How to Import MBOX to Outlook? Top Practical Ways!

Struggling to import MBOX to Outlook? You’re not alone! Outlook gets roughly 20-25 million new users every year and a good part of them migrate from another email client. There are various methods to open MBOX file with Outlook. However, most of them require technical know-how of some level to get the job done.

Below, you will find detailed instructions for free methods, professional tools and even using IMAP sync facility to transfer MBOX files into Outlook and work with them without issues. So go through this comprehensive article and choose the method that works best for you. Let’s get started.

Why Would You Need to Import MBOX to Outlook?

The basic fact is that Microsoft Outlook does not support the MBOX format natively.

MBOX is said to be the most widely used format for storing email messages. It is associated with popular email clients like Thunderbird (the most popular open-source email application), Apple Mail (the native and most popular email app for macOS), Postbox, etc.

However, Microsoft Outlook which became popular due to its robust features and Office 365 integration does not support MBOX files. This makes it challenging for users to open MBOX with Outlook.

Anyhow, the reasons to transfer your emails emails to Outlook may include the following:

• By importing MBOX files into Outlook users can integrate email addresses and messages into a single platform.
• At the enterprise level, all of this may stem from email migration from personal to enterprise-grade email systems.
• For integration with Exchange Server and Microsoft Office 365.

Free Methods to Transfer MBOX to Outlook

Users often face challenges when importing MBOX files into Outlook. Especially if the files are large in size or higher in number. Before we look at the free methods, do understand that there is no magic trick that directly imports your emails in one click. You will have to work for it and there are no shortcuts when it comes to free solutions. The free manual methods are as follows:

1. Drag & Drop Email Transfer Method
2. Use an IMAP Account as a Bridge

We will go through the prerequisites, the complete step-by-step process, advantages and limitations of each method. So you can choose whatever method suits you the best.

1. Drag & Drop Emails Transfer Method

This method exports individual emails from MBOX to Outlook via an MBOX-supported email client. The entire process is manual and must be done by you step by step. The logic behind this method is to use an MBOX-supported email client to transfer MBOX emails to EML, and then drag these individual email files into Microsoft Outlook.

Prerequisites:

• Make sure that the MBOX file is on your computer.
• Ensure that Microsoft Outlook is installed and updated.
• Always create a backup of your MBOX file as a precaution.

Steps to import MBOX to Outlook using drag and drop method:

Here, we have divided the complete process into three steps for your convenience:

Step 1: Use MBOX-compatible email client

1. Install an MBOX-compatible email client. We will use Thunderbird since it is free and supports MBOX natively.
2. Install the “ImportExportTools NG” add-on in Thunderbird:
3. Go to Tools -> Add-ons and Themes.
4. Search for “ImportExportTools NG” and install it.
5. Restart Thunderbird.
6. Go to Tools -> ImportExportTools NG -> Import MBOX file.
7. Select your MBOX file and import it.

Step 2: Export emails as .eml files

1. After the MBOX file is imported, open the folder containing the emails.
2. Select the emails you want to export.
3. Right-click and choose Save Selected Messages -> EML Format.
4. Save the emails to a folder on your computer.

Step 3: Drag and drop exported emails of MBOX to Outlook

1. Open Outlook.
2. Create a new folder in Outlook (optional, for better organization).
   • Go to the “Folder” tab
   • Click “New Folder” to create a dedicated import folder
   • Name the folder (e.g., “MBOX Import“)
3. Drag and drop the .eml files from the folder on your computer into the new folder in Outlook.

This concludes the step-by-step process to import MBOX to Outlook. You can do this for one MBOX file or several others, but will need to repeat the steps for each file.

Advantages:

• Simple and straightforward for small batches of emails.
• No additional tools required (besides Thunderbird).

Limitations:

• Tedious for large volumes of emails.
• The imported emails may have incorrect formatting and lost timestamps.
• Attachments may get lost midway through the process.

A Quick Overview:

1. Run MBOX-compatible email client and import your MBOX file.
2. Drag & drop the emails to your computer to create EML files.
3. Run Outlook and create a new folder.
4. Drag the EML files from the computer to a new folder in Outlook.
5. The MBOX to Outlook import process is complete.

2. Use an IMAP Account as a Bridge to Import MBOX File to Outlook

Using this manual solution, you can access the data in .mbox file format in Microsoft Outlook easily. The logic behind this method is to configure an email account through IMAP protocol as it enables users to efficiently sync the MBOX emails to Outlook. Let’s start the process.

Prerequisites:

• A new, fresh email account (a free Gmail, Yahoo or any other account will do).
• An MBOX-supported email client (we will use Thunderbird here as it is free, but you can make use of any email client)
• The technical know-how of adding accounts in MBOX and Outlook email clients.
• Again, make sure to create a backup of your MBOX file as a precaution.

Detailed Steps to Transfer MBOX to Outlook using IMAP Sync Process:

There is no direct solution to import MBOX to Outlook. The user can only configure a IMAP account to put the MBOX files in that account. After that, simply configure it in Outlook and download all the emails here. Given below is the free method that users can use to get the job done.

Step 1: Copy the MBOX Emails

Here, we will import MBOX files to Thunderbird and copy the emails to an IMAP email account. The process is as follows:

• Firstly in Thunderbird, right-click on Local Folders and select Settings.
• After that, copy the Local Directory path and open this location on your computer.
• Then, copy the MBOX file(s) to this location.
• Restart Thunderbird.
• The MBOX folder will be available below Local Folders.
• Now, choose all messages that are to be opened in MS Outlook.
• After that, press the right-click on any selected message.
• If we don’t require saving the mail copies in Mozilla Thunderbird, then choose Move to. Or simply choose the Copy To option, and copy the emails from MBOX folder to the Gmail folder.
• At last, keep track of the process and if completed, check the details of copied MBOX messages easily.

Step 2: Create Gmail account and configure it in Thunderbird

1. Create an IMAP-enabled Gmail account.
2. Open and Launch Thunderbird email client and then click Mail >> Preferences.
3. After that, opt for the Accounts tab in the current wizard to add a new mail account.
4. Choose + icon & then add your Gmail account to the Thunderbird program.
5. From the service provider window, choose Google, and afterward, click on the Continue option.
6. Enter the Gmail ID and then select the Next button.
7. Put your credentials of the associated Gmail Account and choose Next.
8. Choose the mailbox that is required to be used in Gmail account and Thunderbird and then click on Done.
9. In the Account screen, add a Gmail account as listed on the LHS of the screen.
10. Exit the current window & Login into your Thunderbird program once again.
11. Once you have successfully added a Gmail to Thunderbird email client, press the right button of the mouse and select the mailbox of the configured Gmail account, and select the Get Messages option.
12. Then, select the OK button.

Step 3: Import MBOX to Outlook

Manual Configuration

1. Go to the file menu>>add an account.
2. Select manually configure server setting option or additional server types from the dialog box.
3. Select the internet email option and click on the “Next” button. Fill the required information.
4. Choose IMAP option for IMAP mail account in account type.
5. Now, for incoming server type gmail.com and outgoing server type smtp.gmail.com. Furthermore, click on “more setting option”.
6. In the outgoing server, move to select my outgoing server (SMTP) which requires authentication and using the same setting, select my incoming server option and enter 993 port number under incoming server’s port.
7. Then, selecting this server requires an encrypted connection option to set the type of encryption to SSC for an IMAP mail account.
8. In the outgoing server port, enter the value 587. Set the type of encryption to TLS and then click on the “Ok” button and exit.
9. Choose the Test account setting option. This option is used for checking the account setting. Now, the users will receive a message ‘your account setting is correct’. Click on the “Next” button.

Automated Configuration

1. Firstly, open MS Outlook
2. After that, select Outlook >> Preferences option
3. Now Select the Accounts option from the flash list
4. A wizard is previewed in front of you. Click (+) icon & select mail
5. Then, provide the login account and password for the IMAP email account and opt for Add Account.
6. Finally, all the MBOX messages will appear once your account is added to Outlook.
7. You can also drag the emails from IMAP account to Outlook folder to save them locally within Outlook.

With this, users can import MBOX to Outlook using the manual approach.

Advantages:

• Good for large-scale email migration.
• Preserve attachments and email formatting.

Limitations:

• It is dependent on an internet connection.
• Keep an eye out for the data size the IMAP account allows (Eg, a free Gmail account has a limit of 15 GB).
• The syncing process takes time and we have double syncing here (MBOX-compatible client & Outlook client)

Professional Software to Import MBOX to Outlook Quickly & Easily

To avoid these limitations users can opt for the MBOX to PST Converter. It is a professional alternative and quite possibly the best way to open an MBOX in Outlook. This tool offers rich-featured properties such as bulk conversion of MBOX file format into multiple file formats.

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This automated tool is available for both Windows and Mac users. So, download the variant as per your operating system.

Prerequisites:

• Close all email clients
• Create a complete backup of existing Outlook data
• Ensure sufficient computer storage

Steps to Import MBOX to Outlook with software:

Our software handles the bulk of tasks here. The first step is entirely automated where the tool converts your file to Outlook PST file. Then, the second step helps you in importing this converted file into Outlook.

Step 1: Convert MBOX to Outlook File Format

1. Open the tool and click Add File to import MBOX files.
2. Select your MBOX file and load it into the software.
3. Preview the MBOX emails in its interface.
4. Choose PST format to ensure compatibility with Outlook.
5. Click on Export to generate the Outlook file.

Step 2: Import the PST file into Outlook

1. Open Outlook.
2. Navigate to File -> Open & Export -> Import/Export -> Import from another program or file -> Outlook Data File (.pst).
3. Browse to the location of the PST file and select it.
4. Select the Outlook folder to Import MBOX file data and click Finish.
5. The emails will now appear in Outlook under the imported folder.

Advantages:

• Fastest method.
• Minimal user intervention.
• Import thousands of emails from MBOX to Outlook.
• Supports batch & bulk conversion.
• Maintains all email attributes.
• Preserve email attachments.
• Technical support is available.

Limitations:

• The free version only converts 25 emails/folder from MBOX files. You will need the paid solution to transfer MBOX file to Outlook without limits.

Advantages of Professional Software Over Free Manual Methods for MBOX to Outlook Transfer

Professional tools are the best bet when it comes to efficiency and reliability. Here are the reasons why professionals recommend automated solutions over free methods to import MBOX to Outlook:

• Time-consumption: The free methods are quite tedious with constant process of dragging and syncing large datasets. Professional tool makes it so that you only have to provide the MBOX file to the software and then simply import the converted file in Outlook. This
• Risk of Data Loss: The manual methods may lead to loss of emails or attachments if handled improperly. In some cases, even following the exact steps may result in data loss. However, there is no such scenario in automated solutions.
• Automation: As the name suggests, “manual” methods require you to carry out the entire process yourself. This makes it error-prone and frustrating. While the “automated” tools handle the bulk of the workload itself freeing you from headaches.
• Scalable: Free methods are not suitable to transfer large number of emails from MBOX to Outlook. On the other hand, the professional solution easily handles thousands of emails and multiple MBOX files without issues.

FAQs: User Queries

When faced with MBOX-to-Outlook migration, users often ask:

1: Can I directly open MBOX with Outlook?

Unfortunately, no. Outlook doesn’t support MBOX files directly. You’ll need to convert or transfer them using intermediary steps.

2: Are there free methods to transfer my MBOX emails?

Yes, several free workarounds are available, though they may require some effort.

3: Can I convert MBOX files to Outlook on a Mac?

Yes, there is a Mac MBOX Converter tool available for macOS users.

4: What’s the best way to transfer large MBOX files to Outlook?

Professional software is the fastest and most reliable option for large files.

5: Are there risks in MBOX import?

The risk factor varies with the chosen method. That’s why, we always recommend to create a backup of MBOX file before executing any method as a precaution.

6: Can I preserve my folder structure during migration?

Yes, professional tools and the IMAP method are effective at preserving folder structures.

7: Is there a free tool for MBOX to Outlook transfer?

All free tools have built-in limitations. They are given as a trial or demo to test the tool’s features. You’ll have to buy the full version (paid) to get advanced features and reliability.

Conclusion of the Guide

We can conclude that importing MBOX to Outlook is not something you can do without a little consideration. After all, each method has its own advantages and limitations. For small scale needs, free solutions like drag and drop and IMAP sync are perfectly fine. For larger tasks, professional software guarantees fast and accurate transfers.

For this reason, choose the method that most coincides with your needs. Using this, you will be able to open MBOX files in Outlook without any problem!