How to Convert MBOX to EML/ EMLX Files on Mac OS

Many popular email applications utilize the MBOX file format to store email messages. MBOX saves multiple emails within a single file in a concatenated manner. It is the most popular mailbox storage file format. Despite that, there are many users who want to convert MBOX to EML or EMLX files.
The primary reason is to access the mailbox data in EML supported email applications. Other is to separate all the email messages stored within the MBOX file into multiple EML or EMLX files.
Basic Difference b/w MBOX and EML/ EMLX Files
As discussed earlier, MBOX stores all emails in a single file. Thus, if you lose the MBOX file or it is corrupted, you will lose all the email messages in one go.
EML format actually stores each email message in a separate EML file.
EMLX format is similar to EML with the only exception that it is created and worked with on Mac OS. It is implemented and developed by Apple for its Mail app.
So, if a user wishes to store each message in a separate file, EML/EMLX format will be preferred over the MBOX format. Especially for Mac OS users.
Simple Method to Convert MBOX to EML / EMLX on Mac
Similar to other email conversion scenarios, the methods here are basically divided into 2 categories:
- Manual method
- Automated method
Let us discuss both of them in a detailed manner below.
I. Manual Method
- Run the Mail app on your Mac machine.
- Select an email that you want to save in EML/EMLX format.
- Drag and drop this email message inside any folder on your Mac machine (outside of Mail app).
- The email message will be automatically saved as EML file.
It doesn’t take much to determine just how monotonous and time-consuming this manual task is. You need to select one email at a time and create EML files individually.
So, it is much better to opt for the next method as it ensures bulk conversion within a few minutes.
II. Automated Method
The most reliable way to convert MBOX to EML files on Mac is to use Mac MBOX to PST Converter. This wizard provides multiple export options:
- PST
- EML
- EMLX
- HTML
- MSG
It allows batch conversion of multiple MBOX files and can quickly export all email messages of MBOX to EMLX or EML or any other format of your choosing. It has been tested to run on Mac OS versions 10.8, 10.9, 10.10, 10.11, 10.12, 10.13, 10.14, and 10.15.
Easy steps to convert MBOX to EML on Mac
- Step 1: Run MBOX to EML Converter on Mac system.
- Step 2: Add MBOX files for conversion with “Add File”
- Step 3: Set format to “EML” and apply email filters.
- Step 4: Hit “Export” to convert Mac MBOX to EML format.
The steps are the same for EMLX, with the exception of selecting EMLX format in Step 3.
Here are the elaborate steps to export MBOX files to EML / EMLX with attachments and formatting intact:
1. Run the software on your Mac machine.

2. Click on Add Files and select the MBOX files that you want to convert into EML format.

3. Click on Next button to proceed.

4. Select EML or EMLX format as per your requirement.

5. Set name convention and date-range filters after clicking on the Adv Settings button.

6. Set the destination location where you want to save the files after conversion.

7. Finally, click on the Export button to starting converting MBOX files to EML format.

8. Once the process completes, click on the OK button.

That’s it! All your emails are successfully converted into individual EML/EMLX files on your Mac machine.
Conclusion
The ever-increasing demands to convert Mac MBOX to EML files can be successfully met by using a tried and tested software wizard as discussed in this blog. Although the manual method is also present, it is not upto the standard of users as it takes a lot of time and effort to complete. Therefore, those who are seeking to export MBOX files to EMLX or EML format on Mac can quickly fetch the automated solution in this regard. It is a safe solution, free of any risks of losing data.