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I am using OS 12.6 (Monterey). I want to back up my Apple Mail and transfer it to my new iMac (September 2024). I would like to include all of the email "inboxes" and folders that I have created over the years. I do not use Time Machine! I will back up the transfer to an external hard drive.
Thank you for any help or suggestions.
iMac 27″, macOS 12.6
You could also just export all your mail folders to another drive then import back to your new Mac:
Import or export mailboxes in Mail on Mac - Apple Support
You could also just export all your mail folders to another drive then import back to your new Mac:
Import or export mailboxes in Mail on Mac - Apple Support
With Mail not running, copy these over...
~/Library/Mail a folder
~Library/Containers/Mail possibly many folders
~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.mail-shared.plist
~Library/Preferences/com.apple.mail.plist
~ tilde indicates your user library folder
Apple hid the Users' Library folders...
Method 1:
Or…
Use the Command-Shift-.
Best to use Time Machine on the Monterey Mac as it gets everything related to Mail and then on your new Mac, use that Time Machine drive during setup, or later via Migration Assistant to retrieve all of the settings and Mail content from the older Monterey backup. I would not migrate applications since your Intel iMac binaries won't be happy on the Apple Silicon iMac. Simply reinstall Apple Silicon-compatible third-party applications afterward.
The first paragraph is what I use myself and the new Mac functions exactly like the one it replaces without missing any settings or content. Attempting to manually migrate Apple Mail content is asking for trouble.
Basically, without Mail running you'd just copy them to the same location but on the new drive.
Thank you so much for your response. I have been trying to follow your instructions.
I opened TimeMachine for the first time on the "old" computer. It has 2 backups now. Neither of them has Mail. I assume I need to have the mail app located in the apps folder. No matter what I have tried it does not come over or show up in time machine.
I hesitate to try to update my computer to the latest OS. The computer is really struggling now as it is.
Do you have any suggestions or could you let me know what it would look like in a time machine backup... how would I know that mail is there? Thanks.
Thank you for this information.
yes, there were many folders in library/containers/mail
I'm not sure I have all of the files/folders but thank you.
How do I install them properly into the new computer? Where would I install them?
Thank you so much.
Continuing with the same topic: backing up Apple Mail to transfer to a new computer.
I have followed your instructions and turned on and set up TimeMachine. It has been backing up for a few days now but there is no sign anywhere of Apple Mail.
When I transfer to my new computer I ONLY want to bring in Mail, no other items.
How do I locate Mail in TimeMachine? I have looked everywhere I can think of.
Thank you again for your support.
Thank you for this reply. It makes the most sense but... When I exported the folders to an external drive a new folder is created. I open the folder and there are 2 files. One says "mbox" and the other "table_of_contents".
I click on the mbox file and it opens with HTML.
I move the external hard drive to the new computer
open mail
click on FILE > IMPORT MAILBOXES, and nothing happens!
I have tried exporting/importing just one mail file and the same thing happens.
Is it because I'm going from 12.6 Monterey to Sequoia 15.0?
I'm at a loss.
Thank you 🥰
You're welcome.please keep us abreast of your progress.:)
it is the mbox file that needs to be imported into mail on your new mac.
Backing up apple mail to transfer to new computer
