How to Backup Zimbra Email Securely? Top 5 Ways

  Rollins Duke
Rollins Duke   
Published: October 6th, 2025 • 9 Min Read

Overview: In this article, we will cover how to backup Zimbra email safely and efficiently with attachments. You’ll explore different ways to backup and restore Zimbra mail server including manual and automated solutions with proper step-by-step guide. The professional Zimbra backup tool will help you for a quick and reliable Zimbra mail backup and restore process. Let’s start.

Looking for a complete solution to securely backup Zimbra mailbox? You are at the right place. This guide has everything you need to know about Zimbra email backup. Many users face the same issue and are concerned in the rising digital environment as the Zimbra cloud, desktop and mail server have become essential platforms in terms of managing emails, contacts and calendars. That is why learning how to backup Zimbra mail server is crucial.

If we talk about open-source platforms, then the Zimbra mail server and ZCS (Zimbra Collaboration Suite) are widely adopted email servers by users. However, due to safety and data corruption issues, individuals tend to backup Zimbra emails in various standard file extensions according to their needs.

Why Backup Zimbra Email?

Many Zimbra users realize the importance of Zimbra mail backup when they lose something or face any error. To avoid these situations, it is recommended to backup and restore Zimbra mail server regularly.

Here we have mentioned some of the most common pain points that push users to backup Zimbra mailbox emails.

  • One of the biggest concerns is fear of losing important emails when the Zimbra mail server gets corrupted or crashes. A proper Zimbra mail backup should be there to safeguard data even in the worst case scenarios.
  • Backup Zimbra email accounts in file format like PDF or PST to easily view emails in offline mode.
  • Many users move from Zimbra to another platform, to ensure no data including messages and attachments are lost during migration, backup Zimbra all mailboxes becomes crucial.
  • Zimbra users often face mailbox size limit exceeded issues that affect their performance. To fix this, Zimbra inbox download or save email Zimbra locally ensure having space and old emails accessible.
  • Last but not the least, having a secure backup Zimbra email helps users in investigations and legal compliances.

Manual Solutions to Backup Zimbra Mailbox

BitRecover experts have successfully explored several methods to backup Zimbra mail server data. We have complete backup solutions for Zimbra desktop, cloud, and server editions. Here, you will also get freeware manual methods to backup Zimbra open-source email messages.

Zimbra Backup All Mailboxes from Cloud & Server Accounts

Follow the below guide properly to avoid any hindrance and effortlessly backup Zimbra email account.

Method 1: Manual Steps to Download Cloud Zimbra

  1. Sign in to the Zimbra Cloud account using your login details.

    Backup Zimbra emails

  2. Select a folder to take Zimbra email backup. Right-click on the folder and choose the Export option.
    Select a folder
  3. The Zimbra mail backup has downloaded successfully.zimbra emails downloaded
  4. Go to the download folder and see the downloaded Zimbra backup in the Zipped TGZ format.
    Zimbra backup
  5. Thereafter, right-click on the zipped TGZ file and choose the Extract Here option.
    extract tgz data
  6. Now, you can get the Zimbra cloud email folder.
    zimbra email backup folder
  7. Open the folder and see Zimbra emails successfully downloaded into EML files with separate meta files.
    backup zimbra email

Benefits and Limitations: The manual method is capable to take backup Zimbra mail server emails free of cost. However, it comes with some limitations. This technique allows to backup Zimbra user account data in standard EML files while some users may want to download Zimbra emails in other file extensions. This is also a time-consuming method that allows to backup Zimbra folder one by one.

Method 2: Zimbra Backup Tool to Quickly Backup Zimbra Email

Download BitRecover Email Backup Software for your Windows & Mac OS computer. The tool has a separate option to backup Zimbra cloud emails into various file extensions. Therefore, it is also known as the Zimbra Backup Tool.

There is a plethora of users frequently asking us how to backup Zimbra mail server emails. You can use the free demo version of this software to take the backup of Zimbra mail server emails. This will help you understand the tool’s functionality and its amazing features. Once you are completely satisfied with the application, then purchase the license keys.

This Zimbra mail server cloud email backup solution will help you during data corruption issues. Whenever you are unable to reach your mail server user account, you can easily backup Zimbra mail server using the mentioned application.

  1. Choose Zimbra Cloud and enter credentials >> press Login.

    zimbra backup tool

  2. Select required or all email folders according to your need.

    select folders

  3. Select the desired saving option from Select Saving Option.

    select format

  4. Use Advance Filter options to backup specific Zimbra emails.

    backup zimbra open source emails

  5. Apply the file naming option to manage resultant data.

    file naming option

  6. Use Browse icon to select the desired path as per your choice.

    location to backup Zimbra emails

  7. Click the Backup button to start the Zimbra email backup process.

    backup zimbra emails

  8. Zimbra emails have been downloaded successfully. You can see the popup message of completion.successfully completed Zimbra backup
  9. The software will automatically open the folder containing the resultant data in the selected format.Zimbra backup

Zimbra Backup Software – Top Benefits

The Zimbra mailbox backup solution holds many benefits for the users. You can go through them one by one in this section of the blog:

  • Get Data on the New Server – The software provides a direct option to backup Zimbra to another server. You can move your Zimbra mail account to Office 365, G Suite, Gmail, Yahoo, Exchange Server, Rediffmail, Outlook.com, etc.
  • Download as Document Format – Take the help of tool to save all emails in document formats. With this tool, you can backup Zimbra mail server cloud emails to DOC, RTF, MHT, PDF, HTML, and many more.
  • Save Zimbra Emails to Hard Drive You can avail maximum benefits from this application as it enables users to download multiple Zimbra mail server databases. The tool provides many saving options such as Outlook, Thunderbird, Windows Live Mail, and Lotus Notes.
  • Simple and Consistent Interface – The software has an easy-to-understand interface. Any technical or novice user can access it to backup Zimbra mail server emails and file formats.
  • Avail Advance Filter Options – A user can also selectively take a backup of Zimbra mail server cloud emails with the advance filter options. With these options, you can sort out your mail server database as per date range, email address, subject, To, From, etc.

Read Also – Solution to Convert Zimbra to Outlook

Backup Zimbra Mailbox from Desktop Account

Both Manual and Professional Methods are mentioned below in detail. Read all the information and steps carefully first and then choose the method which suits your needs best.

Method 1: Manual Methods to Backup Zimbra Emails

Easiest Steps to Take Backup of Zimbra Mailbox.

  1. Start the Zimbra desktop email client.
  2. Choose the Preferences button from the top.

    Preferences button

  3. Select the Import / Export option.

    Import / Export option

  4. Choose the folder that you want to back up.

    Export option

  5. Check Advanced settings to backup Zimbra selected data.
  6. Click the Export button and then press the OK button to continue.

    Export button

  7. Browse to the destination path and hit the Save button.
  8. After that, Zimbra emails will be downloaded in the TGZ file format.
  9. Extract the zipped TGZ file data in EML files.

Benefits and Limitations: This is a 100% freeware method to backup Zimbra desktop emails. But this technique allows to take the backup of Zimbra desktop data into EML file extension only. Therefore, if you want to download Zimbra desktop mailboxes in other formats, then it is not possible.

Method 2: Professional Method for Desktop Zimbra Email Backup

Here are the steps you will need to take the backup of the Zimbra account. But, before moving toward the steps, please download the free demo version of Zimbra TGZ Converter. It permits to backup Zimbra emails to a PC with some file limitations. For unlimited backup, buy the license keys. The tool is compatible with Zimbra-exported zipped TGZ files.

Download Now Purchase Now

  1. First of all, launch it on any Windows machine and read the full guidelines given in the tool.

    Zimbra Email Backup

  2. Now, choose either ‘Select Folder’ or ‘Select files’ option to upload Zimbra emails into GUI.

    upload zimbra data

  3. Enable the desired Zimbra desktop email folders for which you wish to take Zimbra email backup.
    backup zimbra user account
  4. Thereafter, pick any file-saving option from the software.zimbra backup option
  5. Specify the desired destination location to which you want to take Zimbra mailbox backup.
    select location
  6. Setup file naming options for managing the email data. Hit the Next tab to start taking the backup of Zimbra mail on local PC.
    file naming option
  7. The process to backup Zimbra desktop emails is running in the software. It will take some time to get finished. Once it is done, the application will give a completion message.backup Zimbra desktop emails
  8. Lastly, Zimbra backup tool will open the destination path. You can access your Zimbra email backup data in the selected file extension.
    output

The Above Mentioned Tool Features

Zimbra backup tool is here to help with your Zimbra mailbox needs. One can use this software to backup Zimbra desktop emails to multiple file formats. It is programmed in such a manner that you can backup multiple Zimbra email databases to webmail like Office 365 and email clients such as Thunderbird. Take the help of this wizard to backup bulk Zimbra emails to different platforms as per your needs.

Take a glance at some important features of the software:

  • It allows you to backup single or multiple Zimbra desktop local folders
  • You can selectively backup Zimbra mailbox to the local storage.
  • You can access this software on any Windows OS without any difficulty.
  • Free demo version is available for evaluation purposes.
  • No external installation of any other application is required for the backup process.
  • You can take a backup of Zimbra email account in batch to save time and effort.
Guide Explained

In this article, we have explained a step-by-step workaround to backup Zimbra email. In addition, three different automated Zimbra Backup Tools allow you to take the backup of Zimbra mail server without any bugs or errors.

Also, if you are looking to backup Zimbra mail server, this utility is very beneficial for you. The free demo version allows you to analyze the tool’s functions efficiently. So, what you are waiting for? Quickly download the recommended Zimbra server backup solution now!


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