Best Methods to Convert EMLX to MBOX: Easy Steps

  •   Written By
     
  • Updated on
    September 30th, 2025
  • Read Time
    5 minutes
Introduction: EMLX files store individual emails in Apple Mail. When switching to Thunderbird or other email clients, EMLX is not supported directly, which can create difficulties in accessing your old emails. Deleting or leaving them behind is risky if they contain important messages. This blog will assist users with the process to convert EMLX to MBOX safely. Besides the manual method, users can use the professional EMLX Converter Tool for a faster and effortless solution.
User Query: I have thousands of emails saved in EMLX files from Apple Mail. Now, I want them to be accessible on my Thunderbird account, but it doesn’t support EMLX directly. Therefore, how can I convert my EMLX files to MBOX safely without losing any data?

Valid Reasons to Export EMLX Files to MBOX?

EMLX files cannot be directly imported into Thunderbird. Hence, it’s best to convert them into MBOX to help users:

  • Access their emails in Thunderbird or other MBOX-supported clients.
  • Preserve their mails, attachments, and folder structure like the original data.
  • Organize users’ old messages in one place for easy access.
  • Free up Apple Mail while keeping your important emails safe.

Several Ways to Convert EMLX to MBOX

Here, we are going to discuss the best available conversion methods, without any 

  • Manual Method: It’s Free, but requires careful steps and works for smaller batches.
  • Automatic Tool: Comparatively, faster, secure, and preserves email integrity.

Manual Methods to Save EMLX to MBOX

In this method, we will use Apple Mail email client to Export to MBOX format. This method uses Apple Mail to convert EMLX to MBOX. Here are the steps to manually convert EMLX files:

  1. Initially, launch the Apple Mail application on your Mac.
  2. After that, browse and select the folder that contains your EMLX files.
  3. Further, go to the File tab > and choose Export Mailbox.
  4. Then, choose the saving destination folder to save the exported MBOX file.
  5. Finally, click Save.

Users can open Thunderbird on their system and import the MBOX via ImportExportTools NG > Import.

Limitations of the Manual Method

  • Conversion of folders in large batches can be time-consuming.
  • The conversion does not guarantee that the folder structure will be maintained.
  • Attachments could be lost in some cases while the user export EMLX files to MBOX.
  • The method requires technical knowledge to identify file locations.
  • If once emails are deleted during the conversion, one can’t recover deleted emails.

Professional Tool to Convert EMLX to MBOX

To handle the limitations of manual methods, it’s better to use a dedicated MacSonik EMLX Converter Tool. This tool ensures that every email has its attachments and metadata fully preserved without any loss. Apart from this, users have the option to choose and convert EMLX to PST and other file formats and email clients.

Steps To Convert EMLX Files With the Tool

  1. First, download and run the converter software on your computer.
  2. Then, browse and open your EMLX files or folder into the tool, and then click Next.
  3. After that, preview and select your desired emails or folder and click Next.
  4. Further, choose MBOX as the saving format and apply filters on your selection if needed.
  5. Finally, click Start Process and wait for the conversion to finish.

Why Choose the EMLX Converter Tool?

Feature Details
Advanced Features Preview emails, remove duplicates, apply date filter, and more. Also supports migration of EMLX to Office 365 and other email clients.
One-Time Service Get a customized and cost-effective EMLX conversion service from our technical support team. No need to install the tool.
Free Demo Version A free demo version is available to explore features and functionality. Fully compatible with all versions.

Conclusion

Conversion of the EMLX file to MBOX is the safest method to access your email messages in Thunderbird. Therefore, users look for easy methods to convert their EMLX files. While manual methods may work for small numbers of emails, it has limitations and potential drawbacks. Therefore, a professional EMLX Converter Tool is the fastest, safest, and most reliable option to convert EMLX to MBOX. The tool makes sure that nothing is lost in your mailbox, not even your attachments. Additionally, providing special features to remove duplicates, allow selective imports based on dates, and more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Can I convert EMLX to MBOX manually?

Ans: Yes, you can use Apple Mail’s export option or drag-and-drop emails into Thunderbird. But these methods work best for smaller sets of emails. For larger data, manual steps can be time-consuming and risky.

Q2. Will attachments be saved during conversion?

Ans: Manual methods may sometimes skip attachments. If you want to make sure all attachments are preserved, it’s better to use a professional MacSonik EMLX to MBOX converter tool.

Q3. Is it safe to use third-party tools for conversion?

Ans: Yes, trusted tools are safe and designed to preserve your data. They keep your email formatting, folder structure, and attachments intact. Always download from an official source.

About The Author

Abhishek Singh is a Technical Content Writer at Aryson Technologies, where he specializes in creating clear and insightful content on data migration, email management, and file recovery solutions. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for simplifying complex technical concepts, he helps users understand and navigate advanced software tools with ease.

Related Post