Migrate local (On My Mac) mail folders to another mac

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49 points

Migrate local (On My Mac) mail folders to another mac

I've searched lots and tried the suggestions, but cannot find a way to do this without restoring from Time Machine (another issue). So I've just changed from a 21.5" to a 27" iMac, and have set up the larger device from scratch, reinstalling all the required software from scratch and then copying over the relevant files/folders from old to new. My stumbling block has been mail.

As per suggestions, I've copied over the com.apple.mail.plist file from Preferences and the Mail folder from HD > My Account> Library, and whilst the inbox is now matching my phone, I had about 40 'On My Mac' folders that I cannot see in Mail. I initially tried to export/import mailboxes but no joy there, so tried the Mail/Preferences approach, but neither have made the On My Mac folders visible.

Can anyone tell me how to get the folders over? I'm keen to wipe and refresh the old Mac, but can't do anything until this is sorted.

Thanks in advance

Martin

iMac, macOS Sierra (10.12.5), 27" 16GB RAM

Posted on Jun 6, 2017 8:12 AM

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Answer 1

Jun 6, 2017 10:23 AM in response to MSwanston

No. Create a folder on the desktop of the old computer. Select all mailboxes on the old computer in Mail, right click and choose Export Mailboxes (or choose from menu under Mailboxes). Select the folder and export.

Make sure you can access the folder from the new computer.

From the new computer in Mail, select Import from the menu under File. Choose Apple Mail (first in list) and navigate to the folder containing the exported mailboxes, and select the folder, or all mailboxes within and import. All mailboxes should appear under the Import mailbox in the sidebar. Select them and drag them above the Import mailbox to move them to the sidebar.

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Answer 2

Jun 6, 2017 8:49 AM in response to MSwanston

So you've stated you have exported those mailboxes from the old computer and imported them to the new computer. Have you expanded the On My Mac section to view them? Hover the cursor over On My Mac and click Show is it is not expanded.

On a successful import, the mailboxes will appear under an Import folder under On My Mac.

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Answer 3

MSwanston Author

Level 1

49 points

Jun 6, 2017 9:19 AM in response to Glenn Leblanc

Thanks, I didn't check TBH. Currently, using the mail folder copy process, there is no On my Mac link to expand so will try exporting/importing again. Just one question - the local folders contain messages I wanted to keep, but which mailbox are they related to? I have three mail accounts (I assume each one relates to a mailbox?) so that was what threw me!

Thanks for your response.

Martin

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Answer 4

Jun 6, 2017 9:48 AM in response to MSwanston

If you have no On My Mac link, then you have no local mailboxes, or you have no IMAP mailboxes under other accounts in the sidebar.

I'm not sure what you mean by what mailbox they would be related to. When you move messages to local mailboxes, they are not associated with accounts anymore. Only going by the recipient information can you tell where they came from.

If you Export the mailboxes from the old computer, choose Import mailboxes and choose Apple Mail. Navigate to the folder where the mailboxes were exported and choose all. The exported mailboxes should all appear in the Import folder in the sidebar. You can move them to the sidebar out of the Import mailbox.

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