Top 2 Methods to Convert MBOX Files to EML Format

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  • Updated on November 12th, 2024

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In today’s digital communication landscape, different email clients use different file formats to store emails. For example, MBOX is a popular format used by Thunderbird, Apple Mail, and others, while EML is the preferred format for email clients like Windows Live Mail and Outlook Express. 

Converting MBOX to EML can be necessary for reasons like migration, backup, or sharing emails in a universally compatible format. In this blog, we’ll explore the top methods to convert MBOX files to EML format, including both manual and automated approaches to DRS MBOX File Converter to accomplish the task in a hassle-free manner.

Introduction to MBOX and EML File Formats

Before we navigate to the conversion methods, it’s essential to understand what MBOX and EML files are:

  • MBOX Format: MBOX is a file format that stores an entire mailbox as a single file. It is widely used by email clients such as Mozilla Thunderbird, Apple Mail, and Postbox.
  • EML Format: EML is a single email message file format that includes the content of the email along with its attachments and metadata. It is supported by many email clients like Microsoft Outlook, Windows Live Mail, and others.

Why Do We Need to Convert MBOX to EML Format?

Converting MBOX to EML can be necessary for various practical reasons related to email management, migration, and compatibility. Here are the primary reasons why users might need to convert MBOX files to EML format:

  • EML is a widely accepted format supported by multiple email clients like Microsoft Outlook, Windows Live Mail, and eM Client.
  • Users often need to migrate from an MBOX-based email client to one that supports EML (e.g., Thunderbird to Outlook Express). 
  • Moreover, EML files store individual emails, making it easy to organize and archive emails separately. 
  • As EML files, the metadata of all your email remains the same. because it preserves email headers and metadata,
  • Storing emails as separate EML files reduces the risk of data loss compared to a single large MBOX file.

These reasons make it clear that converting MBOX files to EML format provides greater flexibility, compatibility, and control over how email data is stored, accessed, and shared.  

Top 2 Best Methods to Convert MBOX to EML File

Among the several solutions, we will describe the two best solutions to transfer mbox to eml. Either you can do it manually or with the help of the automated solution. However, you can pick the method according to your preference and technical expertise. Gio through the upcoming section learns the methods one by one separately: 

#Method 01: Manually Convert MBOX to EML Using Thunderbird Add-Ons

Mozilla Thunderbird, a popular open-source email client, supports MBOX format by default. Using Thunderbird with the help of add-ons can facilitate the conversion to EML format.

Steps to Convert MBOX to EML Using Thunderbird:

  1. Install Thunderbird on your computer and the MBOX file is already imported into Thunderbird.
  2. Then, you should import your desired MBOX file into the Thunderbird account.
  3. After that, go to Thunderbird’s Add-ons Manager.
  4. Then, search for “ImportExportTools NG” and install it.
  5. Next, Right-click on the MBOX folder you want to export.
  6. Later, select ImportExportTools NG >> Export all messages in the folder >> EML format.
  7. Choose a destination folder for saving the exported EML files.

Conversion Issues with the Manual Method

  • Requires manual effort and Thunderbird installation.
  • Time-consuming for very large MBOX files.
  • This method can be cumbersome for large-scale exports.

#Method 02: Professional Solution to Convert MBOX to EML Files

To skip the limitations of the manual method, the user navigates to the automated solution.  The DRS MBOX Converter is a simple and risk-free solution to convert MBOX to EML. It can convert MBOX files to popular formats like PST, EML, MSG, PDF, HTML, CSV, Gmail, Office 365, and more. You can convert multiple MBOX files at once. Moreover, it maintains the original structure, formatting, attachments, and metadata of emails during conversion. Also, it offers a preview of emails before conversion, so you can check the content and attachments. You can apply filters based on date, subject, or other criteria to convert specific emails. This software is applicable with Mac and Windows both OS. 

Simple Steps to Convert MBOX to EML Files

  1. First of all, download, install, and run the DRS MBOX File Converter on your screen. 
  2. Mark on Single File/Multiple Files or Select Folder and click Next. Now, click Select File to add the MBOX file.
  3. Choose the desired MBOX file and click on the Open button to browse it. After that, it will list all emails present in the selected file(s).
    Note: Click on any email to preview its content in the preview panel, including email body, attachments, subject, sender, date, etc.
  4. Select the desired output format EML. Click on the “Path to Save” button to choose a location to save the output format.
  5. Additionally, you can pick options like splitting large files, saving attachments separately, removing duplicate emails, or applying date filters.
  6. After configuring all settings, click on the “Convert” button to begin the Conversion process.

Once the conversion is complete, the software will generate a conversion report.

Go to the destination folder to view the converted files. They are now ready to be used in your preferred email client.

Conclusion 

In this complete blog, we covered some effective ways to convert MBOX to EML, such as using email clients like Thunderbird, using special converter tools. Manual methods can work well if you only have a few files to convert. However, for larger tasks, professional converter tools are more reliable and faster, helping you keep your data safe and saving time. The best method for you will depend on your specific needs, the amount of email data you have, and how comfortable you are with using these tools. No matter which option you choose, converting MBOX to EML can make it easier to manage your emails across different platforms. Ultimately, the choice between these methods depends on your requirements, volume of data, and preference for automation.

About The Author:

Shital is an experienced content writer who focuses on data recovery and email migration. With a strong background in technology and a love for making difficult topics easy to understand, she writes clear and helpful content for both tech experts and regular users. Her content helps you to manage the challenges of recovering lost data and moving emails between platforms like Office 365, Outlook, and other email clients. Her detailed guides help people protect their data and make their communication systems run smoothly.

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