Exporting all emails on Apple Mail App to store on external G-drive

I have El Capitan OS 10.11.6. I need to save all of my thousands of emails on Mail App to an external G-drive.

Mail App quits unexpectedly when online and when I try to save individual inbox messages even while offline. Can I export all of my emails from Archive while offline? I have attempted previously, however I did not see that they had been exported and saved on the G-Drive. Please clarify each step as best as possible. Thank you for any assistance provided. If any other users have had a similar experience, please comment.

Posted on Aug 15, 2023 1:41 PM

Reply
8 replies

Aug 16, 2023 12:11 PM in response to littlewhale

Hi littlewhale,


Time Machine backups include your email, so this may be a useful step to try. Here's how: Back up your Mac with Time Machine

Use Time Machine, the built-in backup feature of your Mac, to automatically back up your personal data, including apps, music, photos, email, and documents. Having a backup allows you to restore your Mac from a Time Machine backup if you ever delete your files or can't access them.

When you connect the storage device to your Mac, your Mac might ask if you want to use it for Time Machine backups. If it doesn't ask, follow these steps.

1. Open Time Machine settings:
• macOS Ventura or later: Choose Apple menu  > System Settings, click General in the sidebar, then click Time Machine on the right.
• Earlier versions of macOS: Choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, then click Time Machine.

2. In Time Machine settings, select your external storage device as your backup destination:
• macOS Ventura or later: Click the add button (+), then follow the onscreen instructions.
• Earlier versions of macOS: Click Select Backup Disk, then follow the onscreen instructions. 

3. If the storage device contains Time Machine backups from another Mac, you might be asked to claim the existing backups so that they become part of the backups for this Mac. Or you can choose to start a new backup instead.

Regards.

Aug 25, 2023 6:34 PM in response to littlewhale

I will try




Thank you for replying to my inquiry. I have tried the export function provided via Mail Box, but as noted I cannot detect that my email account has exported its contents to the external drive. Do you know why that function does not work? My emails are not stored on iCloud, correct? Does Time Machine function on my older OSX if I try to export from it? If my computer should crash, is Time Machine data also lost? When I am exporting individual folders to the external drive, I have copied each one individually and have needed to enter my password each time. Why does Mail app continually quit? Excessive emails?

Sent from my iPad.

Aug 29, 2023 11:27 AM in response to MVegas21

Dear MVegas21,

I followed your directions for my older OSX El Captain and updated TimeMachine with backup to my external 4T G-Drive today. I opened the G-Drive to see if I could locate all the Mail, and I do not see a folder for them. As noted in my other reply, I used Mail Box with Export option to external G-Drive and I still do not see a folder for the Mail.

Where can I locate where all Mail is now stored on Time-Machine to G-Drive?


The Mac Mini El Capitan OSX Desktop Mail App quits repeatedly. I considered trying to sync or transfer all the 7000 plus emails to my iPad or SE iPhone Mail app, but I don’t want to risk running out of space on them or interfering with their functioning.


Are my original password and security questions stored on Mail App when I first set up the account for Mail?

Thank you very much for assisting me with these questions.


Aug 29, 2023 11:37 AM in response to MVegas21




Sent from my iPad Dear MVegas21,

 

Additionally, the Mac Mini El Capitan OSX Desktop Mail App quits repeatedly. I considered trying to sync or transfer all the 7000 plus g/emails to my iPad or SE iPhone Mail app, but I don’t want to risk running out of space on them or interfering with their functioning. Do you know what causes Mail to repeatedly quit and how to remedy that?


Are my original password and security questions stored on Mail App when I first set up the account for Mail?


Thank you very much for assisting me with all of these questions.


Aug 29, 2023 11:41 AM in response to MVegas21




Sent from my iPad Dear MVegas21,

I considered trying to sync or transfer all the 7000 plus g/emails from Mac mini El Capitan to my iPad or SE iPhone Mail app, but I don’t want to risk running out of space on them or interfering with their function. How to remedy Mail quitting on Mac mini? Are my original password and security questions stored on Mail App when I first set up the account for Mail? Thank you again for assisting me with these questions.


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Exporting all emails on Apple Mail App to store on external G-drive

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