How to Export Google Workspace to MBOX? One Stop Guide
Published: November 22nd, 2025 • 9 Min Read
In companies where Google Workspace is the business environment, industry professionals and IT admins need to export Google Workspace to MBOX.
This is often for Backup, Migration, or compliance needs. MBOX is a preferred format to save data from Google Workspace as it is universally accepted by other email clients like Apple Mail & Thunderbird. And Google MBOX is the native format of export from Google’s official tools, Google Vault, or Takeout.
Although direct methods exist, users face difficulties in selectively or incrementally saving Google Workspace data in MBOX format due to technical and permission-related limitations.
In this guide, we have laid down the exact instructions professionals follow to download Google Workspace emails in MBOX format, both for individuals and Admin users.
Real Scenarios: Why Save Google Workspace as MBOX?
Here is why businesses and individual users need to export Google Workspace to MBOX.
- To create an Offline backup.
- Make legal discovery simpler.
- Migrate selective data to another email client.
- Archive employee’s data after offboarding.
- To get team-specific reports.
- For data recovery in case of a security breach.
- Share data with third parties if needed.
How to Export Google Workspace to MBOX?
There are many official as well as specialized third-party tools available for converting and downloading Google Workspace email data in MBOX files.
The choice of tools varies for admin and user-level accounts, and their specific needs.
Let us explain how to export using each method and tool step-by-step.
Convert Google Workspace to MBOX: Using Google Takeout
Using Google Takeout is a smart, direct, free, and official way to export Google Workspace to MBOX in bulk at an individual level. It lets you to save GWS mailbox data in MBOX file format with labels preserved.
Here are the easy-to-follow instructions to bulk download user mailboxes from Google Workspace in MBOX.
- Open Google Takeout. (https://takeout.google.com/)
- Log in with your Google Workspace account.
- Click on the Deselect All option at the top.
- Choose all the options (email, drive, etc) that you need.
- Press the Next Step button.
- You need to choose File type, destination, and frequency.
- Finally, click on Create Export.
Customization Option in Google Takeout
You get to export Google Workspace to MBOX with Google Takeout.
- Destination: You get options like Download like on Email, directly to One Drive by connecting your account, or to cloud using Dropbox or Google Drive.
- Frequency: Export Once for single file. Or Export every 2 months for 1 year – to split & export files for every 2 months separately.
- File type: ZIP or TGZ
- File Size: 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, 10GB & 50GB – to split files based on size.
Limitations of Google Takeout for Exporting GWS to MBOX
- You may not have required permission to export.
- Extremely slow.
- Not suited for mailboxes above 50GB.
- No filter options available.
- Only suitable for User level and not Admin level.
Export Google Workspace to MBOX Using GWS Admin Console
Google Admin console’s Data Export tool is a built-in way to save Google Workspace data in MBOX format on a Google Cloud Storage bucket.
Here is how you use Admin console’s data export tool to extract GWS data in MBOX format.
- Log in to the GWS admin console with your administrator account. (https://accounts.google.com/v3/signin/)
- Click on the Hamburger Menu.
- Choose Data >> Data Import & Export >> Data Export.
- Click on the Set Up New Export button on the top right.
- Enter a new name for your export (eg, Final 2025)
- You can export all user data or specific user data.
- Then hit the Start Export button.
- Once the export is completed, you can view and download in 2 Ways:
Email: Directly via the download link (ZIP) you received via email.
Admin Console:- Go to Data >> Data Import & Export >> Data Export.
- Click & Open your export (eg, Final 2025).
- Select the Action Option and View Archive.
- Click to export the zip file.
Advantages of Google Admin console’s Data Export tool
- It allows admins to export all users’ data in bulk.
- Enable you to create an export for a specific user based on Groups, Organizational units & users.
- Official & Free Way
Limitations of Google Admin Console to Export Google Workspace to MBOX
- Can take up to 72 hrs; not a quick solution.
- No filter options to sort by date and subject.
- Only works at the admin level.
- It can be technical for beginner users.
- You can only export once a month.
Google Vault to Convert Google Workspace to MBOX
If you have an add-on license of Google Vault, it gives you the option to export Google Workspace to MBOX with better selectivity.
You can extract Google Workspace data in MBOX format, filtered based on from, to, subject, has: attachment, exact phrase, and even exclude certain terms.
Here are the steps to convert Google Workspace to MBOX with Google Vault:
- Open Google Vault (https://vault.google.com).
- Sign in with your admin account.
- Go to Matter >> Press Create and enter a suitable name like (2025exports) >> Create.
- Open your Matter (2025exports).
- Click on the Search tab.
- Choose your service (Gmail) from the drop-down menu.
- Select whether you need to export all account data, specific users’ data, or data of an organizational unit from Google Workspace to MBOX.
- Apply filters like date & search terms given below, if needed be, you can also exclude the drafts
- Press the search button to preview.
- Hit the Save button and name your export (eg, 2025exportsfinal).
- Press Export. Name the export (eg, 2025exportsfinal0.1).
- The Google Workspace data will now be exported to the Google Vault’s Export.
- Go to the exports tab and press Download.
Limitations of Google Vault to Convert GWS Data to MBOX
- Limited options available with only a few Google Workspace licenses.
- Need permission/ access for GWS Matter & Vault from the admin.
- Automatically gets deleted in Vault after 15 days.
- Technically complex
- Time Consuming
- No incremental backup option
Expert-Recommended Way to Export Google Workspace to MBOX
BitRecover Google Workspace Backup Tool is a secure, quick, easy-to-use, and dedicated tool to help save Google Workspace data in MBOX format.
BitRecover Google Workspace to MBOX Export Tool enables you to deal with Google Workspace mailbox data in bulk, both at a user and admin level.
Convert Google Workspace to MBOX without restrictions, limitations, or additional permissions. Chosen by millions of businesses worldwide. Download the tool today. Export Google Workspace to MBOX free of cost with a demo version before purchase.
How to Convert Google Workspace to MBOX? Tool Steps
- Download & Install the Google Workspace to MBOX Export Tool.
- Enter your Google Workspace email ID & Sign in with Google.
- Select GWS email folders you want to export as MBOX.
- From the saving option, choose “MBOX”.
- Press Backup.
How to Export Google Workspace to MBOX as Admin? Using Tool
- Launch the tool after downloading and installing.
- Check the “I am Admin” option.
- Feed your Service account ID and Certificate File path.
- Selectively choose the user mailbox.
- Choose the folder from each used that you export from GWS as MBOX.
- Select MBOX as the saving option.
- Finally, press Backup.
Premium Feature of Google Workspace to MBOX Export Tool
Businesses worldwide choose BitRecover to export Google Workspace to MBOX due to these advanced features:
- Highly secure, keeps your data local, and follows GDPR & CCPA data security regulations.
- Advanced algorithms to convert Google Workspace to MBOX quickly.
- A one-stop shop for GWS users and administrators.
- Easy to use; can be easily run by non-technical individuals. Extremely simple to set up.
- Delta Backup feature that only saves new Google Workspace emails in MBOX.
- Custom filters to backup GWS to MBOX based on date, sender, receiver, and specific keywords.
- Export Google Workspace data to MBOX with attachments, folder structure, signatures, and formatting.
- Lightweight software, compatible with both Mac & Windows.
- 24/7 Tech support available to convert Google Workspace to MBOX in bulk.
Conclusion
We hope that now you can export Google Workspace to MBOX without any problems.
Google’s tools like Takeout, Vault, and Admin console are free and a native option. GWS users find this option to be limiting and complicated.
Which is why a dedicated Google Workspace to MBOX Export Tool is chosen and trusted by both industry experts and end users.
Get the tool today. If you need more help. Connect with our expert tech support team through the live chat option.
FAQs: Export Google Workspace to MBOX
Q1: How do I export all my Google Workspace emails in MBOX?
You can extract GWS emails to MBOX using the Google Workspace Admin Console or Vault, as an admin. Or use Google Takeout for a user-level export. You can also choose specialized software for the custom export feature and to automate the GWS to MBOX export process.
Q2: What is Google MBOX?
Google MBOX is the saving file format in which Google prefers to export the data. This format contains an email body, attachment, and header as a single unit. Generated by Google Takeout, Vault, and Admin Console’s export tool.
Q3: Can the Tool back up GWS emails to MBOX with contact and attachments?
Yes! With BitRecover’s Tool, you can export Google Workspace to MBOX with attachments, Contacts, Signature, and Header.
Q4: Can I filter users and labels for each user with the tool?
Yes, the tool enables you to filter data based on the user. You can choose the labels you need to export and sort them based on date, search keyword, and even sender & receivers.