Friday 29th August 2025

Overview: Are you still struggling with large MBOX folders that keep slowing down your email client? Big MBOX files also refuse to open in any email client. In this situation, you are not alone; users who use these email clients, like Thunderbird, Apple Mail, or other MBOX-compatible platforms, frequently encounter the problem of oversized MBOX files. Large MBOX files not only affect your email client’s performance but also increase the chances of corruption or data loss. In this situation, users need to split MBOX file; this is ideal for everyone who wants to access MBOX files without any errors or problems.

In this article, users will learn:

  • Why is splitting oversized MBOX files necessary?
  • Perfect step-by-step method to directly split MBOX file
  • Advanced splitting options that are suitable for all users
  • Why use an expert solution, or is it better than manual methods?

Why Split MBOX File Required? – Top Reasons

Many times, everyone thinks a big MBOX file can save all data in one file and it will be secure for the future. But then why do you need to split oversized MBOX files? There are many reasons to divide an MBOX file into small chunks. Sometimes, oversized MBOX files can create multiple issues. Let’s understand why separate MBOX files:

  • Improved Email Client Performance: Any email client will load smaller MBOX files more quickly. Furthermore, it minimizes lag and stops working on any OS when users access MBOX files.
  • Reduced Risk of MBOX File Corruption: If you use the huge files, they can become more prone to corruption. Accessing large-size MBOX can lead to inaccessible emails.
  • Effortless Email Management: Once users divide MBOX files into small parts, they can be simply backed up, migrated, and shared.
  • Skip File Size Limits: Breaking MBOX files enables you to navigate around the size limit restrictions placed on many email clients.
  • Data Protection: By splitting the MBOX file into smaller parts, users can get smooth email access and better data protection.

Free Method: Split MBOX File From Oversized Folders

Separating MBOX files is a common need if users want to use large mail archives in multiple email clients like Thunderbird or Apple Mail. In the AI era, professional software solutions exist to separate MBOX files. Not all users have the same needs, as not everyone can spend money on an expert tool. They can use this free method.

divide-oversized-mbox-file

Steps to Split Large MBOX Files in Thunderbird

  • Launch the Thunderbird email client if your MBOX files are stored.
  • In Thunderbird, make multiple empty folders that will be used to split large MBOX files.
  • After that, go to the large MBOX folder.
  • Select multiple emails and drag-and-drop them into new folders that you created recently.
  • Repeat the process until your large MBOX folder has been divided into multiple smaller folders.
  • Navigate to Thunderbird’s local profile directory.
  • Each new folder you create will now appear as a separate MBOX file inside the profile folder.

Method 2: Try Plain Text Editor to Break MBOX Files

  • Create a Backup – Before dividing MBOX files, always keep a copy of the original MBOX file.
  • Open in Editor – Make use of a large-file editor like Notepad++ or VS Code to open MBOX file.
  • Find Email Start Points:From” is the first line of every email.
  • Copy Sections: Select all emails by using (CTRL + A), copy and paste them into a new file. It will be saved as .mbox extension. To split the file, repeat as required.

Pros & Cons of Free Techniques:

Pros:

  • Free techniques are completely cost-free to break MBOX data files.
  • Users don’t need to download any additional software.
  • A free method like Text Editor helps users with no access to email clients.

Cons:

  • This method is highly tedious for large MBOX files if you folder save files in GB.
  • Users can miss emails or they can also move the same email twice. This mistake could lead to data loss.
  • There are no options to split by size, date, sender, etc.
  • Any minor error in the file structure can corrupt the whole MBOX file and make it unreadable.
  • When users use the free method, it requires knowledge of the MBOX file format.
  • You run the risk of losing attachments, email formatting, metadata, etc.

How to Directly Split MBOX File? Pro Solution

If users want the most efficient way to handle oversized MBOX files, then they can use the professional BLR MBOX converter tool. This solution can give you the option to split MBOX file into small parts and after that, you can save them into different formats such as PST, PDF, EML and more. This application is workable with all Windows editions. There is no need to install multiple email clients like Thunderbird or Apple Mail to break an MBOX file. Here are the steps mentioned below that give you a brief explanation of how users can handle oversized MBOX email data:

  • Download or install BLR MBOX Splitter software. Click Here 👇

download free software

  • Launch the tool.
  • Add the oversized MBOX file.
  • Choose the splitting option.
    • By size (GB or MB size)
    • By date range (split year-wise or month-wise)
    • Divide by folder/mailbox or email ID.
  • Select the destination folder to save the newly divided MBOX files.
  • Choose the PST or PDF format to save the divided MBOX file.

Note: Users can save the divided MBOX files in other formats such as PST, PDF, EML, etc. This tool didn’t save the divided MBOX file in MBOX format. After that, users can access or import MBOX files in Outlook to access all oversized MBOX formats.

  • Start the process.
  • Once the process is done, now verify the new, smaller MBOX files.

That’s it! All oversized MBOX email files are now split into manageable parts. Users can now easily move or access them in any email client.

Know Advanced splitting options for all users’ needs

Users can check the advanced filters in the expert solution:

  • Users can break MBOX files by size with this application, for example, 1 GB, 2 GB, 5 GB, etc.
  • The possibilities exist for emails from various months or years, creating distinct files.
  • Create MBOX files with their original structure by using folders as a basis.
  • To organize data, separate files according to sender or recipient addresses.
  • These flexible options give you complete control over how your MBOX data is managed.

Conclusion

Oversized MBOX files can create major headaches—slow performance, crashes, or even complete MBOX file corruption. Splitting MBOX files into smaller or manageable parts makes them easily accessible on any OS. If users use the expert method, like the BLR Tools MBOX splitter tool, they can divide MBOX files by size, date, folder, or even email ID without losing data. The manual method can also divide MBOX folders into small parts, but it has some limitations or cons that make the process troublesome for non-techies. So, stop struggling with oversized MBOX files. Users can now take control of MBOX email data today. Download the free trial edition and split MBOX file effortlessly!