How to Convert MBOX Files to PDF With Attachments on Windows and Mac

Why Convert MBOX Files to PDF?

Usually, MBOX files are converted to PDF due to a highly specific, critical business requirement. Legal eDiscovery & compliance audits, and protection of privileged information are some of the primary reasons.

Since MBOX files are raw, plain-text, and unencrypted, here are all six practical reasons why users save MBOX files as a PDF:

• Share Emails. Send emails to people who have no email client.
• Permanent Copy. Save an email for a case or an audit.
• Print Ready. Print emails with sender, date and subject intact.
• Bates Numbers. Add Bates numbers for legal review.
• PDF Password. Protect sensitive emails with a PDF password.
• Document Systems. Store emails in a document system.

Both formats appear side by side in the table below.

What to Check Before You Export MBOX Emails?

Quick checks protect your data before you convert MBOX files to PDF.

• Copy your MBOX file first and work on the copy.
• Open Thunderbird Account Settings and check the Message Store Type. Maildir is a different format and MBOX software cannot process it so use Migrate Maildir to Thunderbird for that format.
• Split a large MBOX file into smaller parts with Split MBOX File before you export.
• Test one small folder first and open the PDF files.
• Select the attachment option before you export.
• Shorten destination paths because Windows limits many paths to 260 characters.
• Need attachments as separate files? See how to Extract Attachments From MBOX File.

How to Convert MBOX Files to PDF (Windows & Mac)

Free manual methods suit a few emails and save no attachments. Paid methods keep attachments and handle batches. The chart below shows which way fits your mailbox.

All Windows Methods for MBOX to PDF Conversion

Windows users can choose the Thunderbird extension, the Outlook PST bridge or Adobe Acrobat Pro.

The Thunderbird Add-On Workaround

Thunderbird works on Windows and Mac. Thunderbird opens MBOX files through the free ImportExportTools NG extension. ImportExportTools NG imports the MBOX file and exports a folder as PDF.

Folder export makes this method fit when you need many emails as PDF and attachments do not matter. Install the NG version because Thunderbird shows an incompatible message for the old ImportExportTools extension.

1. Open Thunderbird and go to Tools > Add-ons and Themes.
2. Search for ImportExportTools NG and click Add to Thunderbird. Restart Thunderbird when it asks.
3. Open the Tools menu and click ImportExportTools NG. Then click Import mbox file.
4. Select Import one or more mbox files with its/their subdirectory and click OK.
5. Browse to your MBOX file and select it. Emails appear as a new folder under Local Folders.
6. Select the new folder and go to Tools > ImportExportTools NG > Export all messages in the folder > PDF format.
7. Select a destination folder and click Select Folder. Thunderbird saves the PDF files there.
8. Open the destination folder and check a few PDF files.

Right click on chosen emails and select Save Selected Messages when you need only a few PDF files instead of a folder. ImportExportTools NG exports no attachments and works on one folder at a time. Imports land in Local Folders only.

Print to PDF without the add-on. Thunderbird prints any imported email to PDF without an extension. Printing fits a few emails because Thunderbird saves one PDF per print. Import your MBOX file with steps 1 to 5 above before you start.

1. Open the imported folder and select the email.
2. Press Ctrl+P or Cmd+P on a Mac. You can also open the three line menu and select Print.
3. Select Save to PDF as the destination in the Print window.
4. Set orientation, paper size and margins in the same window.
5. Click Save. Name the file and select a folder.

Thunderbird retains the email text and images in the PDF but adds no attached files. More Thunderbird methods are in Export Thunderbird Emails to PDF.

The Outlook PST Bridge (Manual, Strips Attachments)

Outlook cannot open MBOX files, so this route moves your emails into Outlook as EML files and prints them to PDF from there. Outlook keeps imported emails in its PST data file. The Microsoft Print to PDF printer that this method uses belongs to Windows.

1. Export your MBOX emails as EML files. Import the MBOX file into Thunderbird with steps 1 to 5 of the add-on method above. Then select the folder and go to Tools > ImportExportTools NG > Export all messages in the folder > EML format.
2. Launch Outlook and right-click your data file in the folder pane. Select New Folder and use your MBOX file name for the folder.
3. Open the export folder in File Explorer and press Ctrl+A to select every EML file. Drop the files onto the new Outlook folder.
4. Open the new folder and select an email. Hold Ctrl or Shift to select several emails.
5. Click File > Print and choose Microsoft Print to PDF in the Printer list.
6. Click Print, name the file, select a folder and click Save.

Outlook prints the email text and header but the attachments do not reach the PDF as files, so this route strips them. Import MBOX to Outlook lists more ways to bring MBOX emails into Outlook.

Adobe Acrobat Pro PDF Portfolios (Paid, Embedded Attachments)

Acrobat Pro adds an Adobe PDF tab to Outlook on Windows. The tab converts emails and keeps their attachments inside a PDF Portfolio. You need a paid Acrobat plan and your MBOX emails inside Outlook, so complete steps 1 to 3 of the Outlook PST bridge first.

1. Open Outlook and click the Adobe PDF tab. Some Acrobat builds name this tab Acrobat.
2. Click Change PDF Conversion Settings.
3. Set Attachments to Include all attachments in the Adobe PDF. Keep Output Adobe PDF Portfolio when creating a new PDF file selected and click OK.
4. Select the folder or the emails. Right-click and choose Convert to Adobe PDF.
5. Enter a file name and a location and click OK. Select View Result to open the Portfolio in Acrobat.

The Portfolio lists every email with a preview pane and links to open its attachments.

All Mac Methods for MBOX to PDF Conversion

Mac users can choose Apple Mail, the Print dialog or an Automator and AppleScript workflow.

Apple Mail Native Export

Mac users who want to convert MBOX to PDF can skip Thunderbird because Apple Mail imports MBOX files with its own import tool. Export as PDF follows the import and suits a few emails. For more import options see Import or Export MBOX in Mac Mail.

1. Start Apple Mail. Click File in the menu bar and click Import Mailboxes.
2. Select Files in mbox format and click Continue.
3. Select your MBOX file or folder and click Choose. Then click Import.
4. Open the imported mailbox from the sidebar.
5. Select an email and go to File > Export as PDF.
6. Name the file and select a location. Click Save.

Repeat steps 5 and 6 for every email you need. Apple Mail exports no attachments as separate files and handles single emails only.

Mac Print Dialog “Save as PDF”

The Print dialog saves any email you open in Apple Mail as a PDF. Import the MBOX file with steps 1 to 4 above before you start.

1. Open the imported mailbox from the sidebar and select an email.
2. Press Command+P to open the Print dialog.
3. Click the PDF pop-up menu in the bottom-left corner and choose Save as PDF.
4. Enter a file name, select a folder and click Save.

The dialog prints what you see on screen, so each print gives one PDF and attachments do not follow as files.

Mac Automator & AppleScript

Automator can host an AppleScript through its Run AppleScript action. A script can then repeat the Print dialog steps for many emails. Community scripts for Apple Mail work through the menus because Mail offers no direct command that saves a message as PDF.

1. Import the MBOX file into Apple Mail with steps 1 to 4 above.
2. Open Automator and create a Quick Action workflow for Mail.
3. Add a Run AppleScript action and paste a script that opens each selected email, presses the Print shortcut and chooses Save as PDF.
4. Allow Automator and Mail in System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility.
5. Select a few emails in Mail and start the Quick Action.

   Menu driven scripts break when Apple changes Mail or the Print dialog. They save attachments as separate files in their original format and never inside the PDF. Test five emails before you try a large mailbox.

Cross-Platform & Enterprise Methods to Convert MBOX Files to PDF

Professional converter software works on Windows and Mac and keeps attachments with their emails.

What Happens to Attachments in Free Methods?

EmailDoctor Software decodes those MIME parts and embeds them in the PDF, appends them as pages or saves them as files. Windows and Mac versions offer all three options in the PDF settings.

How to Export MBOX Emails With Attachments to PDF on Windows?

EmailDoctor MBOX Viewer Pro brings those three options to Windows. EmailDoctor Software opens MBOX, MBS and MBX files without an email client and exports them as PDF. Files from Thunderbird, Apple Mail, Eudora, Opera Mail, Entourage, PowerMail, KMail, Netscape, Evolution, SeaMonkey, Postbox, Claws Mail, Google Takeout and Google Vault load directly.

EmailDoctor MBOX Viewer Pro handles attachments and batch export for legal or audit work. PDF export belongs to the Pro edition so test the demo first. EmailDoctor MBOX Viewer Pro works on Windows 11, 10, 8 and 7.

Six feature groups cover attachments, preview, search, layout, naming and Bates numbering.

Add MBOX Files and Preview Emails

Follow these steps to export MBOX emails with attachments to PDF on Windows.

1. Start EmailDoctor MBOX Viewer Pro from Start > All Programs. Four steps for adding, searching, previewing and exporting appear in the main window.
2. Click Add File on the top bar.
3. Select File or Folder mode. For one file click the ... button next to Select Path and select your MBOX file. Then click Open. Use Folder mode for many files.
4. Click Add. Your MBOX file appears in EmailDoctor Software.
5. Wait for the scan to finish. File location, size and time stamp appear in the window. Click Yes to save the scan file for later.
6. Select any folder to view its emails in 8 views.
7. Use the search option to find emails. Select AND, OR or NONE and set the criteria for Mail or Attachments. Click Add Criteria.

Select PDF and Set Options

Your emails now sit in EmailDoctor Software so the next steps choose the PDF format and its options.

8. Click Export on the top bar and select PDF. Print is the second option.
9. Click Adv. Settings to open the PDF settings.
10. Under General Settings select a naming convention and categories. Set a date filter and include or exclude the message header if you need it.
11. Open Page Layout to set margins, orientation, page size and header and footer notes.
12. Open Attachment and select Attachment On Pin, Append Attachment or Save Attachment.
13. Open Bates Number if you need page numbering and a date stamp. Click Save.

Export and Check PDF Files

Settings are ready so the last steps send the PDF files to a folder and confirm them.

14. Click Browse to select the destination folder. Keep Maintain Folder Hierarchy ticked to retain your folders. Tick Create Single PDF for each MBOX file for one PDF per MBOX file. Tick Remove Replied Email Text to remove the reply labels that users add to emails. Click Export.
15. Click OK when the Export Process Completed Successfully message appears.
16. Click Save to store the export detail as a CSV report. Name the file and click Save. Then click OK.
17. Open the destination folder and check your PDF files.

How to Save MBOX Files as PDF on Mac With EmailDoctor MBOX Converter?

Mac users get the same attachment options in EmailDoctor MBOX Converter on macOS. EmailDoctor Software converts MBOX files with or without extension plus MBX and MBS files and exports them as PDF, PST, EML, MSG, EMLX, HTML, TXT, CSV and MHT with a Print option. Follow the steps below to export your MBOX files to PDF.

Add MBOX Files

1. Start EmailDoctor Software on your Mac. Click Add File(s) for single or many MBOX files or Add Folder(s) for a folder.
2. Select your MBOX file and click Open. For a folder select it and click Choose.
3. Check the file path and size and click Next. Store Eudora and PocoMail .mbx files in the same folder as their attach folder so attachments follow.

Select PDF and Set Options

Your files are listed so the following steps select PDF and set the output options.

4. Select PDF in the export options. Tick the folders you need. Keep Maintain Folder Hierarchy ticked to retain your structure.
5. Click Advance Settings. Under General select a naming convention and set a date filter. Include the Internet Message Header if you need it. Tick Create Single PDF for one PDF per MBOX file. Attachments then save in a separate folder.
6. Open Page Layout to set margins, Portrait or Landscape and page size.
7. Open Bates Number to set the start number, increment, position and date stamp.
8. Open Attachment and select Attachment On Pin, Append Attachment or Save Attachment. Click Save.

Export and Check PDF Files

Options are saved so the final steps start the export and open the PDF files.

9. Click Change and select the destination folder. Click Ok and then click Export.
10. Watch the export status. Mail count and fail count appear there.
11. Click OK when the completion message appears. Click View Report to see the CSV with mail count, fail count and source and destination paths.
12. Open the destination folder and open a PDF file to check it.

Best Way to Save MBOX Emails as PDF

All methods convert MBOX to PDF but they differ most on attachments and batch export. The table compares the Thunderbird, Apple Mail and EmailDoctor routes.

Thunderbird and Apple Mail fit a few emails with no attachments. I suggest EmailDoctor Software for legal or audit work because EmailDoctor retains attachments with their emails and saves hours on large mailboxes.

Are Online MBOX Converters Safe to Use?

Online MBOX converters need an upload of your emails to a remote server. Mail contains invoices, contracts and private chats so every upload puts private data on another server. Offline methods that convert MBOX to PDF process files on your PC and keep your emails local.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about MBOX to PDF conversion are answered below.

Final Words

Free methods suit a few emails and export without attachments. EmailDoctor Tool retains attachments and adds filters and batch export on Windows and Mac. Test the demo on one small folder before you convert MBOX files to PDF in bulk.

Which method fits your MBOX to PDF needs today?