FIELD GUIDE / MBOX ARCHIVES
How to open and browse an MBOX file on Mac
Open an MBOX mail archive on Mac, browse its messages, search correspondence, and create a local PDF without uploading the archive.
Open the MBOX file in MailFolio, select messages from the archive list, and read or export them entirely on your Mac.
FILE FORMAT GUIDE · MAILFOLIO
Choose between importing and inspecting an MBOX
If you want the archive inside Apple Mail, use File → Import Mailboxes and select the MBOX source. Apple documents this built-in option in its mailbox import guide. MailFolio is useful when you want to inspect a separate archive without adding it to a mail account.
If the archive opens empty or takes a long time
Extract any ZIP first and select the actual mailbox data, not the enclosing export folder. Start with a smaller mailbox export to distinguish a size issue from a format problem. Keep the original archive; changing its filename extension does not convert PST or OST to MBOX.
Check the PDF before filing it
With Pro, export a selected message or the whole archive. Compare dates, sender details and representative messages with the source. A searchable text summary does not preserve every visual detail, and attachments need separate handling.
THE LOCAL ROUTE
Four steps. No upload.
- 01
Locate the archive
Find the .mbox file exported by your mail service or another application. If you have a folder ending in .mbox, choose the actual mailbox data file inside it.
- 02
Open it in MailFolio
Control-click the file in Finder, choose Open With → MailFolio, or use Open inside MailFolio and select the archive.
- 03
Browse the messages
Use the archive list to move between messages. Inspect recipients, dates, bodies, headers and attachments without importing the archive into a mail account.
- 04
Export a durable copy
With Pro, export a selected message or create a searchable PDF of the entire archive, then choose where to save it.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Useful MBOX workflows
- Review an old mailbox without configuring an email account
- Search an exported correspondence archive
- Extract individual attachments
- Create a readable PDF copy of multiple messages
TRY YOUR OWN FILE
Three successful imports are free.
No account and no subscription. Pro is one purchase shared across iPhone, iPad and Mac. Check your local App Store for the current price.