How to Open MBOX File on Mac? Get Best Solutions

Why Users Struggle Opening MBOX File on Mac?

MBOX is much different from normal documents. Unlike most documents, MBOX files are not files that you can just open and read. In other words, you require an application that is capable of rendering the MBOX data. Apple Mail is the native email client on a Mac, but many users find:

• Not every Mac has Apple Mail configured. If the account is not configured, you cannot directly open the MBOX.
• Files passed back and forth from Windows or Linux clients like Thunderbird or Postbox can cause incompatible syncing on macOS.
• Some users attempt to open MBOX with a text editor, but only see raw coding and header data, not readable emails.
• For IT teams managing and dealing with several MBOX archives, searching or extracting emails manually is both cumbersome and inefficient.

Where Users Can Open MBOX File on Mac and How?

As mentioned earlier, MBOX files are compatible with several email clients, be it on Mac, Windows, or Linux. Considering the same, they are natively stored at different locations as follows:

Apple Mail: User/Library/Mail/Mailboxes

Mozilla Thunderbird for Mac: ~/Library/Thunderbird/Profiles/Mail

Eudora: ..\Username\Application Data\Qualcomm\Eudora

Postbox for Mac: ~/Library/Application Support/Postbox App/Profiles/Mail

Furthermore, to open and view them, there are different manual methods and an automated tool. You can get to know them briefly in the upcoming parts. But before that, understand that this is needed to access old archives, recover data in unforeseen situations, and during migrations. Let’s start with the freeways now.

Read MBOX File on Mac for Free

There are various manual methods you can follow to open, view, and read the data from your MBOX. These steps are:

Method 1: Through Apple Mail (Mac Mail)

1. Open Apple Mail on your Mac.
2. Then, select Import Mailboxes from the File menu.
3. Further, select Files in MBOX format, and select Continue.
4. After that, navigate in the dialog to find your MBOX file and select it.
5. In the end, the emails will be located in a new folder under On My Mac.

This is the common way to open MBOX file on Mac. Besides this, there are a few other ways that need some effort.

Method 2: By Thunderbird Application

1. Download and install Mozilla Thunderbird on your Mac.
2. After that, add the extension: ImportExportTools NG add-on.
3. Next, go to Local Folder > right-click > ImportExportTools NG > Import MBOX file.
4. Now, select your MBOX and import it into Thunderbird.
5. Finally, you can now easily access the elements of the mailbox and read them.

Method 3: With a Mac Text Editor

1. In this, you need to only access the folder with your MBOX files on Mac.
2. Then, right-click it and choose the Open With option.
3. Lastly, select a Text Editor of your choice (TextEdit, Sublime Text, or Atom).

Note:

If you wish to access MBOX data in Outlook, refer to our detailed guide on Open MBOX File in Outlook.

Loopholes in the Manual Method

• You need installed applications on your PC, be it Apple Mail, Thunderbird, or others.
• Some applications require subscription accounts for complete features.
• If you view MBOX file on Mac with Editors or free online tools, the formatting is disrupted, and attachments are hampered.
• Moreover, non-tech users may face difficulty with many MBOX files, and the repetition of steps can happen.

This is why you need to get professional software in order to ensure a swift, easy, and quick way to access MBOX.

Dedicated Method to Open MBOX File on Mac

When dealing with large, numerous, or damaged MBOX files, a manual approach might not be viable or may take too long. The SysInfo MBOX Viewer Tool for Mac often provides a better option. You can understand this with the following features:

• Allows you to instantly open MBOX on Mac for any type, size, and number.
• Retains attachments, inline images, and formatting as the original MBOX.
• Provides search and filter options for finding specific emails.
• Does not need Apple Mail, Thunderbird, or other email clients to be installed.

Do You Know?

For IT Administrators or legal historical inquiry professionals who work with bulk MBOX archives, this solution is often welcomed.

Steps to Read MBOX File on Mac

1. Initially, download and install the Mac MBOX File Viewer Tool.
2. Then, click Next, and using the Select buttons, load .mbox files in the tool.
3. Again, press Next after the files are loaded, and a tree structure appears.
4. Expand the tree structure and preview all the folders and subfolders.
5. Further, press the Attachments button to check them too and tap Next.
6. At last, to save the files, select the format, location, and click Convert.

Eventually, the agency’s IT lead used an expert MBOX Viewer Software, and within no time, they:

• Were able to view MBOX file on Mac without importing them into Apple Mail.
• Instantly searched multiple MBOX archives for client names.
• Exported selected emails into a more easily manageable format.

This not only saved the team hours of work, but they were able to do this without losing a single piece of email data. The agency now uses this option any time they would like to access historical MBOX files.

If you also want to try, get our demo version now or reach out to our tech support!

Conclusion

Accessing MBOX files on macOS may seem like a hard task, but if you know the correct ways then it gets easy. The Apple Mail and Thunderbird freeways may work for a few MBOX files, but not with bulk volumes. So, to open MBOX file on Mac in large batches without any loss or alterations, it is best to opt for a top-notch tool. It is secure, easy to use, simple, and needs no manual hassle.

Frequently Asked Questions

About The Author:

Suman Rawat

Suman Rawat is a technical content writer and expert in the fields of email migration, data recovery, and email backup. Her passion for helping people has led her to resolve many user queries related to data conversion and cloud backup.