Mail 2.0 Help
Importing email into Mail
Mail can import messages from other email applications. You can also import email that you've archived from the Mail application.
If your mail account is on an IMAP server, then your messages on the server will be immediately available in Mail after you enter your account settings. You only need to import messages that are stored on your computer.
If you're importing mailboxes from a previous version of Mac OS X Mail, your mailboxes are located in the Mail/Mailboxes/ folder of your Library folder.
To import email:
- In Mail, choose File > Import Mailboxes.
- Select the mail application from which you want to import your old messages.
- Follow the onscreen instructions.
- Some of the options listed require that you have the application you are importing from (such as Entourage, Outlook Express, or Claris Emailer) open and running.
- If you're importing messages from a Windows or UNIX computer, try selecting "Other" at the bottom of the Import window. Locate the folder containing your mbox files, unless you are importing from Eudora or Netscape. Many mail applications use the "mbox" format, but Eudora and Netscape use their own import formats. Mailboxes from Microsoft Outlook cannot be imported into Mail.
- If the application you're switching from isn't listed, click Cancel. Consult the documentation for the other application to learn how to export your messages in "mbox" format. Most mail applications can do this. You can then import the mailbox file into Mail by choosing File > Import Mailboxes.
If you sign up for a .Mac account, configure your old application with your .Mac email information. Then import your email. Your messages will be available on the .Mac IMAP server. You can use Mail to copy the messages from the .Mac server to On My Mac if you also want to keep them on your computer.
Your imported mail is stored in a new mailbox called "Import."
To reorganize imported email, create new mailboxes and drag folders and messages from the Import mailbox to other mailboxes.
If you don't see your mailboxes in Mail, choose View > Show Mailboxes. Empty mailboxes are not imported.
See also