Top Methods to Export IMAP to MBOX: Simple & Easy Guide

Written By Eva Shirley
Approved By Mithilesh Tata
Updated on April 9th, 2025
Reading Time: 3 minutes

Summary: IMAP is a common way email providers sync your emails across different devices. On the other hand, MBOX is a popular format used by email clients like Mozilla Thunderbird and Apple Mail to store emails locally. Moving emails from one system to another can be tricky, especially when dealing with different email protocols like IMAP and file formats like MBOX. If you want to export IMAP to MBOX, you’re in the right place. In this blog, we’ll show you an easy and reliable method to do this using the IMAP Backup Software and other useful methods.

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Why Export IMAP Server Emails to MBOX?

There are several reasons why users prefer the MBOX file format as compared to IMAP. Some of the key reasons are:

MBOX files are more compatible with different email clients, like Thunderbird, Apple Mail, and more.
MBOX files store your important emails and prevent accidental deletions.
With MBOX, you can access your emails offline on any device without any restrictions.

Best Method to Convert IMAP Emails to MBOX

There are several ways to export your IMAP emails to MBOX. Here, we discuss the best methods, such as:

Using the Manual Method
With the help of Specilized Tool

Let’s explore both the methods one by one.

Method 01: Manual Method to Export IMAP to MBOX

If you have Mozilla Thunderbird, you can use this method. Here is how you can do it:

Step 01: Configure IMAP with Thunderbird

Firstly, open the Mozilla Thunderbird application on your system.
Now, click on File and select New. Choose Existing Mail Account.
Enter your credentials like Email Address & Password.
Then, select IMAP as the incoming server & enter your details.
Verify all your settings and complete the configuration process.

Step 02: Install the ImportExportTools NG

Now, click on Tools and select Add-ons and Themes.
In the search option, type ImportExportTools NG.
Then, click on Add to Thunderbird.
It will be installed on your Thunderbird.

Step 03: Export IMAP to MBOX Format

Again, open the Thunderbird application.
Right-click on your folder that you want to migrate.
Then, choose ImportExportTools NG from the given list.
Now, click on the Export Folder option & select MBOX.
Provide the destination Path to save the resultant file.
Lastly, click on Save to complete the export process.

Drawbacks of Manually Exporting IMAP to MBOX

Configuring IMAP is a complicated step that requires technical expertise.
There is a risk of losing important emails when dealing with large data.
The manual method may increase the risk of data corruption.
Also, it lacks advanced options like email filtering, duplicate removal, etc.

To avoid all the limitations of the manual method, you can use the professional method.

Method 02: Easiest Method to Export IMAP to MBOX

The IMAP Backup Software is one of the best solutions to export your IMAP emails to MBOX without data loss. It simplifies the whole process and provides an option (Batch Mode) for the backup of multiple email accounts simultaneously. With the simple interface of this utility, both tech & non-tech users can easily perform the migration without any technical expertise. Additionally, it comes with several advanced features, such as:

Allow users to cross-verify the details before performing the conversion.
You can remove duplicate emails based on several criteria.
Also, helpful to export IMAP to PST, MSG, CSV, and other file formats.
It does not require the installation of any other application like Thunderbird.
Built-in Date Filter for selective email migration between the date range.
Highly compatible with all the latest & earlier versions of Windows OS.

Simple Steps to Export IMAP Emails to MBOX:

Firstly, launch the IMAP Backup Tool on your device.
Select Single Mode (for single backup) or Batch Mode (for multiple backup).
Enter your credentials, like your email address & password. Click Login.
Then, Preview & select the files that you want to export and click Next.
Now, select File Format and MBOX from the drop-down list.
Define the Path to save the resultant file and click Next.
Lastly, apply advanced features based on your requirements. Click Next.

Conclusion

To sum up, we have provided different methods to export IMAP to MBOX. If you have small data to export, you can use the manual method. However, you can use the recommended tool for large data & quick solutions. It allows you to convert your emails in MBOX without any limitations. Moreover, you can try the demo version of this tool to evaluate its performance & functionality. If you have any queries related to this tool, 24/7 technical support is available to help you.

About The Author:

Eva Shirley

Eva Shirley is a skilled technical content writer with expertise in creating engaging and informative content. With over 5 years of experience and a passion for writing, she has solved many users' queries by providing quality content.