Similar to Microsoft Outlook, Zimbra Desktop serves as an email client accessible for both offline and online usage. Zimbra's web client boasts an exceptional browser-based interface, seamlessly connecting end-users to their personal cloud data and activities. Furthermore, Zimbra Desktop provides a consistent and robust user experience even in offline mode. It ensures cross-platform compatibility across Windows, Mac, and Linux desktops, supporting various protocols such as IMAP, POP, CalDAV, and CardDAV.

In contrast to Outlook, both the Zimbra desktop client and server applications are available for free download, a significant factor to consider when deciding between the two services. However, it's important to note that comparing the two services wouldn't be entirely fair, as Outlook outshines Zimbra in terms of features and support. Regardless of your preferences, in this blog post, we will explore methods for exporting a mailbox from Zimbra to the PST file format, allowing you to save it locally on your hard drive.

Additionally, it is also possible to import Zimbra mailbox files (EML format) into the Outlook desktop client using the drag and drop functionality.

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The manual migration Steps can be divided into the following:

Step 1: Export and Save Zimbra Emails in EML Format

Following the below-mentioned Steps will let you save Zimbra mailbox items directly to EML format on your system:

  1. Launch Zimbra desktop client and click on the Preferences tab. Launch Zimbra desktop client
  2. Now, from the left pane, choose Import/Export. choose Import/Export option
  3. From the export panel choose All Folders. Select all folders
  4. At this point, you can either select any individual mailbox item or the whole mailbox. Click OK to proceed. Select either single mailbox item or whole mailbox
  5. Click on Export to begin the process. Click on Export to start procedure
  6. Next, provide the destination to save the mailbox items.
  7. The exported items are compressed in a ZIP file and are required to be unzipped. Use proper tools like WinZip/ WinRAR to unzip the file.
  8. Next, check the extension of the unzipped mailbox items. At present, Zimbra only allows EML format for exporting the mailbox files. Check the extension of the unzipped mailbox
Step 2: Migrate EML Files to Outlook

EML files can easily be accessed with Outlook desktop client anytime.

Access EML file

Hence, it seems like overkill, but it is possible to migrate EML files to your Outlook desktop client.

  1. Open your Outlook desktop client and select the Folder tab from the ribbon. Next, click on the New Folder tab. Click on the new folder tab
  2. Provide a new name for the folder. Provide a new name for the folder
  3. One can now directly drag and drop all the EML mails into this folder. Drag and drop all EML mails to folder
Step 3: Export Zimbra Emails from Outlook to PST Files

It is now possible to export the Zimbra emails (from Outlook) as a PST file to your system.

  1. Click to the File tab > select Open & Export from the left pane.
  2. Click on the Import & Export tab. This will open up Import and Export Wizard. From the list, select Export to a file.
  3. Next, select Outlook Data File (.pst) option.
  4. Select the folder containing the Zimbra backup files.
  5. Click on the Browse button to save the file to the desired location. Save the file to hard drive
  6. Check the prior assigned location for the saved PST file. Check the prior assigned location for PST

Congratulations! You have successfully exported your Zimbra backup files to hard drive in a PST format.

Kernel IMAP Backup

As mentioned earlier, exporting Zimbra desktop client mailbox items to a PST file on your system can be a bit challenging when done manually. Therefore, it is highly recommended to utilize a professional migration tool for this task. One such reliable tool is Kernel IMAP Backup. This tool possesses the capability to seamlessly migrate IMAP mailboxes to PST files and various other formats. Additionally, it supports the migration of IMAP emails to EML, MSG, MHT, HTML, DOC, DOCX, and PDF formats. You can trust that your data's integrity remains intact throughout the process, as it is not altered in any way. Upon completion, the software generates a comprehensive summary report in CSV format, which includes migration details such as the source mailbox login ID, exported folders, migration status, item count, and more.

The software boasts an eye-catching and user-friendly UI. Each migration step is adequately descriptive where it matters, making it evident that even non-technical users are unlikely to encounter any difficulties during the migration process.

Kernel IMAP Backup tool home screen

Conclusion

Exporting Zimbra to a PST file on your hard drive using the manual method is not a straightforward process. It involves three manual steps, which can be daunting for some users. To ensure a hassle-free migration experience, we strongly recommend utilizing the Kernel IMAP Backup tool.