MBOX is the standard file format for storing multiple emails in a single file. If you use Thunderbird, SeaMonkey, Entourage, Eudora, Apple Mail, etc., you can easily access .mbox files. However, sometimes users need to open MBOX file in Gmail account. Often, users encounter problems because Gmail doesn’t directly upload MBOX files. Therefore, it’s necessary to look for alternative solutions to import MBOX to Gmail. In this article, we’ll show you two different ways to perform this migration.
Before proceeding with solutions, we understand the reasons behind the migration.
Why Import MBOX to Gmail?
Migrating emails from MBOX file to Gmail offers several advantages:
- Gmail is a cloud-based email service, so it allows you to open your emails from any device, anytime, anywhere.
- Gmail has strong spam protection and automatic scanning for suspicious content, making your emails more secure. As of 2025, Gmail blocks over 99.9% of spam and phishing attempts, and that is impressive.
- After transferring MBOX into Gmail, you don’t need any other email clients like Thunderbird or Apple Mail to view your emails.
Now, let us move to the methods that let you migrate MBOX to Gmail account.
How to Open MBOX File in Gmail Manually via Thunderbird?
You can manually import MBOX to Gmail with Thunderbird. In this method, you need to first import MBOX to Thunderbird profile and then transfer mailbox file to Gmail account. Follow these steps to achieve this:
- Open Thunderbird on your PC and click on the three vertical lines in the top-right corner.
- Then select the “Add-ons and Themes” option.
- Enter “ImportExportTools NG” in the search box and press Enter.
- Click on the green button mentioned (+ Add to Thunderbird).
- Now, click on the Add button to add this extension to Thunderbird.
- Restart the Thunderbird application.
- Right-click on the “Local Folders > ImportExportTools NG > Import mbox files > Individual mbox files.
- Choose the MBOX file from your computer that you want to add to Thunderbird.
- Now, open your Gmail account to migrate MBOX to Gmail.
- Go to “Settings” >> “More settings” >> “Accounts and Import”.
- Click on the “Import mail and contacts” option.
- Enter the email address of the account that is linked to Thunderbird.
- Now select the “Import mail” option and click on the “Start Import” button.
This is how you can manually import MBOX to Gmail with Thunderbird.
Limitations of This Manual Method
- First, it is a time-consuming and complex process. Also, the user needs some technical stuff to complete the process.
- You may lose some data if you don’t follow the proper procedure to upload an MBOX file.
- This manual method is not well-suited for handling large files or folders with attachments.
How to Import MBOX File to Gmail Directly without Thunderbird?
If the above manual method does not work or you have large or multiple MBOX files, you can go with the automated tools. One such is the Yota MBOX Converter Wizard that helps you directly import MBOX to Gmail account in bulk. It supports .mbox files exported from all its supported email clients.
You can download the tool by clicking on the button below.
To start the email migration, first, you need to download and install the software on your system. Then follow the steps below:
Steps to Import MBOX to Gmail Without Thunderbird:
- Run the tool and click on Open>> Email Data Files>> MBOX Files.
- Preview the files and select the required files to migrate.
- Apply filters and import MBOX file to Gmail selectively.
- Now, click on Export and select Gmail as a saving option.
- Enter the Gmail login details and hit the Save button.
Done! That’s how you can easily migrate MBOX to Gmail in a few simple clicks.
Watch How to Import MBOX File to Gmail
Once the process is completed, you can easily open MBOX file in Gmail account without any hassle.
Prime Features of the Tool
- It allows users to upload emails in bulk within a single process.
- All the meta properties and email formatting remain the same throughout the process.
- The option to filter from a specific date range helps you quickly import MBOX file to Gmail selectively.
- Also lets you extract attachments from MBOX files without data loss.
- Runs on all the latest Windows OS, including Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7.
- Supports all MBOX-supported email clients like Thunderbird, Google Takeout, Opera Mail, Mac Mail, etc.
| Method | Thunderbird Installation | Bulk Migration | Recommended For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual | Yes | No | Technical Users |
| Automated Tool | No | Yes | All Types of Users |
Conclusion
In this post, we shared the best ways to import MBOX to Gmail, with or without using Thunderbird. Both methods are workable and give accurate results. You can pick any method that works best for you.
However, the first method requires the Thunderbird email app and understanding IMAP settings to open MBOX file in Gmail. On the other hand, the automated tool can directly migrate MBOX to Gmail without Thunderbird.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Can I import MBOX to Gmail without Thunderbird?
Ans. Yes, the above suggested tool allows you to upload MBOX file to Gmail without Thunderbird:
Q2. Is it possible to migrate multiple MBOX files to Gmail at once?
Ans. Yes, the tool supports bulk migration that allows users to import multiple MBOX files to Gmail account in a single process.
Q3. Can this tool also import attachments along with emails?
Ans. Yes, the tool is capable of importing all attachments linked with emails without any loss.
