We all are aware of Google Takeout which helps users download data from their Google account to local storage. Using this service, one can easily download all emails, contacts, notes, calendars, etc. from a Gmail account to the local system. The downloaded file format is either .zip or .tgz. Once you extract data from these files, you will get the data in MBOX file format.
But when you need to move this data extracted using Google Takeout to another account, this becomes a big trouble for users. There is no such feature available in this tool to do so. However, some solutions can import Google Takeout emails to another Gmail account. In this blog post, we will learn how to transfer Google Takeout files to a new Google Mail account.
Solution to Import Google Takeout Email files to a new account
There is no direct method that can import Google Takeout (MBOX files) to a new account. But by transferring the data into an email client i.e. Thunderbird and then configuring your Gmail account in Thunderbird can help you to achieve this task. Let us figure out the complete procedure step by step:
Step 1. Download Gmail data items using Google Takeout
Start with downloading Gmail data using Google Takeout.
- Login to your Gmail account with the correct credentials.
- Hit the profile icon and then hit on ‘Manage your Google account’. You can use this link to directly go to this page – https://myaccount.google.com/
- Go to Data & Privacy from the left sidebar.
- On the newly opened page, choose ‘Data from apps and services that you use’ and then the option ‘Download your data’ under ‘Download or delete your data.’
- This will open the Google Takeout page. Now, select the data to download & press the Next button.
- Choose file type, frequency & location. Hit on ‘Create Export.’
- After downloading the data, extract these files and you will find the file saved in .mbox format.
Step 2. Install ImportExportTools Add-on in Thunderbird
Now, you need to download & install the Mozilla Thunderbird application. Then, install the ImportExportToolsNG add-on that helps to import MBOX files to Thunderbird.
- Go to https://addons.thunderbird.net/ and in the search bar, type ‘ImportExportTools’
- Now, download this add-on.
- Open the Thunderbird application and hit the ‘File’ icon.
- Now, select ‘Add-ons and Themes’ from the drop-down list.
- Hit on ‘Extensions’ in the add-ons window.
- Hit on the ‘Manage your extension’ icon and pick ‘Install Add-on from file’
- Choose the downloaded .xpi file (ImportExportTools) and install it per the instructions.
- Hit close and restart the Thunderbird program.
Step 3. Set up your Gmail account with Thunderbird
Now, time to set up the Gmail account to Thunderbird.
- Go to File in the Thunderbird application.
- Hit on New account & then on Get a new email.
- In the new window, provide Gmail account details i.e. name, address, and password. Hit the Continue button.
- Thunderbird will get IMAP configurations automatically. Then, press Done.
- You will find the Gmail account listed in the ‘All folders’ pane.
Step 4. Import Google Takeout files (MBOX) into Thunderbird
Now, import the Google Takeout downloaded MBOX files into your Thunderbird application.
- In Thunderbird, choose local folders from the left pane.
- Hit Tools – Import/Export option and then Import MBOX data files.
- Choose the Import one or more MBOX files option. Hit OK.
- Upload MBOX files and then press ‘Open’
Also read: Resolve “Gmail is Full and Not Receiving emails“
Step 5. Copy emails to Gmail account
The final step is to import Google Takeout files to a new account.
- From Thunderbird, go to the ‘Local folder’ and then hit the folder label that you need to import to new Gmail account.
- Choose the emails within the folder, then right-click & pick ‘Copy to’ – new account.
This will import all your Gmail emails to a new account.
Conclusion
It is simple to download Gmail data items with Google Takeout service but moving this downloaded data to a new Gmail account is really tough. But using the above-discussed steps, you can import Google Takeout files to a new account.
However, if you wish to transfer Google Takeout emails to another email client, suppose MS Outlook then, you have to use specialized programs like MailsGen MBOX Converter. This advanced tool securely export Google Takeout MBOX files to Outlook PST format. Without any data loss and any hassle, the tool exports the data.