Convert an MBOX mailbox to PDF
MBOX is the standard mailbox archive format: every message in a folder concatenated into one file, each beginning with a "From " separator line. Google Takeout exports Gmail this way, Thunderbird stores folders this way, and Apple Mail exports mailboxes this way. A single .mbox can hold years of correspondence — and almost nothing consumer-grade opens it.
This converter splits the archive into individual messages in your browser, parses each one's MIME structure, and produces either one PDF per email or — with the full version — a single merged PDF in date order with optional Bates numbering and a SHA-256 integrity manifest. A 2 GB Takeout file never uploads anywhere; conversion runs locally even if you disconnect from the internet after the page loads.
Upload-based MBOX converters choke on large archives, impose file-size caps, and retain your entire mailbox on their servers during processing. Converting locally removes all three problems at once.
Open the converter — free, no upload
Where MBOX files come from
- Gmail: takeout.google.com → select Mail → export. The download contains one .mbox per label.
- Thunderbird: install the ImportExportTools NG add-on → right-click a folder → Export folder (mbox).
- Apple Mail: select a mailbox → Mailbox menu → Export Mailbox… → produces an .mbox package.
Questions
How big a file can it handle?
Limited by your device's memory, not by an arbitrary cap. Multi-gigabyte Takeout exports work on a typical laptop; very large archives are best split by label in Takeout first.
Can I filter which emails convert?
Load the mbox and you'll see the full message list before converting. Date and sender filtering is part of the full version's batch options.
Does each email become its own PDF?
By default, yes — named with date and subject. The full version can also merge everything into one chronological PDF, which is usually what a court production wants.