Quick Guide to Convert IMAP to EML: Extract Emails from IMAP
-
Written By
Aaradhya Jain -
Approved By
Shivam Rathore -
Updated on
October 30th, 2025 - Read Time
4 minutes
User Query: I have an IMAP email account with hundreds of emails. I want to save some important emails in EML format so I can open them in different email clients. How can I convert IMAP to EML easily without losing attachments or data?
Summary:IMAP stores emails on the server, which is great for accessing messages from multiple devices. But sometimes, you need a local copy of emails for backup or migration. Converting IMAP emails to EML files is the best solution. EML files can be opened in Outlook, Thunderbird, Windows Mail, and Apple Mail. In this blog, we will explain both the manual and professional DRS IMAP Backup Tool to export IMAP account emails to EML.
Why Export IMAP Mailbox to EML?
- Backup important emails locally.
- Access emails offline anytime.
- Open emails in multiple email clients.
- Also, keep attachments and email headers intact.
Real-Life Example: Export IMAP to EML
Ozen, an IT administrator, needed to archive all company emails from an IMAP server. He used DRS IMAP to EML Converter and exported hundreds of emails in minutes. Now, all emails are safely stored and can be opened in Thunderbird or Outlook anytime.
Simple Steps to Convert IMAP to EML
- Download and install the DRS IMAP Email Backup Tool.
- Log in with your IMAP email credentials. Click Sign In.
- Preview and select the emails you want to export.
- After that, choose EML as the output format.
- Apply any filters or options if needed, then click Convert.
Method 01: Manual Way to Convert IMAP to EML
If you have only a few emails, you can manually export them. Here is how you can perform it:
- Initially, set up your IMAP account in Thunderbird.
- After that, select the email(s) you want to save.
- Then, right-click → Save As → Choose EML format.
- In the end, repeat for each email or folder.
Limitations: Manually Transfer Emails from IMAP to EML
- This process is time-consuming for large mailboxes.
- Attachments may not always export correctly.
- Moreover, manual setup is required for every account.
Method 02: Professional Tool to Convert IMAP to EML
To avoid all the limitations of the manual method, you can use the reliable DRS IMAP Mail Backup Software. This tool is specifically designed to export multiple emails from IMAP to EML or other formats without any hassle. It preserves original email formatting, structure, and metadata during the entire conversion. With its advanced features, this tool has a simple interface that allows every user to easily operate it. In addition, this tool also helps to export emails from cPanel to Gmail and other formats.
One-Time IMAP to EML Conversion
If you need to extract emails only once, you can share your credentials with our support team. They will export emails safely to EML without data loss.
Step-By-Step Guide: How to Export IMAP to EML
- First, download and install the DRS IMAP Backup Tool on your PC.
- Now, enter your IMAP credentials, ID & Password, to Sign In.
- Then, you can preview (Cross-verify) and select the emails to convert.
- After that, choose EML format from the available drop-down list.
- Lastly, apply advanced features and filters as per your needs. Click Convert.
Benefits of Using the Tool
- Save multiple emails from IMAP in one go.
- Keep attachments, subject, sender, and metadata intact.
- Compatible with all IMAP-supported email accounts.
- Works on all Windows versions, such as Windows 11 and more.
- Furthermore, a free demo is available to test features.
Also Read: Export cPanel Emails to PST.
Conclusion
To sum up, we discussed two main methods to convert IMAP to EML using a manual and a professional tool. The manual method is free to use. But it has several limitations that make it an irrelevant choice for many users. That’s why it’s highly suggested to use the professional tool. It supports bulk conversion with several advanced features.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ans: You can convert IMAP emails to EML manually using Thunderbird or by using a professional tool like DRS IMAP Backup Tool. The professional tool allows bulk conversion and preserves email formatting, attachments, and metadata.
Ans: Yes, a reliable IMAP to EML converter keeps all attachments intact along with email headers and formatting.
Ans: Yes, professional tools support multiple IMAP accounts and allow you to export emails from all accounts simultaneously.
Ans: Yes, using a trusted tool like DRS IMAP Backup Tool is safe. It securely exports emails without data loss and keeps your credentials confidential.
About The Author:
I, Aaradhya Jain, a technical content writer at DRS Solutions, specializes in delivering clear, practical guides on data management, migration, and recovery tools. With a detail-oriented and user-first approach mindset, I transform complex processes into actionable insights for IT professionals and decision-makers.
