Export IMAP Emails to CSV on Mac & Windows – Easy Guide

Summary: Users generally find it hard to analyse, filter, or sort their large number of IMAP emails using their email clients. So, to allow users to easily execute their operation, it’s best to export IMAP emails to CSV file. A CSV file saves information in rows and columns, separating each piece of data by commas. Therefore, this blog will show some easy steps to transfer your IMAP emails into CSV format. The manual methods are suitable for personal use, but for professionals, a specialized IMAP Backup Tool will be best.

Intentions to Migrate IMAP Emails to CSV

CSV files are easy to access and manage, which makes them suitable for storing and sharing across different platforms. 

Reasons why users prefer CSV over emails are given below:

1. CSV files allow users to analyse email data, like sender details, Date, and subject, by simple in-built analytic tools.
2. To make a simple and readable data backup for important emails, CSV will be an ideal format.
3. When users need to move email details to other applications or platforms that support CSV files.
4. The CSV format is easier to organise and manage a large amount of email data.

Effective Ways to Export IMAP Emails to CSV

This part of the blog explains how to convert IMAP emails into the commonly used CSV format. It starts with manual methods to help you export your emails without spending anything. Then, it introduces a more stable and effective option for better results. Continue reading to learn both methods and pick the one that works best for you.

Method To Export IMAP to CSV Using Outlook (For Windows And Mac)

In the first manual method, we will see simple steps to export IMAP emails using the Outlook email client. So, we will first login to Outlook with our IMAP account, then open our emails folder. At last, we export them as CSV using the import/export option in the File tab.

Here are the steps in detail for the export process:

1. First, launch the Outlook application on your system.
2. Now, login to Outlook with your IMAP account.
3. Then, open the File tab to select the Open & Export option, then click Import/Export.
4. Next, choose the Export to a file option to start the process for saving your email folder. Then click Next to continue.
5. Now, choose Comma Separated Values (CSV)  from the next window, and click Next.
6. Browse and select the IMAP email folder you plan to export.
7. Next, provide a location where your CSV files will be saved, and click Next.
8. At last, Map custom fields(optional) and click Finish.

Method To Convert IMAP to CSV Using Thunderbird

In the second manual method, we will use the Thunderbird email client for the export process. To start, we will log in to Thunderbird with our IMAP account. Then we will export our IMAP emails into CSV using an add-on and save them to our system.

Below are the detailed steps to execute the export process:

1. To start, launch Mozilla Thunderbird on your system and set up your IMAP account.
2. Second, open the Menu and click the Add-ons and Themes option.
3. Now, search for ImportExportTools NG and click Add to Thunderbird button.
4. Next, right-click on the email folder that has to be exported as a CSV file. E.g.: Inbox.
5. Then, go to ImportExportTools NG, followed by Export all messages in the folder, and choose Spreadsheet(CSV).
6. In the end, select the location and save it.

Limitations of IMAP Emails to CSV Migration

The user will find some downsides to using the manual method while migrating IMAP emails to a CSV format. Let’s discuss these disadvantages below:

1. Manual methods only include Metadata (like subject, date), and email attachments are not maintained in a CSV file.
2. If your mailbox has a large number of emails or folders, it will take a lot of time.
3. You can export just one email folder at a time. If you want to export multiple folders, you’ll need to do it separately for each folder.

Professional Method to Export IMAP Emails to CSV

To make the conversion process easy and more reliable, users can use IMAP Backup Tools. This tool enables you to migrate multiple email folders at once. The tool also offers advanced filters to help you sort and select the emails you need. With its simple design and powerful features, it makes managing your backups quick and hassle-free.

Follow the steps to use this tool efficiently:

1. Initially, start by opening the backup tool and logging in with your IMAP email account.
2. Now, select Single/Multiple emails or Folders you want to export. Then click Next.
3. Then, select CSV as output from the File Formats, choose a path, and click Next.
4. Now, to sort or filter emails, Apply Filters as per your needs.
5. Finally, to initiate the export, click Start Process.

Read More: Migrate IMAP to Gmail

Conclusion:

In this blog, we have explored the best ways to export IMAP Emails to CSV format. The manual methods are simple and free to use, but they come with some limitations. They cannot handle large email folders efficiently and require a lot of time. Therefore, we suggest users use a dedicated backup tool for a smoother and more reliable export process. This tool is easy to use, even for individuals who lack technical skills. It allows users to export emails in bulk without losing any data or disturbing the original structure.

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