How to Export Gmail to Text? Top 2 Methods

Written By Md Shoaib
Updated on July 18th, 2025

David Brown Query: “I’ve got important emails in my Gmail account that I want to save in plain text format for backup and record-keeping. I’m not sure how to export Gmail to text format without losing the content. Can someone guide me with the best and easiest way to do this?”

Introduction:Millions of users rely on Gmail daily. But sometimes, users need to keep a local, readable copy of important emails. Saving emails as plain text files (.txt) is a simple way to store or share content without relying on an internet connection. People use it for record-keeping, offline access, or legal documentation. In this blog, we’ll discuss the most practical methods, from manual methods to a professional Gmail Backup Tool. In addition, each method offers you a quick and reliable solution with no data loss.

Table of Contents

Real-Life Scenario

Jeny, a legal assistant at a Texas company. Needed to backup all communication between her firm and a client for a case. Gmail stores these emails. She started copying them one by one, but soon realized the process was too slow. She used the CloudMigration Gmail Backup Tool to export 500+ emails directly to .txt format. Within minutes, she had a clean archive of every email, perfectly sorted and easy to open anytime.

Simple Steps to Export Gmail to Text

Download the CloudMigration Gmail Backup Tool.
Enter your Gmail credentials to Sign In.
Then, you can preview & select the Gmail emails.
Choose the Saving option as Text from the list.
Apply advanced features and click Convert.

Quick Solutions:

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Why Convert Gmail to Plain Text?

Text files are lightweight and easy to open.
You can open plain text files on nearly any device or with any text editor.
TXT files are useful for documentation, research, legal records, or archiving.
Additionally, you can view your emails anytime, even when you’re offline.

Manual Methods to Export Gmail to Text

This method involves a three-step process. While it’s not ideal for bulk export, it works well for saving individual emails. Before starting, it’s strongly recommended to backup your important data, just in case. Here is how you can perform it:

Step 01: Save Gmail Emails as PDF

Firstly, open your Gmail account using any web browser.
Then, open the email you want to convert to text.
Now, click the printer icon to open the print window.
Under the Destination section, select “Save as PDF.”
Next, choose the location on your device to save the PDF file.
In the end, click Save to complete this step.

Now your Gmail email is saved as a PDF file on your computer.

Step 02: Open the PDF in Microsoft Word

Now, navigate to the folder where your PDF file is saved.
Right-click on the file and select Open With → Word.
Then, if Word asks to convert the PDF, click OK or Enable Editing.
The content of your Gmail message will now be viewable in Word format.

Step 03: Export Gmail Messages to Plain Text

In Word, go to the File menu.
Click on Save As and choose a location like your Desktop.
In the “Save as type” dropdown, select Plain Text (*.txt).
Click Save, and in the next window, confirm the encoding or formatting settings.
Finally, hit OK to complete the export.

Limitations of This Manual Method

While this method is effective and cost-free, it has some drawbacks:

Time-consuming if you have many emails to convert.
Attachments and email formatting are not preserved.
Requires Microsoft Word to complete the process.
Additionally, manual effort is needed for every email.

Dedicated Software to Export Gmail to Text

For a bulk conversion, you can use the reliable CloudMigration Gmail Backup Tool. This utility is designed with advanced technology to offer you a quick and hassle-free solution. Within a few minutes, you can convert your Gmail emails to Text with no data loss. Also, it preserves the data formatting and structure of your important emails. This software has a simple interface, which means tech and non-tech users can easily use it. In addition, it eliminates all the limitations of the manual method and gives an accurate result.

Advanced Features of CloudMigration Gmail Backup Tool:

Helps to fix “Gmail Labels Not Showing” and other errors.
Highly compatible with all OS Windows versions.
A demo version is used to analyze its features & functions.

How to Export Gmail Email to Text?

Primary, download & install the CloudMigration Gmail Backup Tool.
Then, enter your Gmail credentials, including ID and Password, to Sign In.
You can preview and select the Gmail emails to export. Click Next.
After that, choose Saving Format as TEXT from the drop-down list.
Lastly, apply advanced features and filters. Click Convert.

Conclusion

In this blog, we discussed the two best methods to export Gmail to Text free, including a manual and a professional tool. Although the manual method is useful for exporting only a few emails, with multiple steps. That’s why it’s not an ideal solution for this conversion. For a quick and bulk conversion, choose the professional tool. It helps you to give a hassle-free solution with no data loss or minimal disruption. Moreover, if you have any queries related to this tool, feel free to ask our 24/7 technical support. They will resolve your query instantly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Will exporting Gmail emails to text preserve attachments?

Ans: No. Plain text only includes the message body. If you need attachments, use the professional CloudMigration Gmail Backup Tool.

Q2. Which is the best tool to export Gmail to Text?

Ans: CloudMigration Gmail Backup Tool offers fast, accurate, and secure batch export with minimal effort.

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.