How to Open Google Takeout Emails in Outlook?

Google Takeout is a free service that allows Google account users to export and save a copy of emails and other account data on their devices in a .zip file (for Windows or Mac) or .tgz (for Linux). Once this compressed file is extracted, a folder named "Takeout" is created – containing several sub-folders, such as Mail, Drive, etc.

When Gmail mailbox data is exported via this utility, it gives users two options: to export all mailbox labels (folders) or select individual labels (specific mailbox folders). Former creates a single MBOX file – "All Mail Including Spam and Trash.mbox". The latter option saves the selected labels as separate .mbox files, for eg - Inbox.mbox, Sent.mbox, Trash.mbox, Spam.mbox, etc.

If you try to open a Google Takeout MBOX file in Outlook, you won't be able to do so directly. This is because, as per Microsoft, Outlook desktop client doesn't support the .mbox file format – it supports PST format. Hence, you'd need to convert the MBOX file first. Let’s read further to see how this is done.

How to Download Gmail using Google Takeout?

It is easy to download your emails from Gmail using Google Takeout. You just need to follow the given simple steps:

• Log in to Google Takeout (https://takeout.google.com/) using your Gmail credentials.
• You will see the Google Takeout page.
• Under Select data to include, Deselect all the selected options.
• Then scroll down and select "Mail.”

• Here, you'll get two options:
  • Multiple Formats: Use it to verify the save file format. It should be MBOX.
  • All mail data included: By default all mailbox items are selected. You can select individual mailbox folders as well. It will export separate .mbox files for each selected folder.
• After making your selection, scroll down and click Next Step to proceed.

• In the next step – Choose file type & destination, select the destination, file type, and size using their respective dropdown menus.

• Click on Create export to begin exporting.

• The export process will begin. You will receive an email on your Gmail ID notifying you about the export link. Download it.

• Extract the .zip file and you’ll see the "Takeout folder." Gmail data (as MBOX file/s) will be in it.

You can also refer to Google's official documentation to extract other types of data.

What are the Methods to Open Google Takeout Emails?

Explained below are the two methods that you can use to open Google Takeout emails in Outlook.

Method 1: Manually Move Emails from Gmail MBOX to Outlook

You can install and use Mozilla Thunderbird to open the exported Gmail MBOX file; then migrate emails from Thunderbird to Outlook. However, this workaround is suitable only if you need to open only a few emails. For this, you'll need to install Mozilla Thunderbird on your system. After this, configure an email account in it, followed by adding and using ImportExportTools NG to open/import an MBOX file. Then, save the required emails as individual EML files, and finally, drag and drop them into Outlook.

Limitations of the Manual Method

The above method is free to use but has the following limitations:

• Time-consuming and lengthy process
• Repetitive steps in case the email messages are scattered across different folders
• Original mailbox hierarchy (folders and subfolders) is lost
• EML files only store email metadata, message body, and attachments (in plain text format)
• It only migrates email messages. Migrating contacts, calendars, and other items is not possible.
• As you can automate the process, there are high chances of missing items or human error.

Method 2: Easy Way to Open Google Takeout Emails using an MBOX to PST Converter

A straightforward way to overcome the above limitations and easily open Google Takeout emails is to convert the MBOX file to PST.

If you are looking for a quick way to open Google Takeout emails without any hassle, then free MBOX to PST converter online by Stellar is the one for you. It is a powerful web-based utility that lets you convert a single MBOX file exported using Google Takeout of size ≤ 100 MB to PST in 3 simple steps: Upload > Convert > Download. It doesn’t need Outlook or any additional tool installed on your computer.

But if you have a large MBOX file (file size exceeding 5GB) or multiple MBOX files of different sizes, use Stellar Converter for MBOX – a powerful desktop software without any file-size restrictions to scan and open MBOX file and preview the contents. It can also help you convert MBOX to PST format with 100% accuracy.

Follow the steps below to use this DIY software:

• Download and install Stellar Converter for MBOX on your computer.
• Launch it.
• elect Google Takeout using the drop-down list against “Email Client.”
• Click on the Select File button to choose the .mbox file.
• Click Convert and wait for the scan to complete.

• After that, all the mailbox items will be listed in the left pane, in a file tree. Select any item to get its enhanced preview.

• Once you have verified the data, click Save Converted File in the ribbon.
• Choose the Save As PST option from the Save As window. Click Next.

• Then, browse for the destination to save the resultant PST file. Click Save.

• The PST file will get saved in the selected folder.

Now, import the PST file into Windows Outlook with the help of the Import/Export wizard in Outlook.

Manual Method vs Stellar Converter for MBOX

Here is a quick comparison between the above-discussed methods.

Conclusion

Above, we have explained two ways to open Google Takeout emails in Outlook. If you need a handful of email messages from the exported Gmail MBOX, the manual method of saving email messages as individual .eml files is suitable. It is, however, inefficient when you require all the emails in the mailbox or have multiple MBOX files. In such a scenario, you need Stellar Converter for MBOX – a specialized software that provides an excellent and safe environment to open the Google Takeout emails (MBOX) without any hassle.