Where are my email folders stored and in what format?

Question

Suzy2014 Author

Level 1

82 points

Where are my email folders stored and in what format?

I am using Mac Mail 12.4 on a 2013 iMac with Mojave.

When I go to the MAIL folder, I cannot see any folders or files for each of the folders I created. I as told that there are EMLX files someplace that store email by folders. I cannot see this anywhere. Does anyone know where are the email folders I created and the emails stored?

I see the following structure in the MAIL folder - when posted, the copied image was taken out...

When looking at the MAIL folder, I see the following folders and files:

- Bundles (nothing in it)

- V2 - MailData-Accounts.plist

- V6 - has 7 entries that are similar to this one: #BFTY….BOB -DeletedMessages.mbox The other 6 entries have a mixture on inbox, junk, etc. MBOXes..

- Drafts.mbox

- Inbox.mbox

- Junk.mbox

- SentMessages.mbox

- MailData

- PersistenceInfo.plist

Thanks

iMac 21.5″

Posted on Dec 4, 2023 9:28 AM

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Answer 1

BDAqua

Level 10

245,111 points

Dec 4, 2023 10:08 PM in response to Suzy2014

Mail on the HDD doesn't use the same structure as in Mail, it uses those gig hex numbers for folders, so, you either have to look in each one or use FaF to search for a unique folder name like David.mbox...

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Answer 2

BDAqua

Level 10

245,111 points

Dec 5, 2023 11:23 AM in response to Suzy2014

I can't figure what is going on on yours, might get HoudaSpot to search somehow, then reveal in Finder once you locate one...

https://www.houdah.com/houdahSpot/?lang=en

I'll be fine on Mojave for a couple or 3 more years use Brave Browser, Opera, & FireFox.:)

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Answer 3

BDAqua

Level 10

245,111 points

Dec 4, 2023 4:57 PM in response to Suzy2014

.emlx is individual eMail, .mbox is Mailboxes.

Current emails & boxes will be in the V6 folder on Mojave..

/Users/YourUserName/Library/Mail/V6/3BA2648F-****-407D-****-E7E8AA75567E/Notes.mbox/New Folder.mbox/Sue.mbox & such

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Answer 4

Suzy2014 Author

Level 1

82 points

Dec 4, 2023 5:04 PM in response to BDAqua

Thanks. I already checked all folders and files in V6. I do not see anywhere MBOX-es for all the many folders I created and do not see any files with .emlx extension. Maybe they are hidden (?). I went down on all the entries and they do not show up....

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Answer 5

BDAqua

Level 10

245,111 points

Dec 4, 2023 5:15 PM in response to Suzy2014

Do you remember the names of one that is unique?

Get Find Any File...

http://apps.tempel.org/FindAnyFile/index.php

Hold Option or alt key when selecting Find to Find All.

Did you create them on the Server or on the Mac?

Where they maybe Smart Mailboxes?

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Answer 6

Suzy2014 Author

Level 1

82 points

Dec 4, 2023 6:35 PM in response to BDAqua

Thanks for the suggestions. My emails are saved on my computer, not the server and I do not have any Smart Mailboxes. I do not know how a specific email would be called within an MBOX folder...

Regardless, this Find Any File looks like a much smarter utility than Apple's Finder.

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Answer 7

Suzy2014 Author

Level 1

82 points

Dec 4, 2023 6:59 PM in response to BDAqua

That's not what I am looking for. if you go back to my initial question, you will see that I am looking for the MBOX folders matching the email folders I created and the .EMLX files matching the emails, stored under the Mail folder (in V6) in the Library.

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Answer 8

Suzy2014 Author

Level 1

82 points

Dec 4, 2023 8:21 PM in response to BDAqua

I appreciate you trying to help.

Since you have the same version of the Mail application, can you see (as in your example) someplace under your V6 folder an MBOX for each of the folders you created and also the .EMLX files for emails?

"Current emails & boxes will be in the V6 folder on Mojave..

/Users/YourUserName/Library/Mail/V6/3BA2648F-****-407D-****-E7E8AA75567E/Notes.mbox/New " Folder.mbox/Sue.mbox & "

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Answer 9

Suzy2014 Author

Level 1

82 points

Dec 5, 2023 9:05 AM in response to BDAqua

Thanks. As I mentioned, I already checked all the "hex number" folders going down as far as I could. No .MBOX folders show up for any of the folders I created and no .EMLX files show up for emails. I do have probably over a hundred folders I created.

Do you see an MBOX for all the folders you created and also the EMLX files?

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Answer 10

Suzy2014 Author

Level 1

82 points

Dec 5, 2023 10:40 AM in response to BDAqua

Thanks. My Comcast webmail doesn't show .MBOX and .EMLX folders/files (unless I just do not know how to locate them). Do you also have Mojave? I am very surprised that you can see what's not displayed for me...

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Answer 11

Suzy2014 Author

Level 1

82 points

Dec 5, 2023 11:01 AM in response to BDAqua

I am not looking for folder and file names. I am looking for the .MBOX files corresponding to each folder I created and the .EMLS files matching the emails. Those are the ones I cannot find and see and apparently with the same OS and email versions you can see.... I do not understand what causes the difference.

My folders and emails were created (at least 90% of them) with Mojave.

On a different topic: How can you "survive" with Mojave which is no longer supported, doesn't get security updates, etc? I have a 2013 iMac which is perfectly fine, runs like new, has plenty of storage space left, etc. has to be thrown out due to the many OS releases that I never needed. Firefox (the version I use) will not be supported soon on an unsupported OS; MS Office that I use doesn't get updates, etc. If I want to stay with an Apple, I have to buy a new expensive computer and throw out a great one. I am at crossroads making decisions.

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