How to Export Gmail to MBOX: A Complete Guide

Written By Md Shoaib
Updated on July 16th, 2025

Joseph Harris Query: “I want to export my Gmail emails into an MBOX file. So I can back them up and access them offline. What’s the easiest and safest way to export Gmail to MBOX without losing any messages or attachments?”

Introduction:Exporting your Gmail emails to an MBOX file is required to backup your inbox, archive essential emails, or migrate to another email service. MBOX is an accessible file format used by many email clients like Thunderbird, Apple Mail, and Outlook (with plug-ins). In this blog, we’ll discuss two simple methods: manual use of Google Takeout and a professional Gmail Backup Tool. Additionally, each method offers you a quick and hassle-free solution.

Table of Contents

Real-Life Scenario:

Emily runs a small consulting firm and regularly backs up client exchanges. She used Google Takeout to archive annual conversations and set up a Gmail backup Tool to save monthly updates. This way, she always has offline access to crucial emails and can easily switch email platforms if needed.

Simple Steps to Export Gmail to MBOX

Primary, download & install the CloudMigration Gmail Backup Tool.
Next, enter your Gmail credentials to Sign In.
Then, you can preview and select the emails. Click Next.
Choose MBOX as a Saving option from the given list.
Lastly, apply advanced features & filters. Click Convert.

Quick Solutions:

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Why Import Gmail to MBOX Free?

Preserve email history offline, even without an internet connection.
Store messages in a universal format compatible with many email clients.
Also, to free up space in Gmail by archiving old emails.
In addition, prepare for switching platforms or migrating accounts.

Manual Method to Convert Gmail to MBOX

Google Takeout is a free, built-in tool that lets you export Gmail data to MBOX format. Here is how you can do it:

Firstly, visit Google Takeout.
Then, deselect all services except Mail.
Click All Mail data included to choose specific labels. Click Next.
After that, choose the delivery method (e.g., save to Drive).
Now, select file type (.zip or .tgz) and size limit (2–50 GB).
Further, click Create export and download the archive once ready.
Lastly, extract the file to retrieve your .mbox files.

Limitations of the Manual Method

While the manual method is free to use. But, it has several limitations, such as:

Requires technical expertise to perform conversion.
Only useful to export a few numbers of Gmail emails.
In addition, there might be a risk of data loss.

However, you can easily avoid these limitations with the alternative method, which is mentioned below.

Dedicated Software to Export Gmail to MBOX

For a quick and reliable conversion, the CloudMigration Gmail Backup Tool is highly recommended. This utility is specially designed to support bulk Gmail emails without data loss or minimal disruption. With the help of this utility, you can backup Gmail Account Before Deleting it. Also, it preserves email formatting and structure during the Gmail backup.

How to Export Emails From Gmail to MBOX?

Primary, download & install the CloudMigration Gmail Backup Tool on your PC.
Now, enter your Gmail address and Password to sign in.
Then, you can preview and select the emails to convert. Click Next.
Choose Saving Format as MBOX from the drop-down list.
In the end, apply advanced features & filters. Click Convert.

Conclusion

In this technical blog post, we discussed the top 2 methods to export Gmail to MBOX. If you have a small mailbox to migrate and have some technical knowledge, Google Takeout (Manual Method) is useful. But if you want a quick and bulk migration without the hassle, the professional tool is the best option. It makes sure all your emails, along with attachments, formatting, and metadata, are securely transferred with no data loss.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q.1 Which is the best tool to export Gmail to MBOX?

Ans: The CloudMigration Gmail Backup Tool is among the best options. It supports batch export, filters, and maintains full data integrity during the process.

Q.2 Can I convert Gmail to MBOX for a selected date?

Ans: Yes, the Gmail Backup Tool offers a Date Range Filter, allowing you to export only emails sent or received within specific dates.

About The Author:

Md Shoaib

Hi, I’m Md Shoaib! I enjoy writing about technologies and helping my readers with their queries, and I’m always looking for new ways to challenge myself and grow. Professionally, I work as a Digital Marketer, where I specialize in SEO and Copywriting.