How to Open Google Takeout Files | Your Comprehensive Guide

How Do I Access Google Takeout Files?

Google Takeout has a lot of data that you can access with an appropriate client after unzipping the archived files. To find out how to read Google Takeout files, go through the manual methods below. Alternatively, a professional tool is discussed at the end to overcome the challenges you may face with the manual methods.

View Google Takeout Files Manually

Have you ever wondered how to save a copy of your Gmail and other Google services data on the system? Thought about how to swiftly access it? If yes, then follow these how to open Google Takeout files steps:

1. Log in to Google Takeout on the browser of your choice.
2. Then, you will find a list of services. Press Deselect All to uncheck everything.
3. Further, scroll down to opt for the services you want to export to access.
4. Click Next Step and choose the ZIP format to download the data.
5. Afterward, set the Frequency to Export Once and select a file size.
6. Select the destination to Send the download link via Gmail and hit Create Export.
7. Once the export is complete, Google will send a link to the respective Gmail.
8. After that, press the link to download the .zip file on your system.
9. Go to the folder location where the extracted Takeoout file is downloaded.
10. Now, right-click it, press Extract All, and choose a destination to save it.
11. Finally, hit the Extract button on your Windows to open the data.

This is the native manual method to download and access Google Takeout data.

How to Open Google Takeout Files: Alternative Free Solution

Once you have extracted the Takeout files on the computer, they are in different formats. Like Gmail emails are in MBOX, contacts in VCF or CSV, Images in JPEG or PNG, and so on. Another way to access them on Windows/Mac OS is via email clients. To do so, go through the following steps mentioned here.

How to Open Takeout Files for Windows?

1. Sign in to an MBOX-compatible email client like Thunderbird.
2. Go to More menu and from Add-ons and Themes section, add ImportExportTools NG to your profile.
3. After that, restart the application and right-click on any folder you want to access the Takeout data.
4. Next, click ImportExportTools NG and opt for Import MBOX Files.
5. Subsequently, press Individual MBOX Files and select the extracted Google Takeout file.
6. Finally, hit Open to access the data on the PC.

How to Open Google Takeout Files for Mac?

1. Start the Apple Mail application on your Mac OS and go to the File tab.
2. There, press the Import Mailboxes option from the list.
3. Next, press Files in MBOX Format and hit Continue to proceed.
4. Further, select the Google Takeout extracted file and click Choose.
5. Apple Mail will initiate the import. Once it completes, press Done.
6. In the end, view your Gmail emails within the Import Folder in Apple Mail.

Shortcomings of the Manual Methods

The methods are free but have these cons that make it difficult for users to prefer these solutions.

• The process is time-consuming, and there are restrictions on file size.
• Several applications are needed to open specific data individually.
• Chances of compromised data formatting and integrity during extraction.
• Not suitable for bulk files as each file needs to be added and viewed separately.

How to Open Google Takeout Files Professionally?

The manual method is quite tricky and troublesome to access and view Takeout data. Thus, many users prefer using the SysInfo MBOX Converter Tool. It is an efficient utility that streamlines data access and provides many features. The tool is simple and suitable for all users. Additionally, it functions quite well on Mac and Windows OS without difficulties or file size limitations. Moreover, one can seamlessly view Takeout data in bulk without security issues. Besides that, you can also convert Google Takeout to PST, CSV, EML, or other formats. Get to know how below.

Working Procedure to View Google Takeout Files

1. Download and run the MBOX File Converter Tool and press Next.
2. Add the MBOX files and folders into the tool and click on Next.
3. Further, choose the folders from the tree structure and preview them.
4. In the panel, check their message and attachments as needed. Tap Next.
5. Afterward, if required to save, choose a file format (say, PDF) and pick filters.
6. Select a destination for the file. At last, click Convert to export the data.

By doing so, you can easily access data on the PC in a more compatible format without losses.

Conclusion

In this blog, we summed up all the solutions available on how to open Google Takeout files. You can use an email client application suitable for MBOX files on both Mac and Windows systems. Otherwise, you can use a professional tool for a more enhanced user experience in a few simple clicks. Also, it is the best approach to keep your data safe and in original format.

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About The Author:

Simran Bhatia

Simran Bhatia is a technical content writer engaged in writing clear, concise, and SEO-optimized content. With a background in computer science and a passion for writing, I thrive to deliver complex technical content in simple layman terms.