Export Office 365 to MBOX with 100% Security
Organizations like IT businesses and departments frequently face the difficulty to export Office 365 to MBOX when they are dealing with users’ data outside the Microsoft environment. This is due to numerous users needing their documents in a universal file format that could be accessed easily without having to rely on either Outlook or the Windows.
But the question arise is Why is it Exceuting this process important? This is because although Office 365 does involve its built-in support for transferring their mailboxes in MBOX format, which is considered an open file format widely used in macOS, Linux, and many forensic purposes, this native solution has its own restriction that can cause safety issues. Hence, how can users safely extract Office 365 into MBOX without losing any crucial data? Read this blog till the end and find out how.
The motive to export Outlook 365 to MBOX is not just for saving or backing up data purposes, but also for better compatibility, accessibility, and ownership over crucial information for long term basis. For switching platforms, archiving data, auditing, and legal reviews, the conversion of Office 365 files to MBOX guarantees utmost flexibility apart from Microsoft’s environment.
Why Do Users Need to Export Outlook 365 to MBOX?
The MBOX file format widely supported file format for different agendas, here are some of the common yet essential situations where MBOX is more preferred over others:
- Shifting Platforms: Users switching from one email client to another or transferring files from one source to another, such as from Outlook to Apple Mail or Thunderbird, need such data in mailbox formats for instant import and export process.
- Linux Email Environment: For Linux-based email, many applications and utilities primarily support MBOX, making the PST format impractical for such operations.
- Professional Workflows: For professional purposes like legal audits and reviews, forensic, eDiscovery, and compliance purposes, often prefer MBOX format for, indexing, and searching.
- Vendor Archival: MBOX format is often required for retention strategies for long-term with the purpose of mailboxes to be stored in an easily accessible format.
Need to Export Office 365 Mailbox to MBOX File
- Users switching from Windows based environment to a Mac environment would want to export Outlook to MBOX in Apple Mail since the PST file format is not supported on MacOS.
- ‘Business organizations tend to save Outlook 365 to MBOX in order to consolidate all archival data in one location.
- For users having bad internet connectivity and want to save their crucial information in offline mode, instead of saving it in cloud-based storage, they often export Outlook to MBOX.
Export Office 365 to MBOX Using Manual Solution
Professional Users and organizations can use the steps below to export Office 365 mailbox to MBOX with the applications installed on their systems.
1. Using Thunderbird
- Access Thunderbird and click on “More”.
- Select “Tools” and choose “Import”.
- Click on “Import from Outlook”.
- Then select “Mail” and go to “Next”.
- Tap on “Start Import”.
- Finally, hit “Finish”.
- Now check if the account is properly configured.
- Add “ImportExportTools NG” to Thunderbird.
- Click on “Outlook” and select “Import/Export”.
- Further, select “Folder Export” and choose “MBOX”.
- Select the “Location path” and click “Select Folder”.
2. Google Takeout Method
Users who don’t have Thunderbird on their device can follow the below mentioned steps to export Office 365 to MBOX.
Part 1: Configure Office 365 in Google Takeout
- Open Outlook (Classic) and go to “File”.

- Select “Add Account”.

- Enter your Gmail address and hit “Next”.
- Choose “IMAP” for the configuration.

- Further, enter the password of your Gmail address
- Now, click “Connect”.

- Click on “Finish,” and your account will be successfully configured.
Part 2: Export Files
- Open Outlook.
- Drag and drop files and folders to Gmail.
- Click on the “Deselect All” option in Google Takeout.

- Choose “Mail”

- Click “Next”
- Add “Destination Path” to where you want to export your files.
- Set “Frequency” and “File Type”

- Finally, click on “Create Export”.
3. Apple Mail to MBOX
- Open your “Apple Mail”.
- Go to “Mail” and “Add Account”.
- Select the mailbox folder, like “Inbox,” that you wish to export.
- Click on “Export Mailbox” from the menu.

- At last, choose a “Location” to export files and hit “Choose.”

- The files will be exported in a .mbox file.
Drawbacks of Manual Method to Export Outlook 365 to MBOX
- Any wrong step taken in IMAP sync settings can lead to loss of users’ data, such as deleting emails from the server permanently.
- Solutions like these are not efficient to export Outlook 365 to MBOX in bulk as it can take several hours or even days, making it extremely time-consuming.
- Users that are not from non-technical background would require to learn how to backup Office 365 to MBOX from scratch due to the complex steps and instructions, leading to numerous human prone errors.
- To export Office 365 to MBOX through traditional techniques, users may need to be heavily dependent on applications like Gmail, Outlook, and Thunderbird.
- Does not allow users to carry out attachments and flags along with the entire email folder, which further bifurcates users’ email in pieces and hampers their productivity.
- Asks for a mandatory requirement of the internet connection, exposing users’ information to threats, phishing, attacks, digital duplication, and many more complications.
Pro Solution to Export Outlook 365 to MBOX File Format
While manual solutions are useful in many scenarios, they often carry limitations compared to their benefits. To minimize the challenges provided by such solutions, which mainly involve disrupted workflows, business organizations use automated solutions like the advanced Email Backup Wizard.
This advanced software utility is designed for users to close the gap that stands between cloud and the desktop. But how is it any different from manual tools? Different from such solutions, this modern solution does not require any installation of Outlook or Thunderbird to export Office 365 mailbox to MBOX. Moreover, not only is this tool 100% safe and secure, but it also ensures the protection of users’ data and saves files in the original form after the completion of the process.
Amazing Characteristics of Automated Software
- Offers advanced filters like date, specific folders, file type, etc., for users to manage their data properly.
- Saves files and folders from lightest to heaviest export without losing even a single element from the file or folder.
- Manages to export Office 365 mailbox to MBOX, convert emails to PDF, CSV, HTML, MSG, and many more file formats.
- Not just file formats, it easily backs up more than 200+ saving options including both desktop-based applications.
- Generates a brief and organized log report with modern search functions so that users can navigate to certain information from the report instantly.
- Provides 24/7 customer support services in case of any issues or queries related to the tool.
Gives the feature of incremental backup to export new and upcoming emails easily.
To Conclude
It is real world necessity to export Office 365 mailbox to MBOX to access files across platforms and users for various purposes. While taking assistance from manual solutions like Google Takeout, Apple Mail, or Outlook are useful to an extent. They are also very risky, have restricted features, and are impractical for carrying out thousands of data files simultaneously.
Thanks for the ultimate backup utility. Not only does this robust tool specialize in accuracy, data integrity, and efficiency. But it also deals without requiring either an internet connection or the installation of any email application whatsoever. For entrepreneurial organizations handling export Office 365 to MBOX, adopting a safe, ideal, and reliable solution is necessary not just convenience but to keep all sorts of data files secured and in one place.
Commonly Asked Questions
Q1. How can I export Office 365 mailbox to MBOX directly through a manual solution?
There’s no direct way to do so through any manual solution. However, with the help of the automated tool, you can export your files without even installing any of the applications.
Q2. Is PST a good alternative to MBOX format?
This is only favourable if you want to work within Outlook. However, for any accessing files in macOS, Linux, eDiscovery, or Forensic tools, the MBOX file is more preferable.
Q3. Which is the most secure solution to save Outlook 365 to MBOX in batch simultaneously?
Use the advanced backup tool, which, unlike a manual solution, guarantees preservation of metadata, formatting, consistency, and scalability perfectly.
Q4. How can I export Office 365 to MBOX in mac?
You can follow the steps mentioned below:
- Open your “Apple Mail”.
- Go to “Mail” and “Add Account”.
- Select the mailbox folder, like “Inbox,” that you wish to export.
- Click on “Export Mailbox” from the menu.
- At last, choose a “Location” to export files and hit “Choose.”
- The files will be exported in a .mbox file.