MailtoPst
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Email EML

Convert Email to EML
Online Tool

Export emails from any format (PST, OST, OLM, MBOX, MSG) to EML. Universal email conversion with MailtoPst. Works with Outlook, Thunderbird, Apple Mail, and more.

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What is a Email file?

Email files come in many proprietary and open formats depending on the email client or service that created them. When people need to convert "email to EML," they typically have files in one of these formats:

- PST — Microsoft Outlook for Windows personal storage files
- OST — Microsoft Outlook offline cache files (Exchange/Office 365)
- OLM — Microsoft Outlook for Mac export archives
- MBOX — Thunderbird, Gmail Takeout, and many Unix-based clients
- MSG — Individual Outlook message files
- EMLX — Apple Mail's native format

Each of these formats stores email data differently — some as binary databases (PST, OST), others as text-based archives (MBOX), and others as compressed containers (OLM). Converting to EML normalizes all these into a single, universal standard.

What is a EML file?

EML (Email Message) is the most widely supported individual email file format, based on the RFC 5322 internet message standard. Each EML file contains a single complete email message with all its headers, body text (plain and HTML), and MIME-encoded attachments.

EML files are natively supported by:
- Mozilla Thunderbird — open and import EML files directly
- Windows Mail / Windows Live Mail — native EML support
- Apple Mail — drag and drop EML files to import
- Most webmail services — can import EML via IMAP clients
- eDiscovery platforms — industry standard for email review
- Any text editor — EML files are plain text and human-readable

EML is the ideal target format when you need maximum compatibility across email clients and operating systems. It is also the preferred format for email archival, legal review, and forensic analysis.

Why convert Email to EML?

Converting any email format to EML serves multiple important purposes:

1. Universal compatibility
EML is supported by virtually every email client on every operating system. Converting to EML ensures your emails are accessible regardless of the software you use.

2. Email archival and preservation
EML files are plain-text based and self-contained, making them ideal for long-term archival. Unlike proprietary formats, EML files will remain readable decades from now.

3. Legal discovery and compliance
Law firms and compliance teams often require emails in EML format for eDiscovery platforms. Converting from PST, OST, or other formats to EML standardizes the review process.

4. Migration between email platforms
When switching email clients or providers, EML serves as a universal intermediate format. Export to EML from any source, then import into any destination.

5. Individual email backup
EML gives you one file per email, making it easy to organize, search, and back up individual messages. This is simpler than managing large PST or MBOX database files.

Email vs EML — Key Differences

Feature Email EML
Compatibility Depends on source format Universal (all email clients)
Structure Varies (database, archive, etc.) One file per email (RFC 5322)
Readability Often binary/proprietary Plain text (human-readable)
Portability Depends on source Fully portable across all platforms
Long-term archival Risky (proprietary formats may become obsolete) Excellent (open standard)
eDiscovery support Limited Industry standard

3 methods to convert Email to EML

Method 1: Convert with MailtoPst (any format to EML)

Upload your email file (PST, OST, OLM, MBOX, MSG, or EMLX) to MailtoPst. Select EML as the output format. Download the converted EML files as a ZIP archive preserving the original folder structure.

Pros

  • ✓ Supports all major email formats
  • ✓ Works from any browser, any OS
  • ✓ No email client needed
  • ✓ Preserves attachments and metadata
  • ✓ GDPR compliant, EU servers

Cons

  • ✗ Requires internet connection
  • ✗ Paid after first conversion

Method 2: Export from email client

Most email clients can save individual emails as EML files. In Thunderbird, drag an email to your desktop. In Outlook, use File > Save As and select EML format. In Apple Mail, drag messages to Finder.

Pros

  • ✓ Free (built-in feature)
  • ✓ No conversion tool needed
  • ✓ Immediate results

Cons

  • ✗ One email at a time (tedious for bulk)
  • ✗ Requires the source email client installed
  • ✗ Not available for orphaned files
Recommended

Method 3: Command-line tools (technical users)

For MBOX files, tools like mb2md or formail can split MBOX into individual EML files. For PST, readpst (libpst) on Linux can extract emails. These are free but require technical knowledge.

Pros

  • ✓ Free and open-source
  • ✓ Scriptable for automation
  • ✓ No file size limits

Cons

  • ✗ Technical knowledge required
  • ✗ Linux/macOS only for most tools
  • ✗ Limited format support per tool
  • ✗ No graphical interface
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Step by step

How to convert Email to EML with MailtoPst

01

Upload your Email file

Drag & drop or click to upload your .email file. Files up to 51 GB supported with resumable upload.

02

Choose EML as output

Select EML from the format dropdown. MailtoPst auto-detects the best conversion settings.

03

Download your EML file

Conversion takes seconds. Download your .eml file or receive it by email.

Convert your Email to EML now →

100 MB free credit. No credit card required.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What email formats can I convert to EML?

MailtoPst supports converting PST, OST, OLM, MBOX, MSG, and EMLX files to EML format. This covers all major email clients including Outlook (Windows and Mac), Thunderbird, Gmail Takeout, and Apple Mail.

What is an EML file exactly?

An EML file is a single email message saved in RFC 5322 MIME format. It contains the email headers (From, To, Subject, Date), body text in plain and HTML, and base64-encoded attachments. It is a plain text file that can be opened by any email client or text editor.

Will my attachments be included in the EML files?

Yes. All attachments are preserved during conversion. They are encoded within the EML file using MIME encoding. When you open the EML in any email client, the attachments appear normally and can be downloaded.

Can I import EML files into Gmail or Outlook?

Yes. To import EML into Gmail, use Thunderbird connected to your Gmail account via IMAP, then drag the EML files in. For Outlook, double-click the EML file or use File > Open. EML is the most universally importable email format.

How are folder structures handled when converting to EML?

MailtoPst preserves your original folder hierarchy by organizing EML files into directories matching the source folder structure. The download is a ZIP file containing folders with EML files inside, mirroring your original organization.

Related conversions

EMLX → EML MBOX → EML MSG → EML OST → EML PST → EML
See all 30 conversion paths →

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