How to Import Your Yahoo Contacts Into MSN

by Will Conley
Take your contacts with you.

Take your contacts with you.

Jupiterimages/BananaStock/Getty Images

When you make the switch from Yahoo! Mail to MSN mail -- also known as Hotmail or Windows Live Hotmail -- you may want to retain all the contacts you painstakingly entered into your Yahoo! contacts. Although there is no obvious method of importing your Yahoo! contacts into MSN, it is easy to do. And though the process involves two entirely separate tasks --exporting your Yahoo! contacts to your hard disk, and importing your Yahoo! contacts to MSN -- your contacts will survive the journey completely intact if you follow a few simple steps.

Step 1

Sign in to your Yahoo! Mail account (see "Resources").

Step 2

Click "Options" in the upper right corner and select "More Options."

Step 3

Click "Contacts" in the left menu column.

Step 4

Click the "Tools" button under the "Contacts" tab and select "Export."

Step 5

Click "Export Now" next to "Microsoft Outlook."

Step 6

Enter the anti-spam code shown and click "Export Now." This downloads a CSV file of your Yahoo! contacts to your hard disk. Take note of the file name and folder to which you are saving the file.

Step 7

Sign up for a Windows Live ID (see "Resources").

Step 8

Sign in to your Windows Live Hotmail account (see "Resources").

Step 9

Click "Inbox."

Step 10

Click "Options" in the upper right corner and select "More Options."

Step 11

Click "Importing Contacts" in the "Customizing Your Contacts" section.

Step 12

Click the "Outlook" icon.

Step 13

Select "Microsoft Outlook (using CSV)" and click "Choose File."

Step 14

Locate and open the Yahoo! contacts CSV file you downloaded in Step 6.

Step 15

Click "Import Contacts."

About the Author

Will Conley's writing has appeared in a variety of print publications since 1999, including "National Journal," "Art New England," "Pulse of the Twin Cities" and "Minnesota Daily." He has also contributed to websites such as Salon.com and ThisBlogRules.com. Conley studied journalism at the University of Minnesota.

Photo Credits

  • Jupiterimages/BananaStock/Getty Images