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An MBOX file saves multiple emails from your mailbox in a single container, separated by the header section. Many users simply want to open MBOX file emails, but you can’t directly open it without an email client. Thus, converting an MBOX file to TXT format allows easy access to email content on any system. This guide explains a simple way to convert MBOX files to TXT format. Let’s continue with the reasons for the conversion and then the actual process of MBOX to TXT conversion.
Why Need to Convert MBOX File to TXT File?
Converting MBOX email to plain text file offers several key benefits. Here are some common situations includes;
- Users can open and read emails without installing any email client.
- The TXT format is lightweight and can be opened on any device or operating system.
- This format is incredible if users use it for legal or forensic purposes.
- If users want to save emails for long-term record-keeping and archiving, then the TXT format is best, unlike the MBOX format.
- You can quickly search and index content in a small TXT file.
- A TXT file is much faster than sifting through a bulky MBOX file in any email client.
How to Convert MBOX to TXT Manually?
If users want to freely convert MBOX files into a plain text format, then they can use some hands-on methods. This free method also comes with some limitations, or I say, cons. Let’s discuss the manual solutions for the conversion.
Method 1: Open MBOX File with Text Editor
This is the most straightforward strategy, but it’s also sometimes the most chaotic. Follow these steps to export MBOX to Plain TXT:
- Check the MBOX file.
- Right-click on the MBOX file.
- Select the “Open with” option.
- Pick any text editor, like Notepad++ or any other.
- The MBOX file is now open.
- Now save the open file with the .txt format.
Note: This method is only useful for quickly viewing a small number of MBOX files in TXT format. However, it will be hard to find or read anything from that file.
Method 2: Convert MBOX Emails to TXT Using Thunderbird
This method is best if you already use the Thunderbird email client to make a readable MBOX file in TXT format. Here are the steps;
- Open Thunderbird.
- Go to “Tools” and pick the option “Import.”
- Select the MBOX file that users want to import.
- After the importing process is done, your emails will appear in a folder within Thunderbird.
- Install ImportExportTools NG.
- Right-click the folder containing the imported emails.
- Now pick “ImportExportTools NG,” choose “Export all messages in the folder,” and select “plain text (.txt) file.”
Note: Firstly, users have to install and set up Mozilla Thunderbird and use the ImportExportTools NG.
Method 3: Convert MBOX to TXT in Bulk
Since you learn the fact that manual methods are simple but not practical. This is where dedicated third-party mbox converter tool come in. BLR MBOX Converter allows users to convert MBOX emails into TXT files. This tool can easily extract and convert MBOX to TXT as plain text format. While converting your emails, this tool will preserve email key attributes and elements.
Download the free version of the software to know how the MBOX to Text conversion happens.
Conclusion
This guide suggests the best alternative solutions to convert MBOX emails into TXT format without needing technical help. The manual methods are fully free, but this method can be messy if users are trying to convert large-sized MBOX file data.
If you don’t want to face any hassle and convert MBOX to TXT file, then use the professional application. We hope this post addresses your queries effectively.
