The MBOX file format is widely used by many leading email clients, including Mozilla Thunderbird, Apple Mail, and Opera Mail, to store email data. However, when it comes to Microsoft Outlook, the MBOX format is not supported natively. If you’re looking for a way to view MBOX files in Windows Outlook, this guide will walk you through the two primary methods: a manual way and an automated way using third-party software.
Let’s dive into these methods and explore the best options available for you.
What is MBOX and Why Doesn’t Outlook Support It?
Before we dive into the methods, let’s briefly review the technical aspects.
- MBOX (Mailbox Format) is a file format that stores email messages, typically used by several open-source email clients like Thunderbird and Apple Mail. MBOX files store all messages of a mailbox in a single text file, making it easy to manage and transfer email data across different platforms.
- PST (Personal Storage Table) is the format that Microsoft Outlook uses to store emails, contacts, calendar entries, and other data. Outlook does not directly support the MBOX format, which is why you need to convert or import MBOX data using other methods.
If you are an IT professional managing email migration for your organization, you might need to consider these methods for seamless transfer from MBOX-based email clients to Outlook.
Ways to View MBOX Files in Windows Outlook?
There are two ways to view MBOX file in Windows Outlook.
1. Manual Way
You need to first import the MBOX file into an MBOX-based application, such as Mozilla Thunderbird and then create a dummy Gmail account to transfer the MBOX data to Windows Outlook. Follow these steps:
- Install Mozilla Thunderbird on your system and create a new account.
- After the account is set up, right-click Local Folders.
- In the menu that opens, click Settings.
- In the window that opens, click the Browse button and provide the location of the MBOX file’s folder.
- Restart Thunderbird. The folders saved in the MBOX file will be displayed under the Local Folders tab.
- Create a dummy Gmail account and then setup the account in Thunderbird.
- Drag and drop the MBOX emails from the Local Folders tab to a folder in the Gmail mailbox.
- After copying all the emails from MBOX to Gmail, close Thunderbird.
- Open Microsoft Outlook on your system and set up the same Gmail account you used earlier. Wait for the application to download your emails from Google’s server.
2. Automated Way
You can use a third-party MBOX to PST converter tool, such as Stellar Converter for MBOX to convert the MBOX files into PST. It is also the best MBOX viewer and converter tool to convert MBOX files of popular email clients, such as Google Takeout, Thunderbird, Apple Mail, Opera Mail, etc.
Following are some best features of Stellar Converter for MBOX:
- Converts single or multiple MBOX files to PST
- Saves MBOX data in RTF, PDF, and HTML formats (Technician edition)
- Previews MBOX mailbox before saving the data in the desired format
- Saves MBOX data in a new or existing Outlook data file
- Supports all popular MBOX-based email clients, such as Apple Mail, Thunderbird, Eudora, SeaMonkey, Netscape, etc.
- Exports MBOX data to an Office 365 account directly (Technician edition)
Follow these steps to convert MBOX to PST with Stellar Converter for MBOX:
- Open the application and select the email client that created the MBOX file. For instance, if the MBOX file was generated by Apple Mail, then select Apple Mail in the list. Then click the Select File button and provide the MBOX file’s location on your system.
- After selecting the MBOX file, click the Convert button. Wait for the program to complete the conversion process. When the process is complete, the software will display the contents of the MBOX file in a three-pane window.
- Inspect the mailbox items in the preview window and select those that you want to convert to Outlook data file (PST).
- After selecting the MBOX items, click the Save Converted File button under the Home tab.
- In the window that opens, select the option New PST and click Next.
- Provide a location for saving the PST file and click the OK button.
Which Method is Better?
Manual Method:
- Best for those with smaller amounts of data who prefer a free, albeit time-consuming, solution.
- Requires technical knowledge to set up Thunderbird and Gmail accounts.
Automated Method (Stellar Converter for MBOX):
- Best for users with large amounts of data or those who want a quicker and more efficient solution.
- May incur a cost, but provides professional-grade results and supports batch conversions.
- Reduces human error and offers additional features like exporting to Office 365.
Conclusion
Viewing MBOX files in Windows Outlook can be a challenge due to the lack of native support for the MBOX format. By following the manual steps involving Mozilla Thunderbird and Gmail, or using an third party tool like Stellar Converter for MBOX, you can easily transfer MBOX files to Outlook. The manual method is free but requires more time and technical expertise, while the third party tool is much faster and more user-friendly.
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