How to import & export BlackBerry data to Outlook, Gmail, Android & more

How to import BlackBerry contacts from CSV into Outlook

If you've used BlackBerry Backup Extractor to recover your BlackBerry contacts from your IPD or BBB backup into a CSV file and now want to get them into Outlook, here's a guide to doing it.

How to import BlackBerry calendar files into Gmail

Recently lost or deleted the calendar file on your BlackBerry? If you have used BlackBerry Backup Extractor to extract the calendar file from an IPD or BBB backup, importing the file back to your BlackBerry device is as easy as 1-2-3. Manage your calendar efficiently and bring it right into your BlackBerry phone in just a few, easy steps.

1. Open Gmail account

   Log into your Gmail account or create a new account if you do not have one already.

2. Click on "Calendar"

   Click on "Calendar" on the topmost part of the screen.

3. Import Calendar

   Once Google Calendar is open, click on the boxed drop-down arrow and select "Import Calendar". A new window should appear.

4. Import .ics and .csv calendar file

   Browse the specific .ics (iCal or iCalendar) or .csv file that you want to import, then click "Import".

How to import BlackBerry emails into Outlook

After extracting emails from your backup you might be interested in a way of importing these to your email client.

• Open the folder containing the .eml files
• Open Outlook and create a new folder, but you can use any folder except the Inbox.
• Select the eml files in the folder you want to import
• Then simply drag the files into the new folder you created in Outlook. If you do this to Inbox, you will create a new email with the .eml files attached
• NOTE: This process should work for eml, msg or any other standard RFC822 email message.

How to import BlackBerry emails into Outlook Express or Windows Live

• This process is much the same as Outlook
• Locate the eml files and make sure they are all within a single folder. Open the folder with all eml files.
• Open Outlook Express or Windows Live
• Click File → Folder → New and the chose where to place this new folder
• Select all your eml files and drag and drop them into the folder you just created in Outlook Express or Windows Live

That's it! You should have successfully imported your eml files into Outlook.

Sync contacts and calendar with your BlackBerry & Google Sync

Google Sync lets users manage contacts and calendar from their Google account to their BlackBerry device. This allows easy data transfer to keep up-to-date information on a mobile device. If you use BlackBerry Backup Extractor to retrieve files from a backup, Google Sync enables you to put contacts and calendar data back to your BlackBerry phone with ease. After importing your contacts and calendar to your Google account, syncing it with your BlackBerry device is a piece of cake! Here is a simple guide on how to do it.

Download Google Sync

• Go to http://m.google.com/sync using your Blackberry browser.
• Once the page appears, you should see a "Download Google Sync" link. Simply click the scroll wheel or BlackBerry menu button to show the options, and select "Get Link".
• Select Download on the download page. It will automatically install the application on your device. Once installed, you should see the Google Sync icon on your home screen.

Sync Google Account

• Open the Google Sync app on your home screen.
• Once you see the login page, put in your full Google email address and password. If the information is valid, it should successfully sign in to your account.
• A welcome screen will appear. If you want to alter the settings, simply click the scroll wheel and select Options. Default settings have Calendar and Contacts syncing both enabled.
• Once done, click Sync Now at the bottom of the page to start synchronization. The process time depends on the amount of data you have in your Google account. You can run it in the background while you access other apps on your BlackBerry.

How to transfer BlackBerry Contacts to Android

Until recently, you could simply transfer contacts from a BlackBerry phone using Google Sync. This transferred data with ease to an Android phone via by connecting to Gmail. One downside of the Google Sync app was that caller images were not synced with the contacts.

Unfortunately, Google has now stopped distributing Google Sync to the BlackBerry. However, the app still works, although it is no longer available to download from Google, and not supported for new BlackBerry devices or the latest OSes.

If you still have access to Google Sync, try the following:

• Sync your BlackBerry with Google Sync using the instructions above
• Activate your Android smartphone and connect it with your Gmail account
• Sync your contacts with your Android phone using the inbuilt phone options

For BlackBerry owners that are unable to access Google Sync any more, we recommend you to sync or import your BlackBerry Contacts into Microsoft Outlook or Gmail with the instructions above.

Transfer your BlackBerry contacts to your Samsung device using Samsung Kies

For Samsung users the transfer of the BlackBerry contacts is pretty easy with Kies. You can sync the contacts with Outlook or simply import from your PC the BlackBerry contacts CSV file (retrieved with the help of BlackBerry Backup Extractor) by doing the following:

• Connect your Samsung device to your computer with USB
• Open Samsung Kies
• Click on Contacts → Import from PC → Import CSV Contacts
• Browse for the BlackBerry CSV contacts file and import

How to transfer BlackBerry SMS messages to Android

Extract the BlackBerry SMS messages into CSV file from your BBB or IPD backup with the help of BlackBerry Backup Extractor and use iSMS2Droid to restore them to your new Android device.

How to transfer contacts, files, and media with to a Z10 with BlackBerry Link

Once your new BlackBerry Z10 is out of the box, there are many ways you can transfer your data from your old phone. You can do it by BlackBerry Link, by media card or by extracting data from your BlackBerry backup with BlackBerry Backup Extractor, then import BlackBerry contacts and other data to your phone. Please notice that for a media card transfer, you'll need to have BlackBerry 7.0 OS installed on the old phone. So in summary, you can:

• Transfer data to the Z10 by media card (requires BlackBerry OS 7.0 or higher)
• Transfer data with BlackBerry Link (requires BlackBerry OS 5.0 or higher)
• Make a BlackBerry backup of the old phone, extract data with BlackBerry Backup Extractor and import it to the BlackBerry Z10

There's been a lot of talk about what BlackBerry Link can or cannot do, but the truth is that BlackBerry Link only moves a part of your data over to the new BlackBerry 10 smartphone. To transfer data with the BlackBerry Link, all you need to do is:

1. Download BlackBerry Link onto your computer
2. Connect your old device to your computer using a USB cable
3. Select what data you want to transfer to the new phone
4. Hit Next and the existing data will be prepared for transfer
5. Connect your new BlackBerry Z10 device (pretty soon we will also see the BBQ10)
6. Select your device and the data will be synced to your phone
7. Choose what media you want to transfer and you are done

With BlackBerry Link, you can transfer information that was saved to the memory on your old device, including:

• Blackberry contacts, BBM contacts, files (pictures, music, documents)
• Calendar items, tasks and memos
• Browser bookmarks and folders, alarm/clock settings
• Text / SMS / MMS / PIN messages, phone call logs
• WLAN Profiles (for non-enterprise networks), Password Keeper entries

BlackBerry Link will not transfer:

• Data that is backed up wirelessly, or synchronized with an online account (such as Gmail or Hotmail)
• Records synchronized with BlackBerry Enterprise Server (includes contacts and calendar entries)
• Tasks and memos are only transferred if your old BlackBerry smartphone was not activated on a BlackBerry Enterprise Server
• Data saved on your SIM card that has not been saved to device memory or media card before the transfer

To obtain the missing records you need to add the email account previously used to synchronize this data. Many users have had trouble because of this option and unfortunately, transferring data by adding email accounts doesn't always work.

BlackBerry Link is great to backup and restore your phone.

As always, we advise users to regularly back-up their BlackBerry to prevent from losing data. BlackBerry backups made with BlackBerry Desktop Manager are stored locally on your computer and can be accessed with BlackBerry Backup Extractor.

How to sync BlackBerry contacts with Outlook

Syncing your Blackberry contacts to your computer with Outlook is pretty neat and easy, especially if you have piles of contacts, both work and personal and you need to find your way through info you have gathered throughout the years.

1. Connect your Blackberry smartphone to the computer with your USB cable.

2. Open BlackBerry Desktop Manager Software and select the "Organizer" tab.

3. Choose the Select "Contacts" and in the window, choose whether to sync contacts from the BlackBerry to Outlook, vice versa, or a two-way sync (merge contacts from phone and computer).

4. In this case, I will select to merge BlackBerry contacts to Outlook, to avoid my phone being flooded by work contacts. The "Advanced Options" view will let you select contacts to sync, and even select by name, address, email, and many other categories.

5. Click "Sync Organizer" and the Desktop Software will sync your BlackBerry and Outlook manager in just a few minutes!

How to back up BlackBerry Messenger contacts

If you have a massive BBM contact list don't forget to back it up. BlackBerry Messenger offers you a few options to backup up your BBM address book, via:

• Local Backup (MicroSD card or on the device itself)
• Remote backup
• BlackBerry Desktop Software (Stored in BBB and IPD files)

As of Blackberry Desktop Manager 7.0, the BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) contacts are no longer contained in your BlackBerry backup, but will be restored upon entering your BlackBerry ID. Here's a helpful tutorial on how to backup your contact list.

How to recover BlackBerry Messenger contacts and conversations

Transferring your BBM information to a new BlackBerry should be pretty easy if you follow the steps shown in the video below. The only point that you have to bear in mind is to use the same email address you used to register with the BBM servers, with your new smartphone.

If you have set BlackBerry Desktop to save the data you can use BlackBerry Backup Extractor to extract your BBM conversations or saved BBM backup data. You can find BBM backup data in the following locations inside the BlackBerry Backup Extractor default extraction folder:

BlackBerry Messenger conversation and backup files

• \BBM Conversations\conversations.csv
• \Content Store\home\user\im\BlackBerry Messenger\322E5CD6\backup\