Convert MSG to MBOX in Bulk: Step-by-Step Guide
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Written By Shivam Rathore
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Updated on May 21st, 2025
Summary: Have you saved many emails as MSG files but now want to open them in Thunderbird, Apple Mail, or another email app? If yes, you may find that they don’t open the right way. That’s because MSG files work only with Microsoft Outlook, while most other email apps use MBOX format. To open your emails without problems, it’s better to convert MSG to MBOX. But doing this one file at a time can take a lot of time. That’s why many people use DRS Softech MSG Converter Tool to convert all their MSG files to MBOX at once. In this blog, we’ll show you how to do it step by step.
Brief Overview of MSG & MBOX
MSG files are created by Microsoft Outlook and usually store a single email message. Although, it works fine in Outlook, they aren’t supported by most other email programs. On the other hand, MBOX is a widely used format that works with popular email clients like Thunderbird, Apple Mail, Eudora, and others. Now,
Simplified Reasons to Convert MSG to MBOX Format
As we are aware of MSG and MBOX are both email storage formats but serve different platforms. Here’s why users need to convert Outlook MSG to MBOX
- The MSG file is limited to Outlook, MBOX is supported by multiple clients like Thunderbird, Apple Mail, Eudora, and Opera convert msg to pdfMail.
- When users migrate from Windows to macOS, they often require the MBOX format for Apple Mail compatibility.
- If you have a lot of email datasets, in that case, MBOX files are easier to store and share.
How to Convert MSG to MBOX
If you’re looking for a simple way to access your MSG emails in MBOX-supported email clients, there are a couple of effective methods you can try. Let’s take a look at how you can convert MSG to MBOX format.
Method 01: Manual Solution to Convert Outlook MSG to MBOX
There’s no direct manual option to convert MSG files to MBOX, but you can try a workaround using Microsoft Outlook and Mozilla Thunderbird. First, you can open MSG file in MS Outlook. Then, drag that file into Thunderbird to create an MBOX file.
Follow these Steps to Convert MSG to MBOX Format
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- First of all, make sure Outlook is installed and open it on your PC.
- After that, double-click the MSG file to open it in Microsoft Outlook.
- In the given menu, go to the File panel and choose Save As.
- In the “Save as type” dropdown, select Text Only and assign a path to save it.
- Click Save, and once text file is saved, change the file extension from .txt to .eml.
- To move forward, open Thunderbird and install the ImportExportTools NG add-on.
- For better management, create a new folder in Thunderbird to import your emails.
- Right-click the folder and choose ImportExportTools NG > Import EML Files.
- Now, tap on the Select Folder option to import the EML files into Thunderbird.
- Next, right-click the same folder and go to ImportExportTools NG > Folder Export (mbox) > As MBOX File.
- To complete the process, pick the preferred location to save the converted MBOX file.
Drawbacks Associated with the Manual Solution
Before you go ahead with the manual method, it’s important to understand what challenges it brings. However, it looks simple, but there are a few drawbacks you should know about.
- You need to convert and handle each file step by step. Which is quite time-consuming.
- There’s no built-in option to convert MSG files directly to MBOX. You need to convert them to EML first.
- You must use Outlook, Thunderbird, and add-ons together, which can be confusing for some users.
- If you miss any bit of steps, some emails or attachments may not convert properly.
- The manual process can be complex for the non-technical users or beginners.
Method 02: Best Automated Tool to Convert File MSG to MBOX
To avoid manual hassles, the DRS Softech MSG Converter Tool offers a reliable way to convert MSG to MBOX in bulk. It helps users move their emails from Microsoft Outlook to other email clients like Thunderbird, Apple Mail, or any application that supports MBOX. As it supports bulk conversion, you can convert hundreds or thousands of MSG files at once without losing any email data. Also, it keeps all your attachments, email formatting, and folder structure intact. Plus, it doesn’t require Outlook to be installed on your computer, which makes the process smooth and hassle-free.
The user-friendly interface makes it simple for beginners and professionals alike. With just a few clicks, you can convert your MSG emails to MBOX and access them in your preferred email client without any trouble.
A Few Clicks to Convert MSG to MBOX with Attachments
- Download and install the DRS Softech MSG Converter on your computer system.
- Then, click on Select File or Select Folder, then press Open to add your MSG files.
- In the next panel, preview the loaded MSG emails and click Next to continue.
- From the file format list, pick the MBOX format and apply the additional feature.
- Enter the destination folder to save and hit the Convert button to start the process.
Important Note: If you need to convert MSG files to other formats, this utility can do it as well. So, you can convert MSG to PDF, PST, EML, MBOX, HTML, CSV, and others.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you find this blog helpful to convert your MSG file to MBOX format. The process to convert MSG files to MBOX may seem complex, but the right approach makes all the difference. Manual methods require patience, while automated tools provide a fast and safe way to convert MSG to MBOX. Choose the solution that fits your needs and keep your data secure and organized.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ans: Yes, you can convert MSG to MBOX with the few-click solution of the DRS Softech MSG Converter Tool. To perform the conversion process smoothly, go through the given steps:
✅Download and install DRS Softech MSG Converter.
✅Click Select File or Select Folder and add your MSG files.
✅Now, you can preview the emails and click Next.
✅Choose MBOX as the output format and apply any options.
✅Select the save location and click Convert to begin.
Ans: No, you don’t need Outlook to perform the conversion process. The recommended solution can convert your MSG file into MBOX format without any additional applications.
