How to Convert MBOX to EML on Mac – Complete Guide

Written By
Shivansh Shukla

Updated on
November 20th, 2025

5 minutes Read
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Introduction: Imagine scrolling through an MBOX archive to find attachments from specific emails. This can be inefficient due to the collective mailbox structure. Now, to rectify this issue, the user can convert MBOX to EML. EML files save individual messages, which makes them easier to access. But how can they do this conversion efficiently? Read through this blog and understand how a professional MacSonik MBOX Converter can make this conversion easily. Moreover, we have also highlighted a free, manual approach for those who need to convert only a few MBOX files.

Why Convert MBOX File to EML?

The MBOX to EML file conversion makes email management easier and more flexible. There are multiple reasons why users convert them to EML format:

  • Since MBOX files store emails in a single file, users convert them to EML to access them independently.
  • The EML file format offers broader compatibility. Therefore, it is preferred when switching to different email clients.
  • Users convert MBOX files to EML to quickly fetch attachments from individual emails.
  • Converting a corrupted MBOX file into EML allows users to restore messages as separate EML files.
  • With the EML file format, archiving becomes simpler because each email can be sorted and stored individually.

How to Convert MBOX to EML On Mac/Windows?

Let’s take a look at the ways of converting MBOX files to the EML file format on Mac. 

Using Apple Mail to Export MBOX to EML 

In Apple Mail, a built-in option is available to import the MBOX files. After that, save the emails one by one in an EML file. It requires no additional tools or software.

These are the following steps to convert MBOX to EML Mac version:

  1. Open the Apple Mail application on your macOS system.
  2. After that, head to the File tab and click on Import Mailboxes.
  3. Then, select Files in MBOX Format and browse, and select the desired MBOX file.
  4. Now, under On My Mac section, view the imported mailbox and select the email(s).
  5. Right-click on the selected emails and choose Save As > Format: Raw Message Source.
  6. In the end, the emails will be saved as .eml

Limitations: While importing a very large MBOX file, the system’s performance can slow down. Also, the folder structure is not preserved after the conversion. 

Note: Some users export MBOX to HTML for the website integration and easy viewing without any email clients.

Manually Convert Thunderbird MBOX to EML 

In Mozilla Thunderbird, the MBOX file is first imported into it using the add-on ImportExportTools NG. This method is relatively simple and easy way to export multiple emails as EML files. 

To perform the conversion process, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Mozilla Thunderbird application on your system.
  2. Then, click on Tools > Add-ons and Themes. Search and install ImportExportTools NG.
  3. After it gets downloaded, restart the Thunderbird application. 
  4. Now, again, go to Tools > ImportExportTools NG > Import MBOX file.
  5. Next, choose Import directly one or more MBOX files and select the desired MBOX file.
  6. Open the folder containing the imported MBOX file emails, and select the emails to be converted.
  7. Right-click on these emails, press Save Selected Messages > EML Format.
  8. In the end, set the destination and the emails will be saved in .eml. 

Limitations: There can be performance issues while converting large MBOX files. If Thunderbird freezes, the MBOX file can get corrupted, which may result in incomplete conversion. 

Efficient Solution to Convert MBOX to EML Format On Mac

MacSonik MBOX Converter is a secure and professional solution for converting MBOX files to EML format. It is designed to handle bulk MBOX file conversions to different formats and email apps. During the entire conversion process, it ensures that the original folder structure is preserved with no data loss. Moreover, it provides an efficient, reliable, and error-free solution. The converter tool is also equipped with smart features that make the process simple and easy. 

Quick steps to migrate MBOX to EML

  1. Download and open the MacSonik MBOX Converter on your system and click Next.
  1. Then, click the Select File(s) option, browse the MBOX file, select it, and Open it. 
  1. After that, expand the tree-hierarchical structure, select the files, and preview them.
  1. Click Next and choose EML as the File Format from the available options.
  1. Next, apply the filters if needed and specify the destination Path to Save.
  1. Finally, tap Convert to complete the process.

Additional Tip: Users often need to download the Google data into an external hard drive to optimize storage space. For that, they import Google Takeout to External Drive.

Conclusion

Businesses convert MBOX to EML to build an archive of their important business email communication. The professional approach using MacSonik MBOX Converter is recommended by experts for a reliable conversion experience. Also, the functionalities it offers make the process customizable and error-free. The bulk conversion feature fulfills the business requirements. Download the trial version of the MBOX to EML Converter online, which converts 50 emails per folder, to test the features. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Does converting MBOX to EML preserve attachments?

Ans: Yes, EML files normally retain attachments. However, some manual methods may lose inline images or alter formatting.

Q2. Can I convert MBOX to EML on Mac without installing extra software?

Ans: Yes. In Apple Mail, you can import the MBOX and then drag messages out to save them as EML files.

About The Author:

Shivansh Shukla is a technical content writer who researches and provides reliable solutions to help users resolve their problems. He offers effective procedures for email migration, data backup, and file conversion for all technical and non-technical users.

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