file. I tried that again and for some reason the latest version of Nk2edit can't open the Outlook 2024 message store so I'm kind of stuck.

Not something I've ever actually done, so all I know is what I read.

This article describes using MFCMAPI to export the hidden message that contains the autocomplete list.

Import or copy the AutoComplete list to another computer - Microsoft Support

Also some comments about the process here:

Outlook -- Instructions don't work -- Backup and Export the AutoComplete list in Outlook - Microsoft Q&A

Found these utilities to Export/Import.

Export Auto-Complete Lists | Outlook Freeware

Import Auto-Complete List | Outlook Freeware

I have no experience of any kind with this product. Buyer Beware.

Thanks so much, I'll give it a try and let you know how well it works or doesn't.

Ok so the utility that you gave me the link to does work however the free version only exports to xml, if you want to export to nk2 which you can then reimport into another Outlook pst file you need the paid version which costs like $32. It doesn't bother me because the person who was complaining about it (a grown man having a hissy fit because his autocomplete list wasn't there) is paying for the cost of the utility. But yes, once exported and imported the autocomplete list is then working.


If you ask me it's ridiculous that Microsoft offers an option to "Import" one Pst file to another but the import function does not include importing the autocomplete list which some people find essential.