IMAP Email
Backup Tool
Connect to any IMAP email server and back up your entire mailbox. Export emails to 15+ formats including PST, MBOX, EML, MSG, PDF, and more. Fast, secure, and reliable.
IMAP Server Settings
For Gmail/Yahoo/Outlook with 2FA, use an App Password.
Only scan emails within this range. Leave empty for all.
Selected: EML — Email Message Format
What Is IMAP Email Backup?
IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) is the standard protocol used by email clients to access messages stored on a mail server. Unlike POP3, which typically downloads and deletes emails from the server, IMAP keeps messages synchronized across all your devices — desktop, phone, and tablet — by maintaining a live connection to the server.
An IMAP backup is the process of connecting to your email server via IMAP, downloading all or selected mailbox folders, and saving them in a portable file format on your local device. This creates an offline copy of your email archive that you own and control, independent of any email provider.
Our IMAP Backup Tool supports 15 different output formats, making it the most versatile email backup solution available. Whether you need Outlook-compatible PST files, universal MBOX archives, individual EML messages, PDF documents for legal archival, or structured CSV/JSON data for analysis — every format is just one click away.
The tool works with any IMAP-compatible email provider including Gmail, Outlook.com, Yahoo Mail, iCloud, Zoho, Fastmail, and self-hosted mail servers. Connection details for popular providers are auto-detected, so you can start backing up in seconds.
Supported Email Providers
Works with all major email services and any custom IMAP server
Gmail
imap.gmail.com
Outlook / Hotmail
outlook.office365.com
Yahoo Mail
imap.mail.yahoo.com
iCloud Mail
imap.mail.me.com
Zoho Mail
imap.zoho.com
AOL Mail
imap.aol.com
Yandex Mail
imap.yandex.com
Mail.ru
imap.mail.ru
GMX Mail
imap.gmx.com
Fastmail
imap.fastmail.com
ProtonMail (Bridge)
127.0.0.1
Any Custom IMAP
imap.yourdomain.com
All 15 Output Formats Explained
Choose the right export format for your specific use case
Discover Features of Our IMAP Backup Tool
A complete email backup solution with enterprise-grade capabilities
Connect to Any IMAP Server
Works with Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, Zoho, iCloud, Fastmail, and any other email provider that supports IMAP. Simply enter your server details and credentials to connect instantly. The auto-detect feature fills in IMAP host and port for popular providers.
15+ Export Formats
Export your emails to PST, MBOX, EML, MSG, PDF, HTML, CSV, TXT, JSON, MHT, EMLX, DOCX, RTF, ICS, and VCF. Whether you need Outlook-compatible archives, plain text logs, or structured data for analysis, the right format is always available.
Secure & Encrypted Connection
All connections use SSL/TLS or STARTTLS encryption to protect your credentials and email data in transit. Your login details are never stored or logged. The entire backup process is secure from start to finish.
Selective Folder Backup
Choose exactly which mailbox folders to back up — Inbox, Sent, Drafts, Archive, or any custom folders. Skip spam and trash to save time, or select everything for a complete mailbox mirror. You have full control.
Fast Parallel Processing
The backup engine processes multiple folders simultaneously for maximum speed. Large mailboxes with thousands of emails are backed up efficiently, with real-time progress tracking so you always know the status.
Works on Any Device
No software installation required. The IMAP Backup Tool works on Windows, macOS, Linux, Chromebooks, tablets, and smartphones. Just open the page, enter your credentials, and start backing up.
Steps to Back Up Your IMAP Emails
Back up your entire mailbox in 4 simple steps
Enter IMAP Settings
Enter your email address, password (or app password), and IMAP server details. The tool auto-detects host and port for popular email providers like Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo.
Choose Output Format
Select from 15+ output formats: PST, MBOX, EML, MSG, PDF, HTML, CSV, TXT, JSON, MHT, EMLX, DOCX, RTF, ICS, or VCF. Pick the format that best suits your needs.
Select Folders
After connecting, browse your mailbox folders and select the ones you want to back up. Choose individual folders or select all for a complete backup.
Download Your Backup
Click Start Backup and watch the progress in real time. Once complete, download your email archive in the selected format, ready for import or archival.
Free vs Paid — IMAP Backup
Get started free, upgrade when you need more power.
Unlock the Full Power of IMAP Backup
Remove daily limits, process larger files up to 500 MB, enable batch processing, and get priority support.
Backup Tools includes:
- IMAP Email Backup tool
- Unlimited backups
- 15+ output formats (PST, MBOX, EML, etc.)
- Date range filtering
- Selective folder backup
- SSL/TLS encryption
Also available in the All Tools Bundle
Our Users' Questions & Reviews
Verified questions from real users and expert answers from the OnlinePCTools team
“I need to back up my entire Gmail mailbox (about 30,000 emails) before switching to a new email provider. Can this tool handle that volume, and which format should I use?”
Sarah Mitchell
Marketing Manager, London, UK
Absolutely. The tool handles large mailboxes efficiently with parallel folder processing. For migrating to another email client, we recommend MBOX or EML format — both are widely supported. If you're moving to Outlook specifically, PST is the best choice. For Gmail, make sure to use an App Password (generate one from your Google Account security settings) since regular passwords won't work with IMAP.
— OnlinePCTools Team
“I'm a lawyer and I need to archive all emails from a specific client folder in a format that preserves the original headers and timestamps for legal discovery. What do you recommend?”
David Park
Corporate Attorney, New York, USA
For legal archival with full header preservation, EML format is ideal — each email is saved as an individual file with all headers, timestamps, and attachments intact. If you need a single-file archive, MBOX preserves all metadata in one file. For court submissions, PDF format creates print-ready documents with complete header information. You can selectively back up just the specific client folder rather than the entire mailbox.
— OnlinePCTools Team
“I run a small business and I want to regularly back up my company's email accounts on Zoho Mail. Will this work with Zoho's IMAP, and can I export to CSV for record-keeping in spreadsheets?”
Anita Sharma
Small Business Owner, Bangalore, India
Yes, the tool works perfectly with Zoho Mail's IMAP server. When you enter your Zoho email address, the IMAP host (imap.zoho.com) and port (993) will be auto-detected. CSV export is great for spreadsheet analysis — it extracts sender, recipient, subject, date, and body text into columns that open directly in Excel or Google Sheets. For full email archival alongside CSV, consider also backing up in EML or MBOX format to preserve attachments.
— OnlinePCTools Team
“I want to migrate my Yahoo Mail to Outlook. Can I backup from Yahoo via IMAP and then import the backup into Microsoft Outlook on my desktop?”
James Wilson
IT Administrator, Sydney, Australia
This is a perfect use case. Connect to Yahoo Mail using IMAP (the tool auto-detects imap.mail.yahoo.com), select all the folders you want to migrate, and export in PST format. PST files import directly into Microsoft Outlook via File > Open & Export > Import/Export. All your emails, folder structure, and attachments will transfer cleanly. For Yahoo, you may need to generate an App Password from your Yahoo Account security settings.
— OnlinePCTools Team
Who Needs IMAP Email Backup?
Common scenarios where email backup saves time and protects valuable data
Email Provider Migration
Switching from Gmail to Outlook, Yahoo to Zoho, or any other provider migration? Back up your entire mailbox from the old provider and import the archive into the new one seamlessly.
Compliance & Legal Archival
Regulatory requirements like GDPR, HIPAA, or SOX often mandate email archival. Back up mailboxes in EML or MBOX format to maintain full headers, timestamps, and chain-of-custody for audits and legal discovery.
Disaster Recovery Backup
Protect against accidental deletion, account compromise, or provider outages. Regular IMAP backups ensure you always have an offline copy of critical communications.
Data Analysis & Reporting
Export emails as CSV or JSON for analysis in Excel, Google Sheets, or custom scripts. Track communication patterns, response times, or generate reports from email metadata.
Employee Offboarding
When employees leave your organization, back up their mailbox before deactivating the account. Preserve institutional knowledge and communication history in a portable format.
Research & Investigation
Forensic investigators and researchers can export mailbox contents to structured formats (JSON, CSV) for systematic analysis, keyword searching, and evidence gathering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common queries about the IMAP Email Backup Tool
Q1. What is IMAP and how does it differ from POP3?
Q2. Which email providers are supported?
Q3. What is an App Password and do I need one?
Q4. How long does a full mailbox backup take?
Q5. Are my email credentials stored?
Q6. Can I back up only specific folders?
Q7. Which output format should I choose?
Q8. Does the backup include email attachments?
Q9. Is this tool free?
Q10. Can I use this tool for email migration between providers?
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