Proven Solutions to Convert MSG to MBOX on Mac

Written By Suman Rawat
Updated on April 2nd, 2025

Summary: As the user keeps switching between various email clients, their requirement for effective data management becomes essential. In file formats, MSG and MBOX are two widely used formats. Many users prefer to convert MSG to MBOX so that emails can be easily managed and accessed. Yet, certain email clients do not support MSG, and thus, converting it to a supported format becomes essential. For this, manual conversions are often time-consuming. Therefore, we will also describe a specialized MSG Converter. The software enables one to export single or whole folders of MSG easily within a Mac system.

Reasons to Convert Outlook MSG Files to MBOX

MBOX conversion of Outlook MSG files can prove to be beneficial in numerous ways. Some of the most prominent ones are given below:

Conversion of MSG files guarantees that emails are easily accessible on various OS.
MBOX is the email format for archiving and backup purposes because it allows individuals to store all their emails within a single file.
By converting to MBOX, you can backup and store multiple emails simultaneously, making it easier to manage.
Several open-source email clients support MBOX files.
The conversion of MSG files to MBOX is for preserving the original email information.

MBOX is an efficient and adaptable email management format, especially during email migration or transfer from one email client to another. MBOX enables optimal storage, simpler backups, and easier integration with multiple email services and tools.

How Do I Convert MSG to MBOX on Mac?

Users often look for manual solutions first, so in this section, we will discuss free methods to consolidate MSG emails in MBOX. However, the manual approach can be a bit tricky to perform. Alternatively, professional software offers a straightforward method of conversion. Let us explore both one by one.

Manual Method for MSG to MBOX Conversion (Free)

This is a popular approach that entails utilizing two email clients: Outlook (to open the MSG files) and Thunderbird (to work with MBOX). Below is how you can convert your MSG into MBOX manually using these two applications:

Step 01: Forward the MSG File into Outlook For Mac

First, download and install the Outlook application on your Windows.
Log in using your admin account credentials.
Next, navigate to the MSG file on your local storage.
Double-click on it and open it using your Outlook application.
Verify that the MSG data is intact.
Forward all the desired MSG data to the Outlook for Mac system in Mac.
Here, your MSG file is converted into OLM file format.

Step 02: Configure Outlook For Mac into Thunderbird

Download and install the Thunderbird application on your system.
Next, sign in using your admin account credentials.
Tap on the three lines at the top right corner.
After that, click on New Account and then click on the email option.
Set up your existing account by entering your name, username, and password.
Thunderbird automatically fetches your valid protocols.
Wait for a moment; Thunderbird fetches all your desired data.
Then, verify all your data in the Thunderbird profile.

Step 03: Convert MSG Files to MBOX Efficiently

Next, drag and drop all the desired data into the Thunderbird folder.
Click on the three lines to open settings.
Under the settings, click on the add-ons and themes option.
Search for ImportExportTool NG add-ons.
Follow the instructions to install the add-ons.
Now, choose the desired OLM data.
Here, select the ImportExportTool NG option.
Choose the Import mbox file option > Individual mbox Files option.
Browse the desired location where you saved your MBOX file.
In the end, verify that the process to convert MSG to MBOX format was successful.

Drawbacks of the Manual Method

To export MSG to MBOX manually using Outlook and simple file handling might appear straightforward, but it has some demerits.

Manually converting MSG to MBOX is slow and cumbersome.
It is not feasible for large MSG files, as the process becomes inefficient.
During conversion, email folders and subfolders are often lost, and attachments may not transfer correctly.
There is also a higher risk of missing emails, renaming issues, or file corruption.
Furthermore, Outlook does not provide a direct method to export emails to MBOX.

For large-scale conversions, the use of software utilities is suggested for efficiency and accuracy.

Batch Convert MSG to MBOX Format- Instant Solution

The MSG Converter for Mac is a secure and trusted software to migrate MSG data such as emails, contacts, attachments, etc. to MBOX. This software provides you with the most useful functionalities, such as custom folder names, date filters, erasure of duplicate emails, etc. It eliminates the need to follow complex manual procedures and facilitates direct conversion within minutes.

This software is powerful enough to convert MSG to EML, MBOX, PST, PDF, and other formats. In addition, one can also migrate MSG to Office 365, Gmail, G Suite, and other email platforms. The tool has an easy, user-friendly interface. You’ll find it convenient to use, whether you’re a technical user or not. In addition, it is compatible with all Mac OS versions. Now, let’s understand the procedure of converting MSG files.

Easy Ways to Convert MSG Files to MBOX

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First, download and install the MSG Converter tool on your system.
Click on the Select File or Select Folder option.
Next, browse the MSG file to add it to the software.
Click on the preview tab to preview your MSG data.
Tap on MBOX under the file format saving options.
Next, apply the built-in feature according to your requirements.
Browse the destination path to save the resultant output.
Click on the Convert button to save the MSG file in MBOX format.

Conclusion

In short, we discussed two ways to convert MSG to MBOX. Both ways are efficient and work well to save your MSG files to MBOX format within a Mac system. However, the manual way has some drawbacks that you should be aware of before using it. The professional way is a direct solution that can proficiently convert immeasurable data from MSG to MBOX with attachments. Also, it can handle bulk data simultaneously. Now, you can use any method that you find suitable according to your requirements.

About The Author:

Suman Rawat

Suman Rawat is a technical content writer and expert in the fields of email migration, data recovery, and email backup. Her passion for helping people has led her to resolve many user queries related to data conversion and cloud backup.