Some users want to store their Gmail emails in OneDrive as a backup, freeing up Gmail storage and for many other reasons. But there is no direct way to do it. Here, I am going to explain how to save Gmail emails to OneDrive accounts using IT admin or expert advice methods.

Table of Contents
  1. Why Do Users Want to Save Gmail Emails to OneDrive?
  2. Things to Know Before Saving the Emails
  3. How to Save Gmail Emails to OneDrive – Individual Method
  4. Download Gmail Email Attachments & Upload to OneDrive
  5. Use Google Takeout to Save Gmail Emails to OneDrive
  6. Export Gmail Emails in OneDrive with Outlook
  7. When the Primary Goal is to Save Gmail Emails in Microsoft Platform
  8. Final Words

Gmail and OneDrive are different platforms with different purposes. Gmail is a webmail service to store and manage your emails. Whereas OneDrive is used to save and manage your documents, images, videos, and other documents/files. Both are products of Google and Microsoft, respectively, with their own functions.

You can individually save your emails and attachments by simply clicking the download button in Gmail and then move it to OneDrive local files. But the problem occurs when you have to store multiple Gmail emails or complete a mailbox. Also, the email message and attachments are downloaded in different formats. Managing them is also different.

Why Do Users Want to Save Gmail Emails to OneDrive?

Moving your Gmail emails to Microsoft OneDrive benefits you for several reasons, which I have mentioned below.

  • It helps you to bypass Google limits, as Gmail provides you with 15 GB of free storage, which is shared with
  • Google Drive and Photos. Whereas Microsoft offers you 1 TB of cloud storage in their paid plans.
  • Storing emails with massive attachments clears out the space that prevents inbox bounces.
  • Google may flag or suspend your account if it finds suspicious activity. In that scenario, you can urgently access your important emails. If it is stored in OneDrive, then you can view it in no time.
  • Also, keeping your emails on a different platform prevents you from specialized email malware.
  • Companies are shifting from Google-centric to Microsoft-centric. That’s why they have to save the emails to their cloud storage.

Things to Know Before Saving the Emails

Before you export your Gmail emails to Microsoft OneDrive. It is important to learn about how email is stored and what will happen after moving them to cloud storage. Gmail is an email service, whereas OneDrive is a cloud storage platform. Both have different functionalities.

  • Gmail emails are exported in MBOX or EML files individually. Which is a common file format to save your email messages.
  • It is possible to upload these exported email files to OneDrive, but you can use this platform to open and manage your mailbox as Gmail does.
  • Attachments are separately downloaded and easily managed in OneDrive.
  • When you export your Gmail emails and upload them to OneDrive does not mean your emails are deleted from your Gmail inbox. You can still access your original messages in Gmail unless you delete them.
  • If you need to save a copy of your important emails. Change the emails into PDF files, which are more convenient and preserve your emails.

These points are explained to be clear about how your emails are going to be exported and managed in OneDrive. Now, let’s see the methods to save the emails.

How to Save Gmail Emails to OneDrive – Individual Method

If you want to export only 2-3 emails to your Microsoft storage. Then, you can simply save them individually by following these steps.

  1. Sign in to your Gmail and open the email you want to save.
  2. Press the Ctrl+P hotkey or click the print option from the menu within the email message.
  3. Change the print button to save as PDF. Then, open your OneDrive.
  4. Upload your PDF file to OneDrive and save it to secure folders.

This method is not used for saving hundreds or thousands of emails.

Download Gmail Email Attachments & Upload to OneDrive

You can individually save your email attachments by following these steps.

  1. In the Gmail message, hover your mouse cursor over the attachments.
  2. Click the Download button and save the file on your local computer.
  3. Sign in to your OneDrive account and upload your downloaded attachments.
  4. Categorize them into your folders.

Use Google Takeout to Save Gmail Emails to OneDrive

The above two methods are used to save a few emails, but to download your complete mailbox, Google Takeout will help you.

  1. Log in to Google Takeout. Click the Deselect all button.
  2. Scroll to the Mail button and select it.
  3. Scroll down to the Next Step button.
  4. Choose your destination, file type, and size. Click the Create Export button.
  5. You will get your exported file in ZIP format. Extract the files in MBOX format.
  6. Now, you can upload your file like any normal file.

With this, you can save your emails but cannot open the file in OneDrive. If you want to make it accessible, then use this next alternative option.

Export Gmail Emails in OneDrive with Outlook

If you add your Gmail account in Outlook, you can indirectly save it in your OneDrive storage. Because OneDrive is the Outlook storage destination. Here’s how you can do it.

  1. Log in to Outlook and go to the File option. Then, click the Account button.
  2. Enter your Gmail email address, provide your password, and other details.
  3. After syncing your account, choose your Gmail emails within Outlook.
  4. Open it and click the File button, then the Save As option.
  5. Select the folder and choose MSG or TXT format. Click the Save button.
  6. If you want, you can use the print option to save the email in PDF format.
  7. Then, you can easily upload the file to OneDrive by dragging and dropping the exported email to the local OneDrive folder.

So, here are the manual ways to save your personal Gmail emails to OneDrive. Some organizations, businesses, or companies also save their Gmail emails to the Microsoft environment, whether from a OneDrive or Microsoft 365 account. If you are using a Google Workspace account and want your important emails in the Microsoft environment, then permanently move your emails.

When the Primary Goal is to Save Gmail Emails in Microsoft Platform

If the company’s main intention for exporting Gmail emails to OneDrive is to access or open your emails in the Microsoft platform. Then, why not move them? It is much easier, as OneDrive has a limitation of opening your email files.

There are several professional tools, like SysTools Google Workspace to Microsoft 365 Migration Utility, that can directly transfer your files. Without any issues. But it is only used for your work Gmail emails. For your personal Gmail emails, you can use the Gmail backup tool to save your emails in any suitable OneDrive file format.

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Final Words

There is no direct option to save Gmail emails to OneDrive. However, you can use indirect ways to download Gmail emails and upload them to OneDrive. Google Takeout, individually saving the emails, and Outlook help you to export your personal emails. But if you want to save your professional emails in Microsoft, you can just move them.