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How do I back up my mail so I have an actual copy of each email?

When I export a Mailbox all it does is make an alias to that mailbox. If I open it, it opens my IMAP mailbox. I want to backup my emails so that I have an actual copy of the email I can find. Shouldn't be too tough. Why do I feel like I go through this problem every couple of months?

iMac 21.5″, macOS 10.13

Posted on Jul 30, 2021 1:13 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jul 30, 2021 1:26 PM

Hello, Devin Jackson.


In Mail, click View > Show Mailbox List

Create a new mailbox in the section "On My Mac".

Select the emails that you wish to keep and click Message > Copy to and then choose the mailbox you created. Your messages will be copied into the mailbox stored on your Mac, but also remain on your server.

Time Machine will back up the local mailbox and you can retrieve your messages from there if you need to.


1 reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jul 30, 2021 1:26 PM in response to Devin Jackson

Hello, Devin Jackson.


In Mail, click View > Show Mailbox List

Create a new mailbox in the section "On My Mac".

Select the emails that you wish to keep and click Message > Copy to and then choose the mailbox you created. Your messages will be copied into the mailbox stored on your Mac, but also remain on your server.

Time Machine will back up the local mailbox and you can retrieve your messages from there if you need to.


How do I back up my mail so I have an actual copy of each email?

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