Top 4 Methods to Convert MBOX Files - A Complete Guide

In today's world, where we are constantly connected through our devices, understanding how to modify files to suit our needs has become a very useful skill. It's sort of like when you write a letter to your friend. Imagine if your friend only understood French, but you wrote your letter in English. You'd need to translate, or convert, your letter into French so your friend could understand it, right? This scenario is similar to what we often need to do with certain types of computer files - in this case, an email file known as an MBOX file.

This guide will help you understand everything about MBOX files, why and when you might need to convert them into a different type, the formats you can convert them into, and how to do so. It will also guide you on how to use a special tool known as an MBOX Converter, which simplifies this process.

What is an MBOX file?

An MBOX file is a kind of container for emails, somewhat like a digital mailbox. It is the most common format for storing email messages on a hard drive and is supported by several email clients like Mozilla Thunderbird, Apple Mail, Eudora, Opera Mail, etc. It stores mailbox items such as emails, contacts, calendars, notes, and journals. Just as a physical mailbox can contain many letters, an MBOX file can house many emails, as well as contacts, calendar events, notes, and more.

Why Convert MBOX files?

There are several reasons why users might need to convert MBOX files into other formats. Some of these reasons include:

Compatibility: As mentioned earlier, MBOX files can only be opened in specific email clients. If you're looking to switch to a different email client, you'll need to convert your MBOX files to a format that your new email client can read.

Data Migration: If you're migrating your data from one system to another, you might need to convert your MBOX files to a more universally accepted format.

Backup: Some users convert MBOX files to other formats for backup purposes. For instance, converting MBOX files to EML can make them easily readable, shareable, and allow them to be opened on almost any device.

Easier Sharing: If you want to share an email with someone who doesn't use an MBOX compatible email client, you'll have to convert the email to a format their client can read.

In which format do users convert MBOX files?

Given the numerous formats available, which one should you convert your MBOX files to? This decision largely depends on your individual needs. However, two formats stand out for their universality and ease of use.

PST: PST stands for Personal Storage Table. It's a file format used to store copies of messages, calendar events, and other items. Converting MBOX files to PST format allows users to access their emails in Microsoft Outlook, one of the most widely used email clients globally.

EML: EML files are email files created by Microsoft for Outlook Express, Microsoft Outlook, and several other email programs. These files can be opened by a wide variety of email clients and are, therefore, a great format to convert MBOX files into. Users often convert MBOX to EML for backup purposes, given the broad compatibility of EML files.

How to convert MBOX files?

There are many manual solutions available for converting MBOX files. You can also use an MBOX Converter to perform an MBOX file conversion. In this guide, you will learn how to convert MBOX files manually. You will also learn how to convert MBOX files to other formats using third-party MBOX file converters.

Method 1: Convert MBOX files to PST using IMAP

If you want to convert MBOX files to PST format, try this method. We have divided this process into seven parts. Follow these steps to perform this method:

Note: To perform this method, you must have MS Outlook and Thunderbird installed on your machine.

Step 1: Enable IMAP from Gmail

1. Sign in Gmail
2. Click the Setting icon
3. Select the Settings option
4. Select the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab
5. Enable the IMAP option
6. Click the Save Changes button.

Step 2: Generate App Password

1. Go to the https://myaccount.google.com/
2. Click the Security option and enable the two-step verification
3. Click the Security option again and select the App password option
4. Log in Gmail account again
5. Select the Other (custom name) as an app option
6. Enter Mozilla Thunderbird Desktop and click the Generate button
7. Copy the app password

Step 3: Configure Gmail in Thunderbird

1. Open Mozilla Thunderbird.
2. Go to Tools and select Thunderbird Options
3. Click the Account setting and select Account Actions
4. Select Add Mail account option
5. Enter Name, Gmail Address, and app password.
6. Select Remember password checkbox and click the Continue button
7. Select IMAP (remote folders) and click the Done button

Step 4: Move MBOX emails to Gmail

1. On the left pane, select your Gmail mailbox
2. Right-click on your Gmail mailbox and create a new folder
3. Enter MBOX emails as a folder name and click the create folder button
4. Select your Thunderbird mailbox and press Ctrl+A to select all emails
5. Right-click on the selected emails and select the Copy option
6. Select Gmail mailbox and select the MBOX emails
7. Go to your Gmail account and check the folder.

Step 5: Generate App Password for MS Outlook

1. Go to the Google Takeout (https://takeout.google.com/)
2. Click the Security option and select the App password option
3. Sign in Gmail account
4. Select the Other (custom name) as an app option
5. Enter Outlook Desktop and click the Generate button
6. Copy the app password

Step 6: Configure Gmail in Outlook

1. Launch MS Outlook and click the File option
2. Click the + Add Account button.
3. Enter your name and Gmail email address
4. Enter your App password and re-enter your App password
5. Select Remember Password checkbox and click the Next button to start the verification
6. After the verification process, click the Finish button.

Step 7: Export PST from Outlook

1. Go to the File option
2. Select Open & Export and choose the Import/Export option
3. Select Export to a file option and click the Next button
4. Select Outlook Data File (.pst) and click the Next button
5. Select the Folders you want to export
6. Select the Include Subfolders checkbox and click the Next button
7. Click the Browse button and provide a destination path to save the PST file
8. Click the OK button and select Do not export duplicate items
9. Click the Finish button.

Method 2: Convert MBOX files to EML using Mozilla Thunderbird

If you want to convert MBOX to EML format, try this method. Using this method, you can use Thunderbird's Save As to directly export the contents of the MBOX file to individual EML files. Follow these steps to perform this method:

Note: To perform this method, you must have Thunderbird installed on your machine.

1. Open Mozilla Thunderbird.
2. Select the mailbox
3. Select the emails you want to convert. Use CTRL+A to select all emails.
4. Right-click on the selected mail and choose Save as an option.
5. Provide a folder to save the EML files.
6. Click the Save button.

Method 3: Convert MBOX to HTML using Save as option

This method is useful if you want to convert MBOX files into a web-friendly format that can be viewed in any web browser. With Thunderbird, you can directly convert MBOX to HTML format. Follow these steps to perform this method:

1. Launch Mozilla Thunderbird
2. Select the Inbox folder
3. Select the email you want to convert
4. Right-click on the selected email and select Save as an option
5. Select HTML files as Save as type option
6. Provide a location to save the HTML file and click the Save button

While the manual methods described above allow you to convert MBOX files into other formats, they have their challenges. For one, they can take a lot of time, especially when dealing with a large number of emails. They also require a certain level of technical knowledge to execute properly. Another limitation is that they may not be ideal for converting several emails simultaneously.

If you're seeking a more efficient, user-friendly option for converting MBOX files, you might want to consider the SysCurve MBOX Converter. This tool is designed to make the conversion process simpler and more efficient, saving you time and technical effort.

Method 4: Convert MBOX files using MBOX Converter Tool

Here, we are going to use the SysCurve MBOX Converter tool. It is powerful software that provides the best way to perform MBOX file conversions. With the help of the MBOX File Converter, you can convert MBOX to PST, EML, MSG, RTF, HTML, and other file formats. To perform this method, follow the steps below.

1. Download, install and open the SysCurve MBOX Converter.
2. Click the Browse option, select the MBOX files you want to convert, and click the OK button.
3. After the loading process, the software will generate a preview mode. Select any item to view the message. (Optional)
4. Click the Export option and select the folder you want to Export.
5. Select the export file option as per your requirement
6. Click the Browse button and provide a path to save the converted file.
7. Click the Export button to start the MBOX file conversion.

Other helpful features

• Convert MBOX files to PST, EML, MSG, HTML, and other formats.
• Preview MBOX file data.
• Support over 20 MBOX email clients
• Save Individual emails to MSG, EML, HTML, MHTML, and RTF format.
• Migrate MBOX to Office 365 platform
• Perform selective conversion based on To, Cc, Bcc, Subject, and Date.
• Free MBOX file conversion for the first 20 items per folder.
• Support all versions of MS Outlook
• Compatible with Windows OS.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Final Word

In conclusion, converting MBOX files to other formats is a crucial skill in today's digital world, particularly for those who frequently work with different email clients. While the process might seem daunting at first, with the right knowledge and tools, anyone can master it. Whether you opt for a manual method or a professional tool like the SysCurve MBOX Converter, remember that understanding your specific needs and assessing potential benefits and drawbacks is key to a successful conversion.

We hope that this comprehensive post has provided you with valuable insights into the world of MBOX file conversion. As technology continues to evolve, the ability to convert files to meet our ever-changing needs will only increase.

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