Methods to Import MBOX to Zoho Mail Client: 2025 Guide
Published: October 3rd, 2025 • 10 Min Read
Overview: In this blog, we will be covering all the methods that help users import MBOX into Zoho. The blog will be covering step-by-step procedures to import mbox to Zoho Mail. Additionally, the article also covers the reasons why users want to import MBOX files into the Zoho email client.
Zoho Mail: Zoho Mail is a secure and business-focused email client made by the Indian company named “Zoho Corporation”. The client is a cloud-based email client that offers very secure features and business tools focused on business users. The email client has various pricing plans.
MBOX format: MBOX or Mailbox is a file format used for storing email messages. It saves many email conversions and attachments under a .mbox file. The MBOX format is used by many email clients like Apple Mail, Mozilla Thunderbird, etc.
The blog covers manual as well as industry-standard approaches to the tools. The benefits and drawbacks that the approaches bring with them. Stick with us to successfully import your mbox data into the Zoho email client.
Reasons to Import MBOX to Zoho Mail
- Switch to more secure mail: The Zoho mail client is very secure compared to other email clients. The client requires multiple authentications to change any settings or profile changes. Security features like app-generated passwords, one auth app for mobile access, etc, make it much more secure.
- Backup revival: To access past mail MBOX backups, users might want to access has to import them into an email client. Zoho provides the best option as the client is suited to import MBOX to Zoho Mail. It’s secure, business tools, and excellent admin control options.
- Cloud-based: If users want to add their MBOX files to a cloud-based software, then using Zoho is a good option. The cloud integration works on an IMAP setting used by email clients like Gmail. Additionally, using a base client makes it more friendly.
- Business tool integration: The tool is also integrated with business tools, helping business users to integrate their MBOX files in the Zoho client.
Things to Remember Before Importing
Zoho Mail is extremely particular about its security, so here are the steps you need to follow before you start adding a Zoho account to Thunderbird. Here are the things to remember:
Enable IMAP setting
IMAP is the server on which Zoho and many other mail clients store their email. IMAP is very secure and syncs emails to other devices and emails rapidly.
- Reach “setting” in the top right section>>> “mail accounts” under the mail section
- Once there, click on IMAP and enable “IMAP Access”. Generate an app password
profile>>> my account - Once there, go to Security>>>> App password>>>>> generate new password.
- Enter any name and copy the password.
Generate an App Password
App passwords are one of the security measures used by Zoho to provide different passwords to log in to different clients, all operable from the Zoho mail client.
- Go to your profile>>> my account.
- Once there, reach Security tab>>>> App password>>>>> generate new password.
- Enter any name and copy the password.
Thunderbird is Not Able to Fetch Details
IMAP has various IMAP port numbers and IMAP host IDs. If Thunderbird is not automatically able to receive details, then use the method to validate your details from the Zoho email client.
- Open zoho>>> setting>>>”mail accounts” under mail section>>>> click on IMAP.
- From the table, copy the IMAP configuration setting.
- Add those details in Thunderbird accordingly.
- Finally, enter the password generated using the App-password setting of Zoho (refer to the “ Generate an app password” section of the blog)
- Your account will be added to your Thunderbird.
Method #1: Import by Adding an Account to Thunderbird
Alternatively using we can also connect our Zoho mail to Thunderbird, which will allow us to import MBOX files from multiple accounts connected to Thunderbird.
- Open the Mozilla Thunderbird email client on your system.
- Add to settings>>>> “Account setting”>>>>>“+New Account “ on top section>>> “add mail account”
- Enter your details like “email address” and any custom name.
- Click on continue, Thunderbird will automatically detect your server settings. If not, refer to the “ Thunderbird is not able to fetch details” section of the blog.
- Enter your app-generated password, which you generated using Zoho (refer to the “ Generate an app password” section of the blog)
- Your account will be added to your Thunderbird account after entering the details successfully.
- Create a new folder under your Zoho Mail section.
- Drag your MBOX files and drop the entire folder you file in the Zoho Mail folders.
- Your files will sync and be added to your Zoho account. You can also configure them in the Zoho client.
Note: The procedure requires a high technical knowledge to follow and can be a hassle for beginners. Additionally, Zoho Mail requires users to set up additional settings to connect Zoho to Thunderbird. If not done correctly can cause frustration and confusion among users.
Method #2: Import MBOX to Zoho Mail Using Thunderbird Import/Export
The valid format accepted by Zoho Mail is EML. So, we require converting them from MBOX to EML using a MBOX-based email. We will be using Mozilla Thunderbird.
2.1: Convert Email Files to EML Format
- Open Thunderbird email client.
- Log in through any email client or use an email with data you want to convert.
- Add “ImportExportNG” addon, from settings>>>> add-ons and themes.
- Create a new folder or use an existing folder, right-click on the folder>>>> ImportExportNG>>>Import MBOX files>>> Individual MBOX file.
- Locate your file you want to import and click “Open”.
- Your files will be saved in the folder you selected.
2.2: Import MBOX to Zoho Using Mozilla Thunderbird
- Once imported the we need to export these files from the Thunderbird client in EML format. It’s better to create a folder first to save your files.
- Select the folder with your data that you want to convert.
- Right-click on the folder >>>> ImportExportTools NG>>>>> Export All Messages in Folder>>>>EML message format>>>>Messages and HTML Index. Make sure you select the folder with the data, not the root or parent folder.
- Browse the location you want to save your data into and click “Select folder”.
- Your data will be converted to EML format.
2.3: Import into Zoho Email Client
- Log in to your Zoho email client.
- After login, go to settings>>> “Import/Export Emails” under mail option>>>> Import from EML.
- If you have a single file, select it directly. If you have multiple files, compress them into .zip files first, then select the files.
- Select the file or Zip accordingly from the browsing window.
- Wait for a couple of minutes, then reload the client or restart the software to see if your data is imported.
Note: This method is not able to import MBOX files directly into Zoho Mail. Additionally, the procedure includes installation of Thunderbird and a plugin which makes the procedure extremely dependent and can lead to data loss and other errors due to the use of 3rd third-party applications.
Drawbacks of Using Manual Approach
- Complicated Approach: Using the manual method is very complicated, as it involves various steps and phases to configure, which will be much effort time-consuming. Additionally, any confusion can cause an unsuccessful conversion of data.
- Require technical knowledge: The method requires users to understand technical details like IMAP and server settings to be able to import MBOX to Zoho Mail efficiently.
- No direct method for MBOX files: This method does not follow a direct method to Import MBOX to Zoho Mail, and does follow a direct method to import MBOX to Zoho Mail.
- Time-consuming: The method is very time-consuming and effort-intensive. Additionally, importing from Thunderbird will take a lot of time if the files are large in size. Plus, issues like freezing and crashing are also inevitable.
Reliable MBOX to Zoho Converter
As we already noted, the complexity to Import MBOX to Zoho Mail using the indirect method and the time it takes to convert. That is why these methods are not used on an industrial level or by experts. Experts always rely on industrial standard methods like BitRecover MBOX Converter to meet all their conversion needs.
The solution is not only is best to import MBOX to Zoho mail but also offers 30+ formats export options. Additionally, the tool is designed with a simple-to-understand user interface, helping users understand every step and feature hassle-free. Plus, if you are a first-time user, you can also download the free demo edition from the link mentioned below to verify the efficiency of the tool
Method #3: Industrial-Standard Approach to Import MBOX to Zoho Mail.
- Install the application on your systems and launch it.
- Select your individual MBOX file or entire folder with MBOX files.
- Verify your files and uncheck if any are not required.
- Now, select the “IMAP” option as your “Select Saving Option”.
- Select “IMAP Host” and “IMAP Port No.” (refer “enabling IMAP setting” section).
- Select the advanced filter option if required to separate data.
- When done, click Convert from the “saving option” tab.
- The files will be imported directly into Zoho files.
Benefits of Using a Professional Approach
- Large file migration: The tool is able to migrate files in bulk and helps users import large files into Zoho Mail efficiently. The tool follows a no file size restriction compatibility.
- Direct importation: Using the tool, users can import their files directly to Zoho Mail without going through phases like converting them to EML or connecting Zoho to any other email client.
- Easy-to-follow: The tool is designed to be simple and helps users conversion process is easy to follow and helps users import MBOX to Zoho Mail easily without going through a complex procedure.
- Time-efficient method: The easy-to-follow method helps users import MBOX to Zoho Mail, as the tool’s procedure is easy to follow and also has bulk compatibility, meaning users can import multiple files at once without repeating the process for every file.
- Advance filters: The advance filter option helps users segregate their MBOX on the basis of different parameters like date ranges, subject, sender information, and recipient details. This helps users segregate and organise their data on the basis of different segregated files.
- Independent utility: The tool stands as an independent tool. This means the tool does not require any 3rd party applications or plugins to run or use any of its features.
Conclusions
Hope this blog will help you to understand the entire solution to import MBOX to Zoho Mail and help you also understand the problems users may face during the importation, and the reasons to import MBOX files to the Zoho Mail client. We have tried to explain the entire solution in the easiest-to-follow way possible.