How to backup Apple Mail?

gausina wrote:

Last week I had my IMAP server full. I used the export mailbox function on smart mailboxes and it was working perfectly. I could create one archive file per year, then delete the files from imap server and re-import the mbox files to keep a local access of my old messages within mail. Really convenient and quick way to archive your mails with all the filtering possibilities of smart boxes.

Thank you! Great idea.

In fact, I wanted to save a local copy of my emails to free some space on the IMAP server.

Taking your idea I created a smart folder for each year and simply copied it to a local folder - NO NEED TO EXPORT.

This is simple and easy and all is done via the Mail client.

Then I can delete the messages from the server.

Erangal wrote:

gausina wrote:

Last week I had my IMAP server full. I used the export mailbox function on smart mailboxes and it was working perfectly. I could create one archive file per year, then delete the files from imap server and re-import the mbox files to keep a local access of my old messages within mail. Really convenient and quick way to archive your mails with all the filtering possibilities of smart boxes.

Thank you! Great idea.

In fact, I wanted to save a local copy of my emails to free some space on the IMAP server.

Taking your idea I created a smart folder for each year and simply copied it to a local folder - NO NEED TO EXPORT.

This is simple and easy and all is done via the Mail client.

Then I can delete the messages from the server.

Check that your exported folders actually contain emails, a smart folder is simply a search, if you delete the originals there may be no email in the exported version.

Csound1 wrote:

Check that your exported folders actually contain emails, a smart folder is simply a search, if you delete the originals there may be no email in the exported version.

Just to make it clear - the Smart Folder is merely a middle-stage that makes it easier.

The emails are eventually stored in a local folder.

And yes - if you just create a smart folder and delete the emails the will be deleted from the smart folder as well.

BTW, when dragging emails from smart folder to local folder this is what happens:

- the emails are written to local folder

- the emails are moved to Trash on the server and Mail client

So, no need to delete manually, as long as your Trash folder automatically deletes emails after a while.

You can do the same in a MAC. Locate the Mail folder inside the Library folder (usually hidden) and make a copy (if you drag it you move it) in a different location. For 6 GB it took me about 15 min.

Ignacio Joannon wrote:

You can do the same in a MAC. Locate the Mail folder inside the Library folder (usually hidden) and make a copy (if you drag it you move it) in a different location. For 6 GB it took me about 15 min.

I believe you should also grab the mail preference files out of the /user/library/preferences folder.

Look for com.apple.mail.plist and others - I had 4 preference files with mail - I just copied them all.

AND do it with Mail.app closed !!!

If I export mailbox (to back up my mail), will that automatically delete the emails once it has been copied? Or does it simply duplicate them so that they remain available in my mailbox.

It will duplicate, not delete.