How do I Import MBOX file to Outlook?

MBOX is one of the most commonly employed file format to store mailbox data by many popular email clients, such as, Thunderbird, Apple Mail, Entourage, and others. It is considered flexible for its accessibility and compatibility with various email clients. Whereas, MS Outlook is designed to support PST [Personal Storage Table] file format to store emails, journals, events, contacts, calendar, tasks, and etc. Moreover, Outlook provides a central structure to manage email accounts is probably considered a better choice for organizations, businesses, and individuals to employ the email application for their email communication needs.

Henceforth, a number of users want to move their MBOX mailbox data to Outlook for better email management and other important features. Therefore, many users want a method, solution to easily import MBOX to Outlook. 

Methods to Import MBOX file to Outlook

There are different manual methods which can be used to import MBOX data to Outlook. We will explain a few simple methods which can be applied to secure your MBOX data in Outlook. 

1. Import MBOX files to Outlook using Gmail and Thunderbird.
2. Drag & Drop MBOX to Outlook.

Method 1: Import MBOX file to Outlook using Gmail and Thunderbird

In this method you need to use Thunderbird application and a Gmail account, where you are require to configure your Gmail account in Thunderbird to import MBOX files to Outlook. This is one of the most reliable manual methods. Follow the steps given below:

Note: You can take back up of your MBOX data before going ahead with this method to avoid any data loss. 

Step 1: Configure a Gmail account in Thunderbird

• Launch Thunderbird email application.
• In the extreme-right of the interface, find the Settings icon [three horizontal lines] and click.
  
• Click on create account and choose Existing email.
  
• A new window will appear. Fill the required fields with your credentials [name, email address, and password] and click ‘Continue’.
  
• It will take you to configuration page. Select IMAP, and click Done.
  
• If it is unable to find the required configuration, then you can enter it manually.
• Now, re-enter your credentials in the follow-up Google pop-up window.
  
• Allow the permissions.
  
• You will get a Gmail account on your email client [Thunderbird]. Your Gmail account is successfully configured in Thunderbird. 
  
• Click ‘Finish’.

Step 2: Import the MBOX file to Thunderbird using ImportExportTools NG

In the following step we will import the MBOX files to the Thunderbird by using ImportExportTools NG Add-on. 

• Install the add-on ImportExportTools NG in your Thunderbird application.
  
• Now, go to the ‘Local Folders’, and then right-click on it.
  
• From the options, select ‘ImportExportTools NG’, and then again select ‘Import MBOX file’.
  
• A dialog box will appear with options, you can either choose ‘individual mbox Files’ or ‘All mbox Files from directory’. There are other options too. If you want your files with sub-directory extension, you may click (with sbd structure).
  
• Now, select the MBOX files to import to Outlook.  

The imported MBOX files will appear under the ‘Local Folders’ in Thunderbird.

Step 3: Upload Emails from MBOX to Gmail Account

• Open the MBOX folder that appears under ‘Local Folders’ in Thunderbird.

• Select the emails you want to import, then right-click ‘Copy’ and select the new Gmail account [account that you added above].
  
• Copy the emails to the new [Gmail] account folder.
  
  
• Wait until the MBOX files are imported to Gmail is complete. 

Step 4: Add Gmail to Outlook

To get your MBOX files imported to Outlook, this is the last step to take.

• Launch Microsoft Outlook.
  
• To configure the same Gmail account in Outlook that was previously configured in Thunderbird, click ‘Add Account’ from the bottom left of your new Outlook.
  
• Enter your Gmail email address, and click ‘Continue’.
• In the next window, enter ‘password’ for your Gmail account. If you have added two-factor authentication previously, then you will get two-factor authentication prompt. In the Google permission window, click ‘Allow’.
• A pop-up window will appear, https://outlook.office.com wants to open this application, click Open.
• Now, return to Outlook. The Gmail account is successfully added, and your emails are synchronized with Outlook mail server.

The manual method to import MBOX to Outlook using Thunderbird application and a Gmail account is not very much complicated, yet the process is quite lengthy to undertake. There is another manual solution which can benefit the users who want their MBOX data imported to Outlook. 

Method 2: Import MBOX in Outlook – Drag & Drop

The Drag & Drop method to import MBOX to Outlook can be completed in two steps. Here, you can import MBOX to Thunderbird and thereafter export the emails as EML file to open it in Outlook account. 

Step 1: Import MBOX File to Thunderbird

• Launch your Thunderbird application.
• Install ImportExportTools NG Add-on.

• Right-click on the ‘Local Folders’ at the left-bar in Thunderbird application, from the options select ImportExportTools NG, and the click on ‘Import mbox file’. 

• From the options provided, select ‘Import One or More MBOX Files’ from the list.
  
• Select the MBOX file from the location on your system, and click on ‘Open’.
  

The MBOX files will be imported under the ‘Local Folders’ of the Thunderbird. 

Step 2: Save Emails in EML Format

• Restart your Thunderbird application.
• Now, select the emails you want to import from the imported MBOX folder, under ‘Local Folders’. 
• Right-click on the selected emails, and choose ‘Save as’, and then choose a desired location where you want to save these EML files. 

Step 3: Drag & Drop EML files to Outlook

• Open Outlook on your system.
• In Outlook, create a new folder to save the imported MBOX files [emails].
• Now, go to the location where you saved EML file, and open the folder.
• Select EML files and then drag them to the newly created folder in Outlook.
• Your MBOX files are now imported to Outlook. You can now access your emails.

The method looks easy and convenient to perform. But, there are some flaws/disadvantages with this method of converting/importing MBOX file to Outlook. 

In the drag and drop method, the EML files are read as an attachment rather than email message by Outlook. Also, you are required to save all the drop messages one by one with the ‘Move’ option. 

It is certain that manual methods look seemingly easy but difficult to perform and therefore, you will fail to get the expected results. In such scenario, using a professional tool like Stellar Converter for MBOX is the best possible option if you want to convert your MBOX file to Outlook importable PST format effectively and easily. 

The Stellar Converter for MBOX is designed considering the user’s need to import MBOX file to Outlook. It gives users immense freedom and ease to convert MBOX file to PST and other different formats like EML and MSG files too. The tool aims to deliver highly satisfying results while maintaining the original folder hierarchy. You can also perform batch conversion and selective conversions by employing Stellar Converter for MBOX with ease.

Conclusion: A number of MBOX email client users are finding Outlook more proficient and structured in managing email communication along with other items like calendar, journals, events, tasks, contacts, and etc. Therefore, they want to move to Outlook. But, Outlook supports a different file format [PST] to store mailbox items. Hence, it is difficult to move from MBOX to Outlook directly. 

However, there are a few workarounds [manual methods] like Drag & Drop and by Gmail account configuration in Thunderbird. But, these procedures are lengthy and require technical knowledge to get the expected results. To overcome the limitations, users can employ professional technique/method like Stellar Converter for MBOX, which makes the whole process to import MBOX to Outlook a child’s play. Any user with basic knowledge can perform the process within a short time. You just need three steps – Select, Preview, and Convert to get the converted MBOX file in PST or other formats.