We live in the digital era where multiple email clients are available, and the users have a variety of options to choose from to manage mailbox data. There are many professionals who always prefer the use of a desktop-based email client than the usage of a web-based email app. However, various reasons users might want to change their email client.
This is when the users will want to find out their MBOX files from their varied email applications. After locating their MBOX files on their systems, users can use a comprehensive solution to the export of their MBOX data to some other email client. In our present blog, we have tried to provide our readers, an all-inclusive information about MBOX file, MBOX file location, and more.
What Is an MBOX File?
The term MBOX is a short-form or an abbreviation for Mail Box. This sort of file contains an assortment of various email messages as a 7-bit ASCII text along with several other data files. MBOX files also possess within themselves all of the conjugated emails, stored in one single file. Moreover, in the MBOX, all of the user’s emails retain their originality in terms of their format (as in their original versions). Initially, MBOX was used exclusively used by UNIX but now has been endeared by several other clients inclusive of the following:
- Mozilla Thunderbird.
- Mac Mail, Eudora.
- Entourage.
What’s interesting about MBOX is that it can store an email message in the form of a long plain text. Each of these email messages of the MBOX begins with a “From” with white spaces and an ending with blank links. To add on, MBOX has different forms and thus share a common lineage. These forms are as follows:
- MBOX: – This type of MBOX file format is the “original” system mailbox format. MBOXO uses a particular constant string termed “???@???” in place of a sender’s email address.
- MBOXRD: – This type of an MBOX file is nothing but a variation of the MBOXO mailbox.
- MBOXCL: – UNIX “System V” mailboxes use the MBOXCL file extension.
- MBOXCL2: – This sort of MBOX file extension bears similarities with the MBOXCL format.
Keeping all this in mind, let us now proceed to the next part of our write up, which is dedicated to the MBOX file location.
Depending on the operating system (Windows/Mac versions), their versions and the email client, the MBOX file locations can vary.
- Go to the Start menu and search for %APPDATA%
- This will automatically open up the Roaming folder. Scroll down and double-click on the Thunderbird folder.
- Select the Profiles folder from the list. The Profiles folder should look something like this:
Note 1: To navigate directly to the Profiles folder one can follow the path shown below:
C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles
In the above file path, replace [username] with your actual username.
Note 2: It is to note that some files might be hidden; hence, the user must unhide it first. For example, to do so, follow the steps outlined below:
- Double-click on the This PC icon from the desktop. This will open up the File Explorer.
- Click on the View tab then click on the Options button.
- This will open up the Folder Options dialog box. In the View tab check on Show files, folders, and drives option > click Apply > OK.
For Linux and UNIX systems, one can locate the folders at the following location:
~/.thunderbird/<Profile name>/
For the users who are using third-party build, the folders can be found in the following location:
~/.mozilla-thunderbird<Profile name>
Both of these folders might be hidden hence select View > Show Hidden Files to unhide.
- Select the home folder > select library folder.
- Select the profiles folder > click on the Mozilla thunderbird profile. This should look like the following:
~Library/Thunderbird/Profiles/sample. Default
An additional benefit is that Thunderbird is accessible on all operating systems. Hence, it is significant to know the location of the user’s Thunderbird profile located in his/her machine.
Are you still pondering upon the MBOX file location issue? Well, there is another way you can locate these files. This means it is more mechanical and is a third-party tool. The following few paragraphs describe Kernel MBOX Viewer processes in detail. This tool is one that can quickly help you locate your MBOX Files.
Kernel MBOX Viewer an easy software that helps in previewing MBOX email items without using any MBOX email client. The software possesses an easy-to-use GUI and supports close to 20 MBOX email-clients, such as Claws Mail, Evolution, SeaMonkey, Opera, PowerMail, Mulberry, and many more. It also offers a unique feature that helps the user to save the email list information in an HTML format file. And you know what’s so remarkable about this software? It is free of cost!
- First of all, download and then install software.
- Go to Start, click All Programs, Select MBOX Viewer tool.
- Select email client from the list and click on Next.
- Click on either Add File(s) or Add Folder to select a particular folder or file. Then click Finish.
- Select the Folders on the Folder List located on the left pane. Select the file you wish to wish to view. And then, Click Save.
- Information will be displayed on a new window urging you to convert your MBOX files to MSG, EML, or even Office 365. To do that, go to the link given and use the MBOX to PST Converter. Follow the steps after purchasing the Tool to find the location of your MBOX file.
Conclusion
It is not difficult to find the MBOX file location, and you do not need to be too techy to find out where they’re located. And if there’s an issue with the manual methods, you have nothing to fear! The third-party tool by KernelApps is ever-present to help you out. If you have any other questions, do not hesitate and contact our support team now.
