How to Export Gmail to MBOX File With All Email Attachments?

Written By Chirag Arora

Approved By Anuraag Singh

Published On September 3rd, 2024

Reading Time 7 Minutes Reading

If you want to know how to export Gmail to MBOX files, this blog is relevant for you. This comprehensive guide will reflect on the best way to move the Gmail inbox to MBOX format. We will walk through freeware or expert-suggested automated solutions to export .mbox from Gmail.

What is an MBOX File and Why is It Used?

Before jumping on the export methods, let’s first understand the significance of the .mbox file and why it is popular among professionals to save their email data.

MBOX, short for MailBox file — is a typical standard format for archiving or storing email messages with text content and attachments. This plain text file extension contains wide information including the sender’s address, date or time, and other necessary email elements. Additionally, it is supported by several email clients such as Thunderbird, Pocomail, Apple Mail, Spicemail, etc.

Using the MBOX file, it becomes easier or handy to store multiple emails with attached files into a single format, ensuring quick import or export of email data. Hence, it is widely used for compatibility and archiving the email messages.

Now, the question is why users search for ways to export Gmail to MBOX format. Let’s find it below.

Why Export Gmail Emails to MBOX File Format?

Here, we will explain the reasons for exporting the Gmail data to MBOX file. Since the MBOX file extension is acceptable for storing emails with attachments. Now, read the need for transferring the Gmail inbox emails to the .mbox file:

Email Backup or Archival Support: The reasons to export Gmail to MBOX file include the need for email protection or backup support. It helps to create an archival copy that secures data from accidental deletion.
Email Migration: MBOX format is commonly known for its compatibility with email clients which makes it easier to migrate data from Gmail to other email services like Thunderbird or more.
Manage Gmail Storage: The warning that Gmail account storage full might surprise you. To organize your Gmail space, export the data to MBOX file to increase the storage while taking backup in .mbox file format.

Overall, these are the common reasons for Gmail export to MBOX files. Now, let’s move on to learn the different methods to export Gmail emails to plain MBOX format.

Method 1: How to Export Gmail to MBOX with Google Takeout

In the following section, we will share the free way to convert the Gmail messages with attachments to MBOX files. Google Takeout, one of the popular services to export and create a copy of Google data including emails or attachments at once.

Here’s the stepwise guide to export Gmail emails to MBOX format using the Google Takeout method, take a look below:

Navigate to Google Takeout and login to your account.
Move to Select data to include > tab Deselect All.
Pick the “Mail” option > enable “Include all your mail”.
Press “Next Step” to continue the process.
Choose the export type like “Send download link via email”.
Lastly, hit Create Export.

Remember: By following the above guide to export Gmail email messages to MBOX, you will receive a ZIP file. Therefore, firstly, unzip the file to extract all the MBOX files at once. However, this solution involves the risk of data loss especially missing out the important emails.

Limitations of Manual Stepwise Guide

If your Gmail inbox contains a large volume of emails & attachments, unfortunately, this process will take several hours or even days to export emails from Gmail in MBOX file.
There are limited attempts to use the Takeout services for downloading the email data. Once the limit is exceeded, it will automatically resume the process.
In many cases, the Google Takeout method is considered a massive failure where any glitch can result in a cumbersome backup of Gmail to MBOX files.

Method 2: Best Way to Export Gmail to MBOX Format with Email Attachments

To convert Gmail emails to MBOX, we have a secure and completely automated solution i.e. SysTools Gmail Email Backup Tool that works with both Win & Mac OS. This is a robust and highly recommended software to access all Gmail emails to MBOX files. Additionally, it has everything that professionals crave to automate their tasks, making the process quick and risk-free.

Moreover, this emerging tool allows you to download all Gmail emails to computer while using the desired archival file extensions like MBOX. It helps you to transfer Gmail email with attachments to MBOX format. Most importantly, it leverages you to export Gmail folder emails to MBOX while using the smart e-mail filter.

Other features of this tool include incremental backup and the feature to delete after download to manage your Gmail inbox, making it tidy and more organized. Hence, it is the fastest way to convert Gmail inbox to MBOX file. Now, let’s learn step guidance.

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Know Steps to Export Emails from Gmail as MBOX File

Prerequisite of Tool: Enable the IMAP and generate the “app-password” at once.

Download and install the SysTools Gmail to MBOX Tool.
Add the generated password and press the Login button.
Navigate to E-mail Format > pick MBOX file.
Select the necessary category.
Move to Browse to check the location of the resultant file.
Lastly, click on Start to begin the process.

Best Features of Gmail to MBOX Software

It is a highly functional and automated tool to export Gmail to MBOX files in bulk with all emails, attachments, and email elements.
Facilitate you to transfer Gmail folder emails to plain MBOX files without any manual work that helps to save your time.
It has a built-in feature of a folder hierarchy to maintain the original formatting or folder structure after the process.
Offers the free demo version to download the first 25 items or folders from your Gmail account to MBOX file.
It has the remarkable feature of incremental backup to export only new Gmail email data to the desired email file format.
SysTools Gmail emails to MBOX tool is a secure and trusted solution that adheres to data protection and follows privacy policies.

FAQs – How to Export Gmail Emails to MBOX

Q. How can I export emails from Gmail in MBOX file?
You can use the free Google Takeout service to transfer Gmail messages to MBOX file, here are the steps:

Visit to Google Takeout page.
Mark the checkbox of Deselect All.
Choose Mail and mark the box > Next Step.
Here, pick the export type > Create Export.

Q. How to export MBOX from Gmail account?
There is no direct way to access Gmail emails to .mbox files. Therefore, try SysTools Gmail to MBOX file software to bulk convert the Gmail messages to MBOX email format at once. It is a reliable and best way to archive Gmail emails to standard MBOX files.

Concluding Words

In this guide, we have explained two ways to export Gmail to MBOX format. By following these methods, you can easily secure your Gmail emails to portable MBOX files, making it easier to create email copies for backup, archive, etc. However, we recommend you to take expert solutions to ensure error-free export of your Gmail data.

By Chirag Arora

Having around 9+ years of experience in technical writing. Knows about the core technical areas. Also, provides easy and reliable solutions to resolve difficulties faced by users while working with different platforms.

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