How to Backup Apple Mail to External Hard Drive?

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Published on
November 6th, 2024


5 minutes Read

Summary: User query: “A few days back I have been facing issues with my Apple Mail. Before I took action, I had to back up all the Mac Mail data. Not having enough technical knowledge makes it difficult to backup Apple Mail to external Hard Drive. Is there any way to do this process without affecting data? If yes, please instruct me on this.”

Likewise, many users are looking for reliable solutions to back up their Apple Mail data on an external drive. To help you out, we will instruct you on all the possible methods. Nevertheless, the iCloud Backup Tool is the best option as it provides an efficient and effective output. We will discuss them in detail. Before that, let’s learn more about Apple Mail. 

What Do You Mean by Apple Mail? 

Apple Mail (also known as the Mail app) is the default email client which is pre-installed on all macOS, iOS, and iPadOS devices. Also, it enables users to send, receive, and manage email messages systematically. Other than this, it supports a variety of email services, including iCloud, Gmail, Yahoo, and many others.

Why Backup Mac Mail to External Hard Drive? 

In this section, we will discuss some common scenarios that lead users to backup Apple Mail to external hard drive. Without wasting time, let’s discuss them elaborately. 

  • Hard drive failure, malware attacks, or other issues can lead to the permanent loss of your emails if you don’t have a backup.
  • By backing up all the Mac Mail emails to an external drive, you can free up space on your Mac while still accessing older email messages.
  • This process allows you to access your emails offline, enabling you to retrieve old messages and attachments without an internet connection.
  • Additionally, it is the ultimate option for issues like storage limits, service outages, or even changes to cloud storage policies. 

How to Backup Apple Mail to External Hard Drive?

Now, let’s discuss the procedure for completing this task smoothly. We will provide several methods along with detailed steps for each. You can then choose the best solution that suits your needs. We’ll start with the manual process.

Technique 1: Save Mac Mail to External Hard Drive Using the Manual Approach

  1. To begin, run your Apple Mail account on your Mac OS. 
  2. Further, tap on the Mailbox from the top menu bar.
  3. Next, hit the Export Mailbox from the drop-down menu. 
  4. Later, assign the desired name and location to save the mailbox items (*.mbox files).
  5. Finally, press the Continue tab.

After following all the above-mentioned steps, your Apple Mail data will be saved on your hard drive. However, it has numerous limitations, such as:  

  • While using this process, your data might be lost. 
  • There are high chances of human error. 
  • It takes lots of effort and time. 
  • No guarantee your data will be securely transferred. 

In that case, we have another method that deals with all the restrictions of the manual approach. Let’s discuss it in detail. 

Technique 2 Using a Professional Way to Export Mac Mail to External Hard Drive

MacSonik iCloud Email Backup Tool is the most recommended software to back up the Apple Mail data. This utility enables you to backup Apple Mail to external Hard Drive in bulk. Apart from this, it offers various incredible features that help users to complete the process effectively. It includes an identical email remover, date mail filter, backup emails without attachments, and many more. Moreover, it preserves the original folder hierarchy and provides 100% accurate results in minimal downtime. 

Working Steps to Backup Mac Mail to External Hard Drive

Here, we will discuss the software steps elaborately to complete the process without worries. 

  1. To start the process, install and launch the iCloud Email Backup Software on your system. 
  2. Thereafter, type the correct credentials of your Apple Account. Then, hit Sign In.
  3. Next, select the folder that you wish to export from Apple Mail to the hard drive.
  4. Further, pick the file format from the drop-down menu in which you want to transfer Apple Mail data (Say PDF).
  5. Later, set the location to save your converted file into the hard drive. 
  6. Lastly, click the Convert button to initiate the process of backing up Apple Mail data into the external hard drive.

Read more – Migrate iCloud to Office 365

Conclusion

Once you read this blog, you will understand various reasons why users choose to backup Apple Mail to external Hard Drive. Additionally, we discussed the different methods to finish this process smoothly. While a manual approach is possible, it carries a significant risk of data loss. For a more efficient and secure experience, many users opt for professional software, which can quickly and easily perform the backup with minimal effort.

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