How to export Apple mail data to Outlook PST format?

Every Mac comes pre-installed with Apple Mail as its default email client. In contrast, Microsoft Outlook is an email client which is available for both Mac and Windows systems. While both email clients can send and receive emails, in some scenarios, users may want to switch over to Windows.

During the transition, they may also want to export their Apple Mail data to Outlook. However, it is not possible to directly export Apple Mail data to Outlook as the former stores the mailbox items in an MBOX file format, which is not supported by Outlook.

This may become a challenge for users transitioning from Mac to Windows. However, the best way to export Apple mailbox data to Outlook is to convert the Apple Mail MBOX file into PST file format – Outlook-supported format.

In this post, we will look at a workaround that will help you export emails from Apple Mail to Outlook. We will also learn to use an advanced MBOX to PST converter software to convert the Apple Mail MBOX file into PST, which can be easily imported into Outlook.

Workaround to Export Apple Mail to Outlook

As mentioned above, there is no direct way to export mailbox items from Apple Mail to Outlook. Hence, we require a workaround for it. You can follow the steps mentioned below to export the emails from your Apple Mail client to Outlook.

However, this workaround is lengthy as it requires you to follow a lengthy and complex set of steps that involves everything from exporting the Apple Mail emails to using an MBOX-based email client.

Note: For demonstrative purposes, we will use Thunderbird to access the Apple Mail MBOX file and to save the emails in EML format.

Step 1: Export Apple Mails to an MBOX File 

• Launch Apple Mail (Mail) on your Mac.
• Select the folders that you want to export. Click on Mailbox > Export Mailbox.
• Browse for the destination folder to save the MBOX file. Click Choose to begin the export.

Step 2: Install Thunderbird on a Windows PC and Import the MBOX File

Notes – You will need to install the ImportExportTools NG add-on in Thunderbird. This will allow you to import MBOX into Thunderbird and export EML files from it. If you have a Thunderbird profile, use it to log in. Otherwise, create a new one.

• Transfer the MBOX file from your Mac to your Windows PC via an external storage drive like an external HDD.

• Download & Install Mozilla Thunderbird on your Windows PC. Launch it.
• Right-click on the Local Folders and click on New Folder to create a new folder.
• Give it a name and click Create Folder.
• Now, right-click on the newly created folder and hover over the ImportExportTools NG.
• Click on Import mbox Files > Individual mbox Files.
• Select the Apple MBOX file and click on Open.

Step 3: Save MBOX Emails as EML Files

• While in Thunderbird, select the email/s you want to export to Outlook. Right-click on them and click on Save As.

• Choose the destination folder and select Mail Files (EML) as the Save as type.
• Click Save.
• It will save the selected email/s in .eml file format in the selected destination folder.

Step 4: Drag and Drop EML Files into Outlook

• Now, launch the Outlook application on your Windows PC.
• Right-click in the left pane to create a new folder. Name it.

• Select the EML files, and drag and drop them into the newly created folder in Outlook.
• All your converted Apple Mail emails will be exported into Outlook.

Simple Method to Export Apple Mail Data to Outlook PST

The above workaround of using Thunderbird for importing Apple Mail items to Outlook is tedious and time-consuming. Here are some limitations to the above-mentioned workaround –

• It is a time-consuming & complex method.
• It requires an additional installation of an MBOX-supporting email client.
• Imported EML files in Outlook fail to generate any preview.
• EML files don’t contain attachments.

To simplify the process, you can convert the Apple Mail MBOX file into PST and then import the converted file into Outlook.

For this, you can take the help of an MBOX to PST converter like Steller Converter for MBOX. It is an advanced tool for MBOX to PST conversion that helps you convert the Apple Mail MBOX file into a PST file. You can use this software to convert MBOX files of more than 17 MBOX-based email clients, including Apple Mail, Thunderbird, Eudora, Entourage, etc. Whether you want to convert a single MBOX file or multiple, this software can do it effortlessly into PST and other file formats such as HTML, PDF, etc. You can also upgrade your copy of this software to the Technician edition and directly export the converted MBOX data to an existing Outlook profile or a Microsoft 365 account.

Steps to convert an MBOX file to a PST file using Stellar Converter for MBOX –

• Download and install Stellar Converter for MBOX on your Windows PC. Launch it.
• Click on Select Mail Client.
• Select Apple Mail from the Email Client dropdown menu.
• Click on the Select File button to select the Apple Mail MBOX file you want to convert. Then, click Convert.
• The tool will scan and convert the selected MBOX file. Once the conversion is complete, it will display all the MBOX file items.

• Select the items you want to save to PST and click on Save Converted File.
• In the Save As window, select the Save as PST option and click Next.

• Click on Browse to select the destination folder to save the converted PST file and click Save.

After converting the Apple Mail MBOX file to a PST file, follow the steps mentioned below to import the Converted PST file into Outlook:

• Launch the Outlook application and click on File.
• Click on Open & Export > Import/Export.

• It will open the Import and Export wizard. Select the Import from another program or file option from the list of actions and click Next.

• Choose the Outlook Data File (.pst) option and click Next.

• Select the PST file (converted MBOX file) and click Next.

Note – Make sure that the Include subfolders option is checked.

• Select the desired import items option and click Finish.

Once the process is complete, you will see the Apple Mail emails in Outlook.

Conclusion

There is no direct way to export Apple Mail data to Outlook PST. In the post above, we have explained a workaround that can help you export Apple Mail data to Outlook. However, the process is lengthy, tedious, and time-consuming. To simplify the mailbox conversion process and save time and efforts, use Stellar Converter for MBOX to convert the Apple Mail MBOX file to PST and then import this file into Outlook using the Import and Export wizard.