How to Export Outlook Email to MBOX? Using Simple Ways!

Rollins Duke
Published: January 7th, 2026 • 7 Min Read

Are you looking for a compatible solution to export Outlook email to MBOX? Don’t worry, you’ve come to the right page. Many people around the world use Outlook to send and receive important emails daily. However, when users want to keep a backup or want to archive their emails for a long time, they look to export Outlook to MBOX. In this blog, we discussed step-by- step three manual and professional methods to export Outlook email to MBOX format.

The three manual methods discussed in this blog are:

Thunderbird Method: Using Thunderbird to export Outlook email to MBOX.
Mac Outlook Method: Export emails directly from Outlook for Mac to MBOX format.
Google Takeout Method: The use of Google Takeout to convert Outlook emails to MBOX.

What Is Outlook and MBOX Format?

Outlook is an email client that is a part of the Microsoft Office Suite family. MS Outlook allows you to send and receive email messages. Business professionals also use Outlook to manage emails, contacts, calendars, tasks, notes, to-do lists, journals, etc. MS Outlook permits the export of its complete data in PST (personal storage table) format. Outlook creates a separate file for each configured email account.

MBOX is a standard file extension to store multiple emails. A lot of email clients and cloud-based email services support MBOX formats such as Mac Mail, Thunderbird, Eudora, SeaMonkey, PowerMail, PocoMail, Mulberry, Evolution, etc. These mentioned email clients export each email folder in a separate MBOX file such as Inbox.mbox, Sent.mbox, Drafts.mbox, etc.

Manual Methods to Export Outlook Email to MBOX

We have discussed three different manual methods, and users can take the help of any of them, let us understand each of them in detail, in the next section.

Convert Outlook to MBOX Format using Thunderbird

Start Thunderbird and choose an option to display Thunderbird menu.
Next, open the drop down menu and select Tools, then choose the Import option.
Now choose Import Everything or Mail option and hit Next button.
Next, select Outlook as a file type that you would like to import.
Browse Outlook data file and click Finish to start importing data.
Now restart your Thunderbird and right-click on a folder, after that, select ImportExportTools >> Export Folder
Choose a specific folder to save resultant MBOX file.
Click Select Folder to export MBOX file from Thunderbird

Read More: Tips to Backup Outlook Contacts to External Hard Drive

Export Outlook Mail to MBOX File Using Mac Outlook

First, export the file from Windows Outlook.
Launch Mac Outlook on your Mac Machine.
Afterward, select File >> Import option.
Check Outlook for Windows Archive file and click Continue.
Browse Windows Outlook exported file and hit Import.
Your data has been imported, press Finish.
See imported data in the On My Computer folder of Mac Outlook.
Finally, drag and drop your imported data onto your desktop and save it in MBOX format.

Also Read: Expert Choice to Save Outlook Email as MSG File

Export Outlook Email to MBOX using GWMMO & Takeout

Download, install, and run GWMMO, then sign in to your Gmail account using credentials.
Next, choose the From PST File(s) option to upload data.
Enable required items to import and click Migrate.
Import Outlook folders to Gmail process is running, after successful completion press OK.
Thereafter, you can see imported data in your Gmail account.
Open Google Takeout using Gmail login details and choose the Deselect All option as shown.
Next, select Mail and other items to export.
Choose the destination as Send download link via email.
Set Frequency, file type, and size and choose Create Export.
Now Takeout is creating a copy of your data, please wait.

Last, you will receive a link to download data in MBOX format.

Limitations of Using the Manual Methods

All the manual methods described above are time-consuming and not easy for non-tech users to complete the process to convert Outlook to MBOX format easily and effectively. Also, your Outlook mailbox data contains a lot of information in the form of attachments and thus its size increases over time, therefore, to convert it into MBOX format using the manual methods without any data loss can be very challenging.

However, to export Outlook emails to MBOX easily, you need to try an expert-recommended professional tool, which we have discussed in detail below.

Export Outlook Email to MBOX Format Using Software

PST to MBOX Converter is a fully automated solution to export Outlook emails to MBOX mailboxes. The tool automatically uploads Outlook profile data in the software panel from a default storage location. This software supports MS Outlook 2021, 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007, 2003, 2002, 2000, 98, and 97 versions. It is also compatible with orphaned Outlook files, and it works without MS Outlook.

Download the trial version of this software and export 25 emails to MBOX for free. If you are satisfied with the results of the trial version, you can also go with its licensed version.

Moreover, this tool also permits to export Outlook contacts to vCard and CSV formats if someone specifically wants to export contacts.

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Quick Steps to Convert Outlook to MBOX

Start the suggested tool and add Outlook data automatically.
Select all or specific email folders and press Next.
Next, choose MBOX as a preferred saving option.
Enable advance filter to export selective Outlook mails.
Click Convert button to export Outlook emails to MBOX.
Outlook to MBOX export process has been finished successfully.
Last, the software will open destination folder to get resultant MBOX.

Why Choose Software Instead of Manual Methods?

This is a standalone utility that does not require any other application to perform this task.
The tool also gives an option to export Outlook contacts to CSV and VCF file extensions separately.
Advance filters are available to export Outlook email to MBOX format by date range, specific email subject, and email address.
It creates separate MBOX files for each Outlook folder by maintaining the folder hierarchy.
Extract Outlook 2021, 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, and 2007 emails to the MBOX file extension without reporting any error message.
Users can check or un check required folders to extract them in MBOX file format accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q 1: How do I export Outlook to MBOX manually?

You can follow the instructions mentioned above to export Outlook to MBOX format manually. However, this is mandatory to use several third-party programs to perform this task as Thunderbird, Mac Outlook, GWMMO, and Google Takeout.

Q 2: Is there any direct option available to extract Outlook emails to MBOX?

MS Outlook does not provide any direct option to extract emails in MBOX extension.

Q 3: Can I download your software on Windows Server 2022?

Yes, this software is suitable to work with the latest Windows and Mac Operating Systems.

Q 4: How to export PST file from Outlook client?

Follow these instructions:

Run Outlook client and click on File.
Select Open & Export >> Import/Export.
Choose Export to a file and hit the Next button.
Pick Outlook Data File and press Next.
Next, check the required Outlook folders to export.
Set the destination location and click Finish.

Final Thoughts

We have explained the best expert-recommended techniques to export Outlook email to MBOX using manual and professional approaches. You will need to follow multiple stages to extract Outlook folders to MBOX manually. Suggested software is a standalone utility to complete this task without using any supportive program. We have tested all methods under BitRecover lab, all methods work successfully.