Export Emails from ZOHO Mail to MBOX Files: Easy Methods

Last updated on May 25th, 2025 at 03:24 pm

Do you need to extract ZOHO Mail emails but are stuck because you can’t find an MBOX export option? You’re not alone. Although ZOHO doesn’t provide a direct MBOX export function option, there are several different smart options to get the job done. In this quick guide, we’ll show you how to export ZOHO emails to MBOX format efficiently. So let’s take a look.

ZOHO Mail, a professional email hosting service available for use by both businesses and individuals. It offers users the convenience of emailing with privacy, reliability, and productivity.

A part of the larger ZOHO ecosystem, it offers a clean, ad-free interface and powerful features like custom domain emails, calendar integration, task management, and more.

ZOHO Mail also includes end-to-end encryption, two-factor authentication, and integration with other ZOHO apps like CRM, Projects, and Docs. ZOHO Mail gives you the flexibility and control you need in a modern email platform.

However, Zoho Mail users faces some common challenges. One of the challenges is the lack of a built-in option to export ZOHO profile emails to MBOX format. This requires users to perform email migration or offline backup.

Also Read: – How to Download & Export IMAP Mail folder to MBOX files?

What is MBOX?

MBOX is a popular email file format that enables users to store email messages locally. Each MBOX file contains a collection of emails from a mail folder (stores a single mail folder). This makes it easy to manage and transfer large sets of email messages.

Plus, this single MBOX file type is widely supported by major email clients such as Mozilla Thunderbird, Apple Mail, Eudora, and others.

Due to its compatibility and simplicity, MBOX is often used for email backup, archiving, and migration between platforms. While many email services allow direct export to MBOX, ZOHO Mail is not on that list. Therefore, extracting your ZOHO emails to this format requires alternative methods.

Why Export Emails from ZOHO Mail to MBOX?

There are several reasons why users might want to export ZOHO Mail emails to MBOX format: –

Backup & Archiving: – Creating regular email backups in MBOX format ensures that you have a safe offline archive of important email conversations. This keeps your data safe from accidental deletion or other types of problems.
Migration to another Email Client: – If you are moving to a desktop email client like Thunderbird or Apple Mail, exporting to MBOX is required for conversion with previous email data.
Offline Email Access: – With MBOX files, you can access your email even without an internet connection. Perfect for anyone with limited connectivity.

How to Export ZOHO Mail Emails to MBOX Format? 2 Simple Methods

Since ZOHO Mail doesn’t provide a native MBOX export feature, here are the most effective alternative methods: –

Method 1: Export ZOHO Mail to MBOX via IMAP & Email Client (Thunderbird)

This is the most reliable and user-friendly way to export emails from ZOHO Mail to MBOX.

Step 1: Enable IMAP in ZOHO Mail

Go to and log in to your ZOHO Mail account.
Click on the Settings (gear icon) in the top-right corner.
Select Mail Accounts from sidebar and click on IMAP tab and select IMAP Access.
Click on Save and easily enable IMAP in ZOHO Mail.

After enabling IMAP access, you can also view configuration details (eg. IMAP server, port) on the same screen, which you will need later.

Step 2: Set Up ZOHO Mail in Mozilla Thunderbird

Launch the Thunderbird email client app on your system.
Click the gear icon (⚙) from the bottom left corner.
Click on Account Settings and select Add Mail Account.
Enter your ZOHO Mail account credentials:
- Your Name: Enter your name as you want it to appear.
- Email address: yourname@zoho.com (or your custom domain if using one)
- Password: Enter your ZOHO Mail password (app-specific password).
Click on Configure manually and edit server settings manually.
- Incoming (IMAP):
  - Server: imap.zoho.in (or imappro.zoho.in for domain users)
  - Authentication: Normal Password
  - Username: Your full Zoho email address.
- Outgoing (SMTP):
  - Server: smtp.zoho.in (or smtppro.zoho.in for domain users)
  - Port: 465 (SSL) or 587 (STARTTLS)
  - Authentication: Normal Password
  - Username: Your full Zoho email address.
Click Done to after filling all details for manual configuration.
After all setup, press Finish button and your mailbox will now start syncing in Thunderbird.

Step 3: Export Emails to MBOX Using ImportExportTools NG

Open Thunderbird, click on gear icon (⚙) and select Add-ons and Themes.
Search for “ImportExportTools NG“, click Add to Thunderbird, and restart the app.
Locate the folder you want to export (e.g., Inbox) in the left-hand pane.
Select ImportExportTools NG > Folder Export (mbox), then choose where to save .mbox file.
The selected folder will be exported as an MBOX file.

Method 2: Use a Professional IMAP Email Backup Tool

To perform a quick, hassle-free export of Zoho Mail emails to MBOX without manual setup or a lengthy process, you can use a professional email backup tool. An available program that offers the same feature is eSoftTools ZOHO Mail Email Backup & Migration Software.

It connects Zoho Mail account directly and export emails in various formats including MBOX. It supports bulk export, preserves email metadata and folder hierarchy. Moreover, it offers an intuitive interface for both beginners and professional users.

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Final Words

Exporting emails from Zoho Mail to MBOX may seem challenging due to the lack of a built-in export feature. But as we have shown, there are reliable ways to get it done. You can opt for a manual approach using Thunderbird or a faster solution like eSoftTools Zoho Mail Backup Tool.

Both methods work effectively for backup, migration or offline access. So choose your preferred method and easily backup ZOHO Mail emails to MBOX.

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