Open MBOX Files in Outlook (2019, 2016, 2013) – A Complete Guide

Are you looking for a method to open MBOX in Outlook? if yes then you are on the right page. Here we will show you free techniques to open multiple MBOX into MS Outlook without any hassle.

MBOX is the most widely used file format, with many users storing multiple emails in a single file using the MBOX file format. MBOX is a file format that is supported by a variety of email clients, including Apple Mail, Thunderbird, Eudora Mail, WebMail, and other email clients.

MBOX files are not limited to files having .mbox extension only. Since MBOX files have a simple structure, it is easier to tinker with them. So, many applications use a slightly varied MBOX type to store data, such as MBOX without extension that Mozilla applications use, MBX file used in Eudora & PocoMail, MBS file of Opera Mail, etc.

The solutions provided in the article are applicable to all these forms of MBOX files. But, we will still advise you to implement the techniques on a smaller data set to verify the results beforehand. Keeping a copy of the original MBOX file is also advised.

User Queries Regarding Importing MBOX to Outlook

Due to certain situations, many users intend to open an MBOX file in Outlook. As an example, we received the following questions a few days ago, which are all listed below:

“Hello, I received an MBOX file on my laptop yesterday, which was unusual because I had previously used Thunderbird, but I had switched over to Outlook after a while. MBOX is the file format in which I saved my Thunderbird data. So, I’d like to open those MBOX files in Outlook to view and read my information. but I’m stumped as to how? Could someone please provide me with a perfect solution?”

“Hey, my colleagues sent me some MBOX files a couple of days ago, but I’m using Outlook instead. So, I must open those MBOX files in Outlook. However, I can’t find an option to do so. Could someone please provide me with a perfect solution to import MBOX files in Outlook?”

Two Manual Methods to Open MBOX Files in Outlook

Here we will use the easiest techniques to open MBOX in Outlook 2019, 2016, 2013, etc. Please complete the prerequisite before starting the conversion:

Pre-requisite:

If you have an orphan MBOX file, first you have to import MBOX file into Thunderbird email client. The steps to do so are mentioned below:

1. Download ImportExportTools NG on your Thunderbird by clicking on the “ALT” Key >> “Add ons and Themes” >> search “ImportExportTools NG” and add into Thunderbird.
2. Restart Thunderbird, and select Local Folders.
3. After that, click on Alt+T, then choose “ImportExportTools NG” option >> “Import MBOX File” options.

   

4. Now select the “Import Directly One or More MBOX Files” option and click the “OK” icon.

   

5. Lastly, browse the location of the MBOX file and click on the “Open” button.

   

With this, your MBOX file is now present in the MBOX email client. After that, we will use either of the two manual methods to import MBOX files to Outlook.

Method 1: Open With Method

The first method makes use of the “Open with” action to move emails from Thunderbird to Outlook. Please make sure to execute these steps for a few emails first to ensure that it works for you.

1. Select the MBOX folder that you want to open.
2. And then right-click and select “ImportExportTools NG” >> “Export all messages in folder” and press on the “EML Format” option.
3. Now you have exported MBOX emails to EML files at the selected location.
4. Select the email that you want to open in Outlook.
5. And right-click >> “Open With” >> and choose “Outlook”.
6. Once it opens in Outlook, you can use the “Move to” action from the ribbon bar to save this email in an Outlook folder.

Now your email will open into an Outlook email client. You have to repeat the same procedure again and again for each email.

A multitude of articles on the internet advises you to drag and drop all EML files to Outlook. However, if you do that you will notice that not a single message has any preview in Outlook. This is because Outlook treats these files as attachments and not email messages. You can only use drag and drop action to open MSG files in Outlook successfully, not EML files.

Method 2: Sync MBOX Email Client to Outlook Directly

The second method uses the synchronize function of an email account with an email client to open MBOX files in Outlook 2019, 2016, or other versions of your choice.

Preparations: First, Create a new Gmail account and Enable IMAP in its Settings -> Forwarding & POP/IMAP tab.

1. Complete the pre-requisite that imports your files into the Thunderbird client.
2. Next, configure the new Gmail account in Thunderbird (make sure to select IMAP).
3. Open the MBOX mailbox folder, then select the emails that you wish to open in Outlook.
4. Now, right-click on the selected email, and copy them all into the newly configured account.
5. Let them synchronize.
6. After that, open Outlook 2019, 2016, or another version of your choice.
7. Add the same Gmail account here as well.
8. The MBOX items previously synchronized will start appearing in Outlook.

Now you will get all selected emails into the Outlook application.

Problems Users May Face with Manual Methods

• They are just too lengthy and time-consuming process.
• The first method processes a single email at a time which truly is not feasible in the long run.
• Risk of data loss.
• The process is repetitive
• Outlook and Thunderbird must be installed on the device.

As you can see, users have to face a lot of problems during using manual methods. So, if you want to open a small MBOX file in Outlook, then you can try the manual methods. However, to import bulk MBOX files to Outlook, using the professional approach is many times better.

Perfect Software to Open MBOX in Outlook in Bulk

MBOX Extractor Tool is a highly suggested and preferred software to open multiple MBOX files in Outlook in bulk. The tool comes with fantastic features, such as the ability to keep all of the components and pieces of an email intact throughout the process. This software is available for both Mac and Windows Operating systems.

What it actually does is convert MBOX files to PST format. This is a Unicode PST file. So, users may quickly import them in Outlook 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007, and 2003.

The demo version of the software is available to download for free. While it limits the number of emails during conversion, it allows the users to easily verify the results. So, users may conveniently download the full license of the tool to import MBOX files in Outlook.

The software also allows users to import MBOX files into Microsoft Office 365 if required. So use it at your convenience.

Conclude: Time to Say Goodbye

To open MBOX in Outlook, follow the steps outlined in the aforementioned article. There is a clearly defined procedure that users can follow to accomplish the procedure completely and successfully. Users can also use a professional application if the manual method results in unsatisfied results.