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How to Convert Maildir to EML? – A Detailed Guide

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Written By Ashwani Tiwari
Anuraag Singh
Approved By Anuraag Singh
Published On March 1st, 2024
Reading Time 4 Minutes Reading

Maildir is an email storage format used by mail servers like Dovecot IMAP server and qmail SMTP server, besides email clients like Evolution, KMail, and Alpine. This email format arranges each email in a folder within a directory structure. Many Maildir users want solutions to shift emails to an acceptable format like EML. If you are looking for solutions to convert Maildir to EML, you have arrived at the right blog! We will mention the best methods for email transfer, besides the reasons for the same.

Reasons For Maildir Mailbox Transfer to EML

There are many reasons to move Maildir emails to EML format, and we will mention some of them in the following points:

  • Compatibility: EML files find more support across many email clients (like Outlook and Apple Mail) and applications instead of Maildir. Hence, it is a reliable file format to access and manage email data.
  • Email Management: EML format creates individual files for each email, which makes the format easily accessible and manageable for emails. Moreover, you can search and delete emails from EML files without any technicality of the Maildir’s directory format. Since EML files don’t require special software, you can use them comfortably on email clients like Outlook.
  • Email Archiving: The third reason to convert Maildir to EML is you can comfortably archive and backup your emails to EML due to their simple structure. This way, you can preserve crucial email correspondence for future access without depending on Maildir’s complex structure.
  • Email Safety: Maildir and EML are secure email formats, and many email users prefer them due to their high-end security. However, many users prefer the Maildir mailbox transfer to EML due to the less corrupt nature of the EML data file. Since each email in EML format is independent of others, damage (data corruption) to one file will less affect other files.

These reasons call for an immediate Maildir email migration to EML format, and the following section mentions the solution. Keep reading this blog to know the method for email transfer!

Best Method to Convert Maildir to EML

The previous section mentioned the reasons for Maildir email conversion to EML format. Since no manual method is available for data transfer, we will discuss an excellent solution for email migration: automated software. The SysTools Maildir Converter Tool is the best software for Maildir mailbox transfer to EML with total data retention. This software has many advantages, the first being the “Naming Convention” feature, which lets you name the resultant EML files. Moreover, you can use the “Date Filter” to select Maildir emails between two dates for a limited email migration to EML. This software works with all Windows OS computers, while the trial version converts twenty-five Maildir emails per folder to EML.

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Software Working Guide for Maildir Email Migration

  1. Install and open the software on your computer.download and run the tool
  2. Choose the Maildir folder from the left-side folder panel.Choose the Maildir folder
  3. Click the Export button and pick EML as the export format.Select EML as Export Type
  4. Next, click the Advance Settings button to use the Naming Convention and the Date Filter.use naming convention and date filters
  5. Click Browse to pick the location for the resultant EML files.click Browse to select location
  6. Finally, click Export to convert Maildir to EML.click Export to convert Maildir to EML
  7. Open the EML files in Mozilla Thunderbird to view the Maildir file content.open EML files in Thunderbird

Prominent Advantages of the Software

This software has many features, and we will mention some of them in the following points:

  • Migrate Maildir and Maildir++ emails in bulk to EML with no data loss.
  • Support for limited Maildir email conversion from sub-directories: cur, tmp, and new.
  • The software works with all Windows versions without limitations.
  • Data backup facility for Maildir-supportive apps (Postfix, Dovecot, etc).

Conclusion

Maildir is an email format with limited usage in email servers and clients. However, its directory structure and data safety make it the preferred choice for people who use it. This blog post discussed the reasons and solutions to convert Maildir to EML. The reasons we mentioned here call for immediate email data transfer. The absence of a manual solution brings forward the automated software explored in this post for Maildir mailbox transfer to EML with data intactness and no content loss.

  author

By Ashwani Tiwari

Being a Chief Technical Analyst, I am aware of the technicalities faced by the user while working with multiple technologies. So, through my blogs and articles, I love to help all the users who face various challenges while dealing with technology.