Tips to open MBOX file

Can't open the MBOX file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open MBOX files as well as a list of programs that support MBOX files.

MBOX file extension

File Name E-mail Mailbox Format
File Category Text Files

The MBOX file is supported on 3 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the MBOX files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the MBOX file on each system platform.

Operating systems
  • 2
  • 4
  • 3
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

What is MBOX file?

The .MBOX file is a text file. It contains Email text messages saved in plain text. Messages are saved one after the other, preceded by a header. Originally, the files were to be used by email applications on Unix systems. Currently, several e-mail clients allow you to load messages in this format. These files are very rare these days. There are also programs that can convert messages from a .MBOX file to the more commonly used mail formats.

How to open MBOX file?

The most common problem when using E-mail Mailbox Format is that a specific MBOX is not associated with the program. Thus, when you open MBOX, the program selection wizard or some other program starts. This problem can be easily remedied.

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the MBOX file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.

Step 1. Install Apple Mail

In this case, you should first verify that the Apple Mail application is installed on the computer. To do this, enter the name Apple Mail into the system search engine. In the absence of an appropriate program, its installation in the vast majority of cases will fix the problem. Below is a list of programs that support the file MBOX.

Step 2. Create association of Apple Mail with MBOX files

However, it may happen that the application itself does not cause the MBOX file to open in the Apple Mail application, but you can set it manually. It is most convenient to call the context menu with the right mouse button and select Properties. The displayed window will contain information about the program that supports this type of file. Changes can be made using the "Change" button. It may happen that in the next window there will be no appropriate program - however, this can be corrected with the "Browse" option where you should manually indicate the program location. The "always use the selected program ..." field will set the Apple Mail application as the default for handling the MBOX file.

Step 3. Update Apple Mail to the latest version

The fault may also lie with the Apple Mail program, it is possible that E-mail Mailbox Format requires a newer version of the program. In this case, use the Apple, Inc. website or update the program from the application.

Step 4. Check for the following problems with the MBOX file

The problem may also be with the file itself if the above steps don't work. This could be due to the file itself, the cleanest issues are:

The affected file may be 0 KB or smaller than expected. This is most often caused by a problem while downloading the MBOX file. Downloading the file again should fix the problem.
The computer may have fallen victim to a computer virus or hacker. Perform a virus scan using available and up-to-date anti-virus software. Alternatively, you can use the scanners available online. The scan should cover the entire computer, not only the MBOX file that we want to open. Sometimes virus-infected MBOX files cannot be recovered, so make a backup in advance.
This can happen especially when the program is dynamically developed and the structure of the MBOX files changes over time. Help should be sought from the software developer, as they usually recommend using free file converters or installing an older version of the program.
There can be many reasons for the failure. Repairing is very dependent on the file type. Some programs offer the option of recovering data from damaged MBOX files. The easiest way is to restore the file from a backup, if there is one, or contact N/A
The program indicates that the file is encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted MBOX files can be used by the device on which they were encrypted, on any other device it is required to have the appropriate cryptographic key and decrypt the file before its recovery.
Some operating systems do not allow file operations in certain locations, eg in system directories or directly on the system drive. While there is usually no problem reading such a file, it may not be possible to save it. Copying the MBOX file to another location will fix the problem.
This problem only occurs with more complex files. Some file types can only be opened in one program at a time. Running programs (including those in the background) should be verified. Sometimes it is necessary to wait a while before referencing the MBOX file again. Antivirus programs or a backup being made may lock the file for a while without the user's knowledge. If this does not work either, restart the device.