How to Export IMAP to EML on Mac & Windows without Outlook

 

Brief Differentiation Between IMAP and EML File Format

Characteristics	IMAP	EML
Storage	IMAP data are stored in the Remote Mail Server	On the other hand, EML is saved on a local device
Accessibility	Accessed via IMAP-compatible email client	By using any text editor or email client
Portability	Portable, provided you have access to the internet and an email client that supports IMAP	Extremely portable, EML files are effortlessly migrated to any device
Sharing	The email message can be shared by attaching it to another email or forwarding it	These EML files can be shared by uploading them to a file-sharing service or by attaching the EML file to another email
Archiving	Since emails are stored on a remote server and can be accessed from any device, it is ideal for archiving emails	EML files are self-contained and can be easily stored on any device, making them suitable for archiving emails

Why Do Users Need to Export IMAP to EML?

Some of the unique reasons why users want to convert IMAP email to EML format are as follows:-

1. EML files are self-contained and portable, which can be easily backed up to external storage devices or cloud services.
2. Some of the popular email clients can import this EML file, such as Microsoft Outlook, Mozilla Thunderbird, and Apple Mail.
3. You can use it to archive your emails for long-term storage. To be on the safe side, it’s a good idea to keep a copy of your emails for legal and compliance purposes.
4. By attaching them to emails or uploading them to file-sharing services, they can easily be shared with others. It is, therefore, easy to share individual emails or entire folders of emails with colleagues, friends, or family members.

Moving forward, let’s discuss the best and most effortless solutions to back up IMAP emails to EML format.

Method 1: Manual Procedure Available to Export IMAP to EML

Here, in this case of manual procedure, we are going to discuss two procedures. Firstly, to export IMAP Emails to EML format on Windows and others on Mac OS. Let’s discuss each method one by one:-

Procedure 1:- Convert IMAP to EML on Windows

In this procedure, we will convert IMAP emails to EML format using Thunderbird. Follow the steps below such as:-

1. Download and Run the Thunderbird emails client on your device.
2. Then, configure your IMAP account, which you need to export to EML.
3. Now, select the desired emails from the configured account.
4. After that, right-click on the selected emails and choose the Save option.
5. Lastly, provide the destination to save the IMAP emails in EML files.

In the next section, let’s discuss how to save the IMAP mailbox in EML format on MacOS.

Procedure 2:- Export IMAP to EML Format on MacOS

In this procedure, we are going to use Apple Mail to extract messages from IMAP mailboxes in EML.

1. Run an Apple Mail on your system.
2. Then, select the desired IMAP emails.
3. Further, drag the IMAP emails to the new folder on the desktop.
4. Lastly, your IMAP emails will be saved in EML format.

In case users need to convert large amounts of data at the same time, we suggest going for the automated solution because the manual method possesses multiple limitations, as mentioned below. Let’s explain these limitations in more detail.

Limitations of the Manual Procedure

Some of the limitations such as:-

1. The manual method is quite long and confusing, especially when users have bulk emails to convert.
2. Even a single minor mistake can lead to data loss or corruption.
3. It requires basic technical knowledge or experience to implement this manual procedure, as the complete method is quite challenging.
4. In some cases, manual methods cannot convert all types of IMAP emails, such as those with attachments or complex formatting.

Hence, choose the professional, risk-free solution below if you want to convert your IMAP data without risk.

Method 2: Top-Notch Professional Way to Export IMAP to EML Without Outlook

IMAP to IMAP Converter Software is the best utility that permits users to back up all the emails of IMAP Server mailboxes locally on their local machine in different file formats. Such as it can easily export IMAP emails to MBOX and many more. Additionally, users can migrate all the emails in bulk to various other email clients. A free sample version is also available online, which can easily migrate 50 emails per folder.

Let’s discuss the stepwise instructions for this software in detail.

1. Download, install, and run the IMAP to IMAP Converter software on your device.
2. Pick the Single Mode or Batch Mode to backup single or multiple email accounts.
3. Provide your email address, app password, host, and port number, and then hit the Login button.
4. Pick the folders from the tree structure as per the requirements and further hit the Next button.
5. Pick the File format section and select EML format from the drop-down menu.
6. Hit the Destination button to set a location for the resultant file, and then Tap the Next button. Choose the additional built-in filters as per the requirement and hit Next to initiate the conversion process.

Conclusion

Through this article, we have covered both the manual and the professional approach to exporting IMAP to EML format. However, the manual method has certain limitations, which is why it is considered an inappropriate solution to overcome this task. However, the expert approach is a dependable and safe option that can effortlessly convert IMAP server mailboxes to EML with attachments while preserving the original folder hierarchy.

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