How to Open MBOX Files

By / Gmail Guides, Windows 10, Windows 11 / 4 minutes of reading

An MBOX file is the standard file format for moving emails between email services. The file contains all the exported messages along with all the attachments to those messages.

If you’ve downloaded all your emails from Gmail using the Google Takeout service, for example, your messages will be in the form of a single mbox file.

Table Of Contents
  1. How to Open Mbox Files
  2. Open MBOX File in EM Client
  3. Opening an Mbox File
  4. Summary

How to Open Mbox Files

If you wanted to open an mbox file, then you’ll need an email client program/app to do it. That’s because the mbox format is a specific format designed for emails.

Two popular email clients that can open MBOX files are Mozilla Thunderbird and eM Client. Believe me when I say that the easiest and quickest way to open an mbox file is to use eM Client.

Open MBOX File in EM Client

Download and install eM Client. You can grab it from here-

https://www.emclient.com/

The install process is fairly straightforward, just accept the default settings and keep clicking Next.

When you arrive at the “Set up an account” screen, click the Cancel button.

Email address box is empty and the Cancel button is marked.
If you don’t want to setup an email account, click the Cancel button.

Why Not Setup An Account?

There’s no reason to not set up an email account using eM Client. If you want to use it as your email client then go ahead and enter your account details. It works brilliantly.

The only reason I’m saying to cancel the account setup is that this guide is specifically about how to open an MBOX file. For that, you don’t need to setup an account.

Unzip Your Mbox File

If you’re mbox file is in a zipped folder, such as when you download your emails from Google Takeout, you’ll need to unzip the folder before importing it into eM Client.

Google Takeout folders. One is zipped and the other is unzipped.
Unzip your mbox folder.

Opening an Mbox File

After clicking Cancel, eM Client will open.

To open your mbox file you’ll need to import it into eM Client.

Click the hamburger icon (3 horizontal lines) in the top left corner.

On the menu, hover over File and then click Import.

Import option is highlighted in emclient.
Click the Settings icon, File and then Import.

On the following screen, select Mailboxes (.mbox) and click the Next button.

Open Mailboxes (.mbox) is highlighted.
Select Mailboxes (.mbox) and click Next.

Importing Messages from Mbox File

Click the Browse button to navigate to your mbox file. Select the file and then click the Open button.

Browse button indicated.
Click Browse and navigate to your file.
Mbox file selected.
Select the mbox file and click Open.

Note.

If you’re importing an mbox file from Google Takeout, you’ll need to click through several folders before you reach the actual mbox file.

How To Download Your Gmail Emails.

Select a Folder to Store the Emails In

After selecting the mbox file, you’ll need to specify a folder where the imported emails should be stored.

  1. Click the Select Folder button.
  2. Click Local Folders and then click the New Folder button.
  3. Enter a name for the new folder and click the OK button.
Select Folder button indicated.
Click the Select Folder button.
Create new folder.
Select Local Folders and then click New Folder.
New folder is named.
Give your new folder a name and click OK.

Ready to Import

You’ll see your newly created folder appear in the folder tree. Make sure that it’s still selected and click the OK button.

On the next screen you’ll see a confirmation of the mbox file to open and the folder in which the emails will be stored. Click the Finish button.

Ok button marked.
Click the OK button.
Finish button indicated.
And finally click the Finish button.

EM Client will start importing your emails.

How long it takes will depend on how many messages are contained in the mbox file.

When it’s finished, click the OK button.

Em Client opening mbox file progress bar.
Click OK when the import has finished.

When the import has finished you can see all your emails by opening the folder you created earlier to store them in.

You might have to click the More option to find the folder.

Mbox file opened. Email messages are displayed.
You’ve opened your mbox file.

Summary

The Thunderbird email client is reported as being able to open mbox files. I couldn’t make it work though. I tried it both on it’s own and with the add-on Importexporttools NG . No luck.

Whether that’s something to do with the Google Takeout file I was using, or just my lack of knowledge, I don’t know, but it wouldn’t work. I gave up.

There are also apps that can open mbox files, but I don’t really like using them. The trouble with file opening apps and file converter apps is that you really don’t know what you’re installing on your computer.

While many work and are fine, there’s an awful lot that you really shouldn’t have anywhere near your PC.

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You can find this and other related step by step guides in – At Home Computer Gmail Guides

At Home Computer Step By Step Guides

At home computer website logo. Easy to follow tutorials for users of Windows 10 and Windows 11 computers.

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