How to Import MBOX to Office 365 Account? Complete Tutorial

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  • Updated on August 21st, 2025

Summary: “I used the email clients Apple Mail and Thunderbird, which store the MBOX file format. Right now, I want to switch to Office 365 ( Microsoft 365 ) for better accessibility. Guide me on how to import MBOX to Office 365?”

If you are looking for a perfect solution to import your MBOX file to Microsoft 365, then you have finished your search. Here, we get to know about the methods used to import mailbox files to Office 365. For this conversion, we can use the native and the dedicated method by using the MBOX Converter Tool.

The Need to Import MBOX File to Office 365

These are some key points to explain the need to bring in the MBOX file format to Office 365.

  • Anywhere Accessibility – Emails are available on the web, desktop, and mobile apps.
  • More Secure – Office 365 provides data protection with encryption and compliance tools.
  • More Storage – MBOX file becomes unstable when it is oversized, but Office 365 offers large mailbox storage.
  • Management of Data – It provides centralized cloud storage with reducing the risk of corruption or data loss.
  • Regular Updates – Unlike MBOX clients, Microsoft provides regular updates.

Methods to Import MBOX to Office 365

Firstly, the MBOX file to O365 conversion is a complex process. If you want to achieve this conversion, follow every discussed step precisely. Here, we learn about the DIY method and the comprehensive method.

Native Solution to Import MBOX to Microsoft 365

Before using this method, you should be aware of some specific pointers. Also, this method requires knowledge of the tech stack. Read the pro tips before starting the conversion.

Consider the Following

  • You might face an authentication error or a missing sync if you use IMAP instead of Exchange.
  • If your IT admin has disabled Exchange/IMAP for security, ask them to enable it.
  • Try to use modern authentication, which is supported by Microsoft.

Solution for MacOS Using Apple Mail + Exchange( or IMAP) 

This solution is the formation of three different parts. Each part is separated for a better understanding of the steps to import MBOX to Office 365. 

A. Import MBOX File into Apple Mail

  1. Start Mail on Mac.
  2. Then, go to File >> Import Mailboxes.
  3. Choose Files in MBOX format and now, click Continue.
  4. Thereafter, pick the MBOX file you want to import.
  5. Now, your Mail creates an Import directory under On My Mac.

B. Add Office 365 Account in Apple Mail ( macOS )

  1. Open Mail and go to Mail >> Add Account.
  2. Here, go for Microsoft Exchange ( not IMAP ).
  3. Now, enter your O365 credentials >> Sign In.
  4. And allow mail to access your account.
  5. Afterwards, select ( Mail, Contact, Calendar, etc) to sync.

C. Import MBOX into Outlook 365

  1. In the sidebar of On My Mac >> Import, open a folder.
  2. Then, press Cmd+A to select all messages.
  3. Drag & drop or copy/paste under your Exchange account.
  4. Then, repeat this for each imported folder.
  5. Finally, to verify, check messages appear in Outlook on the web.

While performing manual methods user may face authentication issues or inconsistent folder mapping. It requires manual efforts for each mailbox. In addition, there is a high chance of a lack of data management.

Automated Solution to Import MBOX to Office 365

Native solutions are too long, and there is a high risk of facing errors through them. To overcome this problem, we have the CloudXena MBOX Converter Tool. This tool is ideal for batch conversion and serves the data with 100% accuracy. It keeps the data intact and provides many other advanced filters. Moreover, you can convert MBOX to PDF as PDF is a universal file format.

Follow the Given Steps to Import MBOX to Microsoft 365

  1. To start, acquire and launch the MBOX Converter Tool.
  2. Then, click on Select File/Select Folder that appears on the left side.
  3. In the next step, navigate to add the required .mbox extension file/folder.
  4. Now, click Next & preview the folder before conversion -> again, click Next.
  5. Thereafter, select the email client to Office 365 from the dropdown. 
  6. And, sign in to Office 365 with your credentials, such as email or password.
  7. Afterward, check the features and apply filters according to requirements.
  8. Finally, click Convert to start the migration process.

Final Thoughts

Import MBOX to Office 365 can seem challenging because there is no direct manual option provided by Microsoft. While the native method using Apple Mail or Thunderbird works, it requires multiple steps and a good understanding of the process. For users who want a faster and more reliable approach, a dedicated MBOX to Office 365 Converter Tool is the best choice. It ensures data integrity and also saves time by supporting batch migration.

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