How to Convert MBOX File Emails to Maildir Format ?

 

Overview: Are you one of them who are looking for a solution to convert MBOX to Maildir format ? Or want to know how to import MBOX to Dovecot Maildir Format ? If YES, then read this article to know the complete process. Here, we will explain the complete process to convert MBOX files to Maildir format. So, stay with us and keep reading.

Technology has changed our lives rapidly in a very short span of time, mostly for the better. Just a few years back we thought that there were some things we could never live without and now those same things are almost obsolete. In fact, some technology today is not quite the same as its predecessor like MBOX and Maildir.

MBOX and Maildir are technology popularly used to store and export emails from various email clients including Thunderbird, Communicate, Eudora Mail, etc. MBOX uses a single directory to store all mail whereas Maildir uses a directory hierarchy to store mail. In MBOX file, all messages are stored in one mailbox file. Maildir is a structure for a directory of incoming mail messages.

Maildir addresses the reliability issue on the MBOX file format. Since all emails are stored in a single MBOX file it is always prone to corruption of MBOX files and loss of all data. Whereas in Maildir a structure is followed which minimizes the risk of loss of data. It belongs to three subdirectories, all on the same filesystem: tmp, new, and cur.

Why Do We Need to Convert MBOX to Maildir File ?

There are a large number of users who are looking for a way to convert MBOX to Maildir format. One such procedure is MB2MD.pl scripts which don’t only convert mailbox files into a Maildir file. But, it is not easy for non-technical users to perform MBOX to Maildir conversion process. Some major queries are:

“Are there any Windows-compatible tools to convert e-mail accounts in MBOX format to Maildir format?
I have an account backup in MBOX format that I need to upload to a new host that uses Maildir; I don’t have shell access on either account.”

“Converting MBOX to Maildir format on windows. I am aware that there are a few .pl scripts out there that serve this purpose. But I have some problems running it on Windows. Eg. http://www.akadia.com/services/converting_mbox_mdir.html
While the Unix server is being prepped, I wish to convert the MBOX files to Maildir format first. I have copied out the respective MBOX. Can someone help to provide the magic formula?
Assume my MBOX are in C:\archived and the mb2md-3.10.pl is at the same folder.”

To resolve all these types of queries, we need a proper solution.

How to Import MBOX to Maildir using Third-party applications?

• Install & Run this application on your Windows and Mac computers.

• Dual modes to load MBOX files by clicking on Add Files or Add Folders options.

• Choose the Mailbox folders and sub-folders by check/uncheck.

• Select Maildir option from Select Saving options from 20+ file formats.

• Set up MBOX to Maildir conversion options like File Naming options.

• Click on the Folder icon and select the folder and click on OK.

• Click on the Convert button and analyze the live conversion process.

• Access the resultant files from destination location as utility directly opens output folder. Import resultant Maildir files into the required application.

MBOX to Maildir Converter – Features & Its Benefits

This application offers various advanced functionalities to its users. It is available for free to download and helps them with different advantages & benefits. Currently, it comes with the following features:

• Batch convert multiple MBOX files to Maildir at once.
• Easy to locate, retrieve and export MBOX files to Maildir.
• Allows you to create UNIX MBOX format to QMail’s Maildir format.
• Converting user’s main mailbox referenced by ENV variables.
• Converting a single mailbox file into the corresponding Maildir file.
• Convert multiple mailboxes in a folder into the corresponding Maildir.
• Recursive operation for a given directory to export complete mail storage of one user.
• Able to handle leading/trailing spaces in mailbox file names.
• Convert MBOX files into Unix-supported Mailbox file format.
• Removal of messages that a couple of IMAP servers put at the beginning of a mailbox.
• Preserves all the Metadata and properties of MBOX emails while converting to Maildir file.
• Convert MBOX to Maildir with all inserted Attachments to transfer emails from one format from another.
• Allows the users to convert Thunderbird MBOX to Maildir file format instantly & quickly.
• Allows you to convert all types of applications exported from Thunderbird, Gmail, Entourage, Netscape, Eudora, Pocomail, Claws Mail, The Bat, Opera Mail, Chaos Intellect, Google Takeout, Spicebird, Mulberry, Kerio, etc. format.
• Easily enables the users to save resultant MBOX files at user’s desired location.
• Compatible with all latest Windows OS versions including Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, XP, Vista for 32, 64-bit.
• Creates Maildir Cur, New and Temp Folder of Maildir to protect its hierarchy.

Conclusion

In this article, we have explained the method of converting MBOX to Maildir format. Maildir is a mail storage system in which each mail stores in a single file with structured followed. In case if a user wants to convert a large number of MBOX files to Maildir format then it is recommended to use MBOX to Maildir Converter. It will batch convert multiple mailbox files to Maildir format. It will maintain the Maildir folder hierarchy by creating Maildir Cur, New & Temp folder. The working and features of the tool are discussed above. You can also ask any queries related to this product to our support team. Also, if you need any new feature, then contact us.