How Do I Open MBOX Files From A Google Takeout?

The files in a Google Takeout that contain the emails from a past account are in the .mbox format, otherwise known as MBOX files. But how do you open them? This article outlines some of the easiest ways.

Detailed Information

Third-party email platforms are generally the easiest way to open MBOX files. The platforms listed below are more common and widely-used, though there are likely others that will work as well. Please note that none of these are directly supported by UMaine IT; if you encounter any issues, you may want to speak with their support team.

1. Outlook. The MBOX files will need to be converted beforehand, but this may be a good option if you use Outlook already. For more information, you can visit Microsoft's forums at this link: How do I open an MBOX file with Outlook?
2. Mail for Mac. If you own a Macintosh computer, you'll already have this downloaded, though you may not have used it before. All you need to do is sign in, and then import the MBOX files as a new mailbox. Full directions from Apple Support can be found at this link: Import or export mailboxes in Mail on Mac.
3. Thunderbird. If you're a lover of Firefox, you may have heard of or used Thunderbird before. Opening MBOX files with Thunderbird also involves importing as a new mailbox. More information can be found at Firefox's forums at this link: I want to import a MBOX file into my Thunderbird.

Environment

• Web browser
• Third-party email program(s)