> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.solar-archive.com/docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.solar-archive.com/docs/quick-start/importing-old-email/importing-exchange-online-archives.md). # Importing Exchange Online Archives ### Why use EWS MSGraph is the preferred protocol for imports from Exchange Online, however it cannot currently be used to access Exchange Online Archive mailboxes and public folders. Exchange Web Services is a legacy protocol which can be used to access Exchange Online, but is due to be disabled in October 2026. Whilst Microsoft works to bridge the functionality gap between EWS we will continue to use EWS, switching to MSGraph at the earliest opportunity. ### Configuring a Mailbox Reader Connection Go to **Mailbox Reader** > **Connection Settings** Create a **New Connection** to the source mail system. Set the Protocol to EWS and select your M365 OAuth connection first as this will hide unnecessary options. Use the following values: | Field | Description | Value | | -------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Mode | Single / Multiple Mailboxes | Multiple Mailboxes | | **Protocol** | Protocol that will be used for the new connection. | `EWS` | | **Server** | Server’s URL hostname that would correspond to the Exchange server certificate, as you would use when using OWA. In this example, we would access our own mailboxes in OWA with this URL . So use the hostname from that URL. | `outlook.office365.com` | | OAuth Connection | Oauth provider to be used for registration and login. | M365 | | Tenant ID | Globally-unique identifier for Azure / Entra tenant. | | | **Domain** | Domain of the mailbox reader connection. Depending on network requirements, this may or may not be needed. | Go to admin.microsoft.com → Settings → Domains → look for the domain name your email address ends with (for example @yourcompany.com) | | **Port** | Port number that will be used for the new connection. For EWS this will always be the standard https port, which is 443. | 443 (typically) | | **Enable this Connection** | Specifies whether this connection is enabled or not. | Ticked | | **Separate log file per user account** | Specifies whether each user account will have a separate log file. | Un-ticked | | **Skip Completed Mailboxes** | Specifies whether or not completed mailboxes should be skipped. | Ticked | | **Idle Alert Period** | Time, in hours, after which an alert will be raised if no emails are downloaded. | 4 hours by default. | | **Connection Type** | Mailbox reader connection type. For EWS this will always be https: | Https | | **Include Folders** |

Folders from which messages should be downloaded. Generally, this will be from ALL folders – so the \* wildcard can be used. Otherwise a comma separated set of folder names can be provided. For Sub Folders, you will need to enter the full path – each part separated by a forward slash. For example: inbox/archive mail/\*,sent mail.


Note: The \* will mean that non-email folders will be accessed.

| Typically \* | | **Exclude Folders** | Refers to the Folders from which messages should not be downloaded. | drafts,calendar,contacts,outbox,tasks,suggested contacts,conversation history | | Ignore Non Email Items | Whether or not other objects should be read in, besides emails. | Ticked | | **Run Mode** | This will say “Polling” if there is no END DATE for mail collection. Without an end date, the system will need to repeatedly scan mailboxes which is a technique used to archive mail from systems that do not have a Journaling feature (like Hotmail / Gmail / Live mail / other IMAP or POP3 sources). If an end-date is specified, then the Run Mode will say “Date Limited”. The summary information that is displayed during mailbox collection will be different between Polling mode vs Date Limited mode. | | | **Selection Range** | Range based on which messages should be downloaded. | | | **Start Date & Time** | Time stamp from which messages should be downloaded. | | | **End Date & Time** | Time stamp till which messages should be downloaded. | | | Download from | Locations from which the Mailbox reader will pull objects from within the supplied mailboxes. | In this instance it is crucial to tick Archive Folders and Public folders. | ## Moving users to EWS * After generating a new connection type, move any desire users over by selecting: Mailbox Reader > User Configuration and select the users you wish to import the email archive of. * On the right top of the user table you will see a "Move" button. After clicking it you will be given the option of moving all users from the previous table, those selected before, or those not selected. * Select EWS in the dropdown and "Submit" to have the users be moved across.