How to Save/Backup IMAP Emails Locally in Microsoft Outlook?
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Written By
Andrew Tie -
Approved By
Shivam Rathore -
Updated on
September 26th, 2025 - Read Time
4 minutes
IMAP is the mailing service that is used to send and receive emails. Those email accounts that use the IMAP server are referred to as IMAP email accounts. Most email clients provide an option to enable IMAP. However, some webmail uses the IMAP server by default.
Along with webmail providers, many email accounts with custom addresses use the IMAP server. However, if you want to back up your email account with a custom email address, the procedure is not similar for every account.
Therefore, we suggest a more secure and simple way to migrate emails from IMAP in a computer.
How to Save Backup IMAP Emails Locally?
Before starting backing up your IMAP emails, you must have the IMAP account configured in the MS Outlook application. After that, you can download all your emails to the local drive. The procedure to save IMAP emails locally is mentioned below.
- Launch MS Outlook on your PC and click on the File
- After that, choose the Open & Export tab from the left pane.
- Next, click on the Import/Export
- In the Import Export Wizard, select the Export to a file option and press the Next button.
- Now, choose the Outlook data file (.pst) option from the list. Hit the Next button.
- Select the mailbox folder you want to back up and click on the Next button.
- At last, define the destination for the IMAP backup file and press the Finish button.
- It will successfully migrate your IMAP mailbox locally.
After performing the above procedures, anyone can easily save their mailbox items on their PC. However, this approach is not suitable for all users. Some users find the method tough to perform.
Limitations of the Manual Approach
The manual or DIY method to backup IMAP emails locally is suitable when you have technical expertise. However, if you are a non-technical user, you might not be able to perform the steps properly. Some of the main drawbacks of the manual method are listed below.
- You can not save your complete mailbox data at once. You can only download one folder at a time.
- Using Outlook, you can only backup your emails in PST file format. Even with any other email client, there is no option to save emails in distinct file formats.
- The procedure is complicated and time-consuming for many users.
Because of all the above reasons, we suggest you opt for the automated solution that is appropriate for both technical and non-technical users.
Automated Solution to Save Emails from IMAP into Local Computer
DRS IMAP Backup Tool is the most reliable and secure tool to backup IMAP emails locally in various file types. You can save your emails as PST, EML, MSG, MBOX, HTML, PDF, etc. Along with that, you can also migrate your emails to other email accounts such as Gmail, Yahoo Mail, Office 365, and many others. It offers numerous advanced options to make the migration safe and secure.
How to Download IMAP Emails Locally using DRS IMAP Backup Tool
- Download and open the DRS IMAP Backup Tool as an administrator.
- Sign in with your IMAP account credentials.
- Preview and select mailbox items to backup and click Next.
- Choose backup format (PST, MBOX, EML, etc.).
- Configure additional options as needed.
- Define destination path for the backup.
- Click Convert to start the backup process.
Also Read: Windstream Email Server Settings.
Final Words
After reading this article, you surely learn the best ways to save IMAP emails locally. We discussed IMAP emails and how you can back up your emails using MS Outlook. This approach is quite time-consuming. Also, it allows you to back up your emails only in PST file format. Therefore, we suggest the most efficient IMAP Backup Tool.
Related Post: Export IMAP Email Data to PST.
About The Author:
Andrew Tie is a vastly experienced tech journalist who enjoys taking apart complex technology for a broad audience. Over more than a decade in the technology sector, Tie is good at making complicated technical concepts lucidly clear; enabling readers through engaging content. During his writing career so far, Andrew has written for several tech publications, right from industry-leading journals to popular tech blogs. Clarity, precision, and the ability to bridge technical vocabularies with everyday understanding mark his work.
