Find Where Are MBOX Files Stored On Mac – Location Details Explained

Mac Operating Systems are a popular platform used by Apple machine users for official as well as personal purposes. Like any other Operating System, Mac is also available with a default program dedicated for desktop-based email communication. Mac Mail or popularly known as Mail is the application provided for Mac OS users to communicate right from their desktop via emails and manage personal data too. The email program is not just limited for the Apple Mac OS X but is also featured on iOS devices along with the watchOS by the brand. The latest Mail App edition is using SMTP protocol for sending of messages with IMAP for the receiving of emails. Meanwhile, the complete security of the mail from one end to the other is managed by S/MIME message encryption.

However, a number of users who are new to the environment of desktop emailing plus the desktop mail app being the Apple Mail get confused with certain basic things. One of the most common queries enquired by users is ‘where are MBOX files stored on Mac’ & confused about the location of MBOX files on machine. In order to resolve the problem, the following blog features information about the Apple Mail application and its storage. You can know how to find Mac Mail mailboxes location by the end of this blog.

Where are MBOX Files Stored on Mac Machine?

Given are the steps to be followed for finding out the location of Mailbox files generated by Mac mail account:

Applicable on Versions: 2, 3, 4 and all above

1. Open the Finder window and go to Home directory
2. Use the Home button on the toolbar menu to reach the Home directory.
3. Now go to Library and in it Mail followed by the directory named ‘Mailboxes’
4. Following the steps give above will take you to the exact directory where Mac Mail has been storing the mailboxes of your account with the respective emails within it.

The mailbox directory is generally known as Mail. The folder consists of sub folders in multiple quantities that are named after the respective email accounts configured of Mail App. The storage of POP and IMAP accounts are done with respective prefixes added to the folder name. The folders inside are easily identifiable as they are named after each email folder residing on the account, like; Inbox, Drafts, Sent Items, etc.

For Mac OS X Mail Edition 1 users, following are the steps that need to be carried out for keeping messages of the Mail App account:

1. Open the Finder app on your Mac machine
2. Select Go from the main menu
3. Select ‘Go to folder…’ from the menu
4. Now type the following: ~/Library/Mail/V2 or ~/Library/Mail/V3 for Mac OSX Mail 5-8 and Mail respectively

Following the steps given above will take you to the folder path of Mac Mail or Mail App v1.0’s mailbox. Therefore, with this location you can not only have access to the mailbox contents of your Mac Mail but also take it into other productive usage like:

1. Copy the data and move it to another machine or device for a physical backup, just in case you need it in future.
2. Copy the data and move it to a different machine to be used with another application supporting Mailbox files.
3. Archive the copy and generate new mailbox storage for your Mac Mail.

This is all you could do if you know where are MBOX files stored on Mac machine and ensure that the mailboxes and their contents are safe. In case of any other queries regarding the Mac Mail storage or maintain readers are suggested to leave comments.