How can I export / migrate old (inactive account) email from iPhone X to iMac?

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Level 1

32 points

How can I export / migrate old (inactive account) email from iPhone X to iMac?

I support several email accounts on my iPhone X (iOS 12.1.4) including a work account. I am no longer with the company and no longer have access to the SMTP or IMAP servers for this account. My desire is to copy, move the 2 years of email history from this account which is currently on my iPhone over to my iMac (OS X10.14.3), either adding the content to my Mail App, or even exporting as *.csv, .mbox, or other formatted file or database.

Syncing and backing up the iPhone directly to the iMac via iTunes does not replicate or copy the email account and contents to the iMac.

I have tried using 3rd party data recovery and restoration applications but they only give me access to notes, messages, photos, and files; they do not allow access to email folders or content.

I have tried "moving" messages to a new mailbox folder on another (iCloud and Gmail) account on the iPhone but always get an error message saying the messages cannot be moved. I assume because as part of the moving process, the Mail App on the iPhone tries to sync up with the email server, which of course it can't complete.

Any suggestions on how to get these potentially useful iPhone email messages moved to my Mac would be greatly appreciated.

iPhone X

Posted on Feb 16, 2019 12:45 PM

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Answer 1

LyndyB Author

Level 1

32 points

Feb 26, 2019 12:49 PM in response to LyndyB

Update:

I found that if I changed the outgoing SMTP Server settings for the work account mentioned above to another account (e.g. iCloud, etc.), then I can open one message at a time and forward the work message to another one of my personal addresses. Although this could work, I can only do one message at a time, which will require quite a bit of time if I want to replicate for ~3,000 messages.

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Answer 2

Feb 26, 2019 12:59 PM in response to LyndyB

If you are consulting for them perhaps you can talk them into reënabling the account. When I retired from my company they kept my account active for 2 years, until I stopped taking occasional assignments.

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Answer 3

Feb 26, 2019 12:52 PM in response to LyndyB

Well, you have a solution, as imperfect as it is. But keep in mind that any email on a company account is the property of the company, not you. Keeping it may be considered theft of company intellectual capital.

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Answer 4

LyndyB Author

Level 1

32 points

Feb 26, 2019 12:56 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

Lawrence,

Thank you for the followup. No disagreement from you on the Intellectual property comment. In this situation, I am still called upon occasionally to assist (in a consultative capacity) by managers and staff within the company. Just hoping to be able to move content off the mobile device, primarily for security reasons.

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How can I export / migrate old (inactive account) email from iPhone X to iMac?

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