How to Batch Print MBOX Files With Attachments Using 3 Methods

Why Print MBOX Files?

Four needs make printing MBOX emails important.

• Legal Records. Courts and lawyers ask for printed emails with page numbers.
• Compliance Checks. Regulated teams keep paper or PDF copies of business emails.
• Meetings and Reviews. Printed threads give every person the same pages to discuss.
• Paper Backup. A printed copy remains readable when a file or a computer fails.

Why is It Hard to Print Many Emails at Once?

Your mailbox folder sits inside one MBOX text file and that file has no print command. Email clients print one email view at a time and attachments need their own step.

Manual methods print the message view. PDF attachments and photos print only when you open and print them again.

What to Check Before You Print MBOX Files?

Prepare the batch before you start.

• Work on a copy of the MBOX file.
• Select the paper size your printer uses, A4 or Letter.
• Count the emails you need and note the date range.
• Check that your printer has paper and ink for the batch.
• Test one email and look at the page layout first.

Which Free Methods Print MBOX Emails in Batch?

Two free methods exist. Both email clients import the file before any printing.

Thunderbird (Free, One PDF for Every Email)

Thunderbird saves every selected email as a PDF and you print the PDF files together. Import the MBOX file first.

1. Install ImportExportTools NG from Tools > Add-ons and Themes. Our Add MBOX File to Thunderbird guide shows the import steps.
2. Open the imported folder and press Ctrl + A to select all emails.
3. Right click the emails and choose Save Selected Messages > PDF format.
4. Select a destination folder.
5. Open File Explorer, go to the destination folder and select all PDF files.
6. Right click the selection and choose Print.

Thunderbird also prints a single email with File > Print. Attachments remain outside the PDF files. Steps 5 and 6 work on Windows.

Apple Mail Print Command (Free, Needs an Import)

Apple Mail prints the emails you select in a single print action. Import the MBOX file before you print.

1. Import the file with File > Import Mailboxes and select Files in mbox format.
2. Open the new mailbox and press Command + A to select all emails.
3. Choose File > Print and set the printer and the paper size.
4. Click Print.

Click PDF at the bottom of the print window and select Save as PDF to create a PDF file instead. Mail prints the email view and you print attachments one by one.

How to Batch Print MBOX Files Through EmailDoctor Software?

EmailDoctor MBOX Viewer Pro needs no email client and handles MBOX, MBS and MBX files in one session and prints emails with their attachments. Pro edition has the PDF and PRINT export types while the free edition only previews emails.

Mac users print through Apple Mail because the software works on Windows only.

Five settings shape a printed batch.

• Date Filter. Print emails between two dates only.
• Page Layout. Set margins from 2.0 mm to 10.0 mm, the page orientation and the page size.
• Header and Footer. Add a header text and a footer text to every page.
• Attachments. Add attachments as pins or append them as PDF pages after the email.
• Bates Numbers. Add a prefix, a suffix and a start number to every page.

Print Emails From an MBOX File on Windows

1. Select Run as Administrator from the shortcut menu to start the software.
2. Click Add File, select File or Folder and click ... to find your MBOX files. Click Open.
3. Click Add to list the files. Save the scan file when the software prompts you and click Yes.
4. Select a folder and open Normal Mail View to preview the emails. Tick the emails you need.
5. Click Export for every email or Export Selected for the ticked emails.
6. Select PRINT under Select Export Type.
7. Click Adv. Settings.
8. Open General Settings. Tick Date Filter Option and enter the dates. Tick Include Internet Message Header when you need the full header details in the print.
9. Open Page Layout. Enter the margins and select Landscape or Portrait and a page size. Type a Header Text and a Footer Text when you need them.
10. Open Attachment. Select Attachment On Pin to add attachments as pins or Append Attachment to add attachments as PDF pages after the email.
11. Open Bates Number. Tick Bates Number Format and set the prefix, the suffix, the number of digits and the start number. Click Save.
12. Click Export.
13. Click OK when the software shows the Export process completed successfully message.

    Find the emails first and print only those. Our Search MBOX File Data guide lists the search filters.

    Want the attachments as separate files? Our Extract Attachments From MBOX Files guide saves them.

Which Printing Option Fits Your Batch?

Three methods print emails but they differ in control and attachments.

Thunderbird and Apple Mail fit a small batch and a one time print. Viewer software suits legal batches that need attachments and page numbers.

What Problems Appear While You Print MBOX Emails?

Six problems slow a print batch.

• Print Command Missing. Select an email in the folder first because the command is grey without a selection.
• Pages Split in the Wrong Place. Select the paper size in the page layout or in the print window.
• Attachments Missing From the Print. Select Append Attachment in the viewer software or print the attachment files one by one.
• Page Numbers Missing. Tick Bates Number Format and enter a start number.
• Software Does Not Start. Choose Run as Administrator in the shortcut menu.
• Large File Prints Slowly. Filter by date and print one range at a time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Words

People print many MBOX emails because courts, auditors and meetings ask for paper copies of email threads. Thunderbird and Apple Mail print after an import and attachments need extra steps.

Back up the file and print one email first. Check the page size and the page count before you print the full batch.

EmailDoctor software prints attachments and Bates numbers from many MBOX files.