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How to Import MBOX to Outlook in Simple Steps?

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Published By Aswin Vijayan
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Approved By Anuraag Singh
Published On October 4th, 2023
Reading Time 6 Minutes Reading
Category Outlook

Frankly speaking, the MBOX file is the widely known file format that many email clients use to store their data items. Email clients such as Thunderbird, Mac Mail, Entourage, Eudora, PowerMail, and so on. There are multiple circumstances where a user needs to Import MBOX to Outlook.

And, to do so one needs to export their MBOX file to an Outlook data file. Most of the time these situations occur due to professional or work-related requirements that led the users to switch from MBOX to Outlook.

Now, before jumping straight to the solutions, let’s take a brief look at both file formats.

Brief Introduction of MBOX & Outlook PST

For starters, MBOX is a universal file format that comes with different variations; mbx, mbox and, mbs files and each email client utilizes a separate variation for such instance; Thunderbird utilizes MBOX without its extension.

Whereas Apple Mail favors the .mbox extension files and Opera mail uses .mbs files respectively. The only thing that does not change despite the extensions is that its storage is completely restricted to emails and attachments.

Speaking of Outlook, PST files are the exclusive file format of Microsoft and it stores copies of messages, contacts, calendar events, and other items as well. Besides MS Outlook, Microsoft Exchange applications also support PST file format.

Alas, the main reason why users prefer Outlook over MBOX is because of its usability and portability functions and it is why they wish to import MBOX to Outlook.

With that being said, Both MBOX nor Outlook email client do not provide any native option or any type of direct method for email migration between these email applications. Now, due to some technical implications of these formats, it is required for users to first migrate MBOX to PST file to open their emails in Outlook version 2021, 2019, 2016, 2013 and etc.

It is now time to talk about some business aka the solutions to transfer MBOX to Outlook. There are different methods that one can make use of to complete this task.

Let’s take a precise look at them.

Know the Best Way to Import MBOX to Outlook Instantly

In this segment we will be making use of different techniques such as Mozilla Thunderbird as a medium to migrate MBOX files to Outlook. All you have to do is follow the methods mentioned down below carefully:-

  1. Use Thunderbird to Open MBOX in Outlook
  2. Export Mailboxes to EML File Format
  3. Drag & Drop Files into Microsoft Outlook
  4. Exporting Emails to Outlook PST Format

1. Utilize Thunderbird to Add MBOX File in Outlook

  1. Install and Launch Mozilla Thunderbird on your machine and then continue with any dummy webmail account.
  2. Navigate to the Tools menu and hit on the Add-on option and if the menu is hidden, simply press the Alt key.
  3. Then, search for the Import export option in the search tab.
  4. After that, click on the Add to Thunderbird option to add the Import Export Tools NG extension.
  5. Next, hit on Install Now option to install this free add-on and restart the application.
  6. Make sure to choose the Local Folders in the mailbox list and navigate to the tools option, then click on the Import/ExportTools NG>Import MBOX File.
  7. In the end, move ahead with the instructions and choose the MBOX files that you wish to Import and you will be able to see the imported MBOX file appearing under the Local Folder mailboxes.

2.Move the Imported Mailboxes to Outlook

Since there is no direct way to import MBOX to Outlook. And this deviant method actually utilizes the EML format to complete the objective.

  1. First of all, Open the imported mailbox file and choose all the emails that you wish to move from Outlook.
  2. Next, click right on the chosen email and navigate to the Save As tab.
  3. Browse to a specific location to save your imported emails as EML and you will be able to find your emails in the selected folder.

3. Drag & Drop Files into Microsoft Outlook

For this, create a new folder in the Outlook 2019 interface and then drag and drop all the saved EML emails into this particular mailbox folder. All of your emails will start appearing once your files are successfully imported.

After this, you will notice that MS Outlook does not showcase some emails. Unfortunately, there is nothing that you can do about it. The only possible way to open the EML file in Outlook is by right-clicking on it one by one which can take hours.

4. Export Mailboxes into Outlook PST Format

To migrate MBOX files into Outlook PST, users can simply use the native Import/Export feature of Outlook 2019 for this.

  1. Navigate to the File menu and choose Open & Export and then select the Import/Export option.
  2. Then, select the Export to a file option and click on the Next button.
  3. Next, choose Outlook Data File (.pst) and press on the Next tab.
  4. Make sure to select the mailbox folder in which EML files were imported and click on the Next button.
  5. Browse the required destination to export emails and tap on the Finish button.
  6. Lastly, a PST file will be presented at the chosen location.

Try the Ultimate Solution to Import MBOX to Outlook

Apart from these methods, you can actually try an all-in-one software that will help you open MBOX files in Outlook. Speaking of software, we have come across multiple utilities that can be useful in this scenario.

That is why we have made a list of all the best software in the market that can help you import MBOX to Outlook with complete security and associated information.

For this, you can simply check out this blog; Best MBOX to PST Converter Software of All Time. And, then you can easily compare and find yourself the finest software to transfer MBOX emails to Outlook in no time.

Concluding Thoughts 

Even though, importing MBOX to Outlook via free methods may seem great as it does not cost you any money. But, these techniques can consume a lot of time. Also, if any human error occurs in between then there is a high chance of data loss and corruption.

In this article, we have discussed different solutions by which users can easily import MBOX to Outlook without any data loss. Other than that, we have also attached an article that will help you choose the best software to transfer MBOX files to Outlook in no time.