MBOX File

What are MBOX files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a MBOX file or are you simply curious about its contents? We're here to explain the properties of these files and provide you with software that can open or handle your MBOX files.

What is a MBOX file?

A .MBOX file is a Standard Unix Mailbox file.

The .mbox file extension is used for an email-related file type developed as an email mailbox container that contains a user's emails. These MBOX files can typically be found in older versions of Linux, various Unix platforms, Mac OS X, while certain email programs on Windows also use them.

You can use Mozilla Thunderbird, Apple Mail, or other email programs primarily for versions of Linux and Unix systems to export and open the content of these .mbox files.

In more recent Mac OS X and Apple Mail versions, the MBOX file format has been replaced with newer file formats like the .emxl mailbox file type.

The files may be encrypted, which means that only fully compatible programs will decrypt them - if you know the password.

How to open MBOX files

We have identified four MBOX openers that are compatible with this specific type of MBOX file.

Programs that open Standard Unix Mailbox files

Last updated: February 24, 2023

Various apps that use files with this extension

These apps are known to open certain types of MBOX files. Remember, different programs may use MBOX files for different purposes, so you may need to try out a few of them to be able to open your specific file.

Help us help others

File.org helps thousands of users every day, and we would love to hear from you if you have additional information about MBOX file formats, example files, or compatible programs. Please use the links below or email us at submit@file.org to discuss further.