How to Backup IMAP Email to Computer?
Christopher Plummer | November 21st, 2025 | Data Backup
In today’s digital world, safeguarding your emails is crucial. Most email providers use the IMAP protocol, which keeps your emails on the server rather than on your device. IMAP allows seamless email syncing across devices, but its server-dependent nature also makes your mailbox vulnerable. A server crash, cyberattack, or storage overload can result in unexpected data loss. To avoid these risks, creating a backup of IMAP emails is essential. This post will guide you on how to backup IMAP email locally using both manual and automated solutions. So stay tuned with us to know more.
Before we get into the how-to steps, let’s take a moment to discuss why it’s important to download IMAP emails to the system.
Why IMAP Backup Is Important?
- Prevent Data Loss: While IMAP allows you to access your emails from anywhere, it also means that if the server is compromised or your account is deleted, your emails might be lost forever.
- Backup Large Amounts of Data: Over time, your inbox can become cluttered with emails, attachments, and other important information. Backing up regularly ensures you have a local copy for safekeeping.
- Access Emails Offline: By backing up your IMAP emails to your computer, you can access them even if you don’t have an internet connection.
Now that we understand the importance of backing up IMAP emails, let’s explore the methods for doing so.
Methods to Backup IMAP Email Locally
Here are basically two workable solutions to download IMAP emails with attachments.
- Manual Method – Using Outlook Configuration
- Professional Solution – IMAP Email Backup Tool
Both methods are explained below in brief. Read them one by one and choose the best as per your needs and requirements.
How to Save IMAP Emails to Computer Manually?
The Import/Export feature of Outlook is one of the quickest ways to export all IMAP emails to a local folder. You can add an IMAP email account to Outlook and carry out this task effectively.
Follow the steps below to complete the IMAP backup manually:
Step 1. Open the Outlook Application on your system.
Step 2. Next, go to the menu and select File >> Add Account.
Step 3. Enter your email address and click Connect.
Step 4. Next, click on IMAP in advanced setup.
Step 5. Enter IMAP configuration details & click Next.
Step 6. Go to File tab >> Open & Export >> Import/Export option.
Step 7. Now choose export to a file option, then click Next.
Step 8. Select Outlook Data File (.pst) from the list and click Next.
Step 9. Choose the IMAP email folder you wish to backup.
Step 10. Lastly, choose the location to save the file & click Finish.
Microsoft will start exporting IMAP emails to PST file. This file can be used as a backup file for future use. As it can be transferred to another system or Outlook.
Note: This is a lengthy and time-consuming process. Non-technical users face difficulty in configuring the account. Also, it does not offer filter options to download only selected emails.
How to Download All Emails from IMAP to Computer Securely?
The manual method is tricky and requires extra steps. For a quick and easy solution, download and install Advik Email Backup Wizard on your system and backup IMAP emails locally in just a few simple clicks. With this utility, you can save IMAP emails without any configuration. This tool can download all IMAP emails at once. Also, it allows you to choose specific emails or folders for selective IMAP backup. Additionally, it will maintain folder hierarchy and keep all the email attributes safe during the process.
Click below to download and try the software for FREE. It is compatible with all Windows and Mac OS versions.
Steps to Backup IMAP Emails With Attachments
Step 1. Run the IMAP Backup Tool on your computer.
Step 2. Choose IMAP as an email source and sign in.
Step 3. After that, select mailbox folders to download.
Step 4. Choose any file format from the saving options.
Step 5. Next, browse the target location and click the Backup button.
The software will start downloading emails from IMAP account with attachments. Once the process is finished, the software will create a full log report with complete details.
Watch How to Backup IMAP Mailbox to Hard Drive
Why Choose IMAP Email Backup Software?
- Backup IMAP Email to Different Formats: This tool allows you to save your entire IMAP mailbox with just a few clicks. It supports backing up your emails into various formats. It includes MBOX, MSG, EML, DOC CSV, and many more. These different file formats give users flexibility and easy access to their emails.
- Selective Email Backup: The IMAP Backup Tool includes an advanced filter option that lets users selectively backup specific IMAP mailbox items. Users can filter emails by choosing to select date ranges, To, From, Cc, Bcc, etc.
- Maintains Data Integrity: The Tool works well in preserving key elements. It doesn’t alter any of these and maintains its originality. Such as To, from, Bcc, Cc, hyperlinks, attachments, etc. Additionally, it also preserves the folder hierarchy during the IMAP backup process.
- Save IMAP Emails in Bulk: This IMAP Mail Backup Tool lets you bulk backup IMAP mailbox in one go. It’s ideal if you’re short on time and need to archive many emails. Just upload the details of multiple IMAP email accounts in a .csv file and check the Batch mode feature.
- Compatible with Windows and Mac OS: The Utility supports all versions of Windows and Mac OS for backing u IMAP email accounts. Users can easily install this application on any version of Windows or Mac, whether it’s a new or old version.
Conclusion
Backing up is an essential task that requires expertise to handle technical configuration settings. It’s worth noting that there is no other easy way to backup IMAP email without an automated solution. You can also get this job done manually through Outlook, but it’s quite a lengthy and complex procedure. Therefore, understand each method carefully and choose the method that suits your needs and requirements to the fullest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q 1. Can I save IMAP emails locally without Outlook?
Ans. Yes, you can save emails without Outlook using IMAP Email Backup Software.
Q 2. How do I backup IMAP email with attachments?
Ans. The software supports downloading emails from IMAP accounts with attachments.
Q 3. Is it possible to download emails from multiple IMAP accounts at once?
Ans. Yes, the above-recommended tool has a batch mode feature that enables you to export emails from multiple IMAP accounts in a single attempt.
Q 4. Can I copy IMAP emails to hard drive within a specific date range?
Ans. Yes, you can apply the Advanced Email Filter feature to backup IMAP email based on date ranges, subjects, to, from, and many more.
Q 5. How do I download all emails from IMAP?
Ans. The software can export all emails from IMAP account at once.
Q 6. Is it possible to choose selective email folders from my IMAP accounts?
Ans. Of course, you can! The software offers a preview mode that allows you to select specific mailbox folders to include in your backup.
