• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

TinyGrab

Your Trusted Source for Tech, Finance & Brand Advice

  • Personal Finance
  • Tech & Social
  • Brands
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Get In Touch
  • About Us
Home » How to download an email in Gmail?

How to download an email in Gmail?

May 2, 2025 by TinyGrab Team Leave a Comment

Table of Contents

Toggle
  • How to Download an Email in Gmail: A Comprehensive Guide
    • Downloading a Single Email as an EML File
      • Steps to Download an EML File
      • What to Do with Your EML File
    • Downloading Email Attachments
      • Steps to Download Attachments
      • Pro-Tip: Selective Attachment Saving
    • FAQs: Diving Deeper into Gmail Email Downloads
      • 1. Can I Download Multiple Emails at Once from Gmail?
      • 2. What is an Mbox File, and How Do I Open It?
      • 3. Can I Download Emails from Gmail on My Mobile Device?
      • 4. How Can I Convert EML Files to PDF?
      • 5. How Do I Download Emails That Are in a Specific Label or Folder?
      • 6. Is There a Limit to the Number of Emails I Can Download at Once?
      • 7. How Do I Delete Emails After Downloading Them?
      • 8. Can I Automate Email Downloads from Gmail?
      • 9. Why Can’t I Download Certain Emails from Gmail?
      • 10. What’s the Difference Between Downloading and Archiving in Gmail?
      • 11. Are Downloaded Emails Encrypted?
      • 12. Will Downloading Emails Free Up Space in My Google Account?

How to Download an Email in Gmail: A Comprehensive Guide

Downloading an email in Gmail is a surprisingly versatile skill, allowing you to archive important correspondence, save attachments securely, or even analyze email data offline. Let’s cut to the chase: you can download an individual email from Gmail in two primary ways. First, you can download it as an .eml file, preserving the email’s headers and formatting. Second, you can download the attachments individually. Let’s explore both options, along with some caveats and pro-tips that only a seasoned email wrangler would know.

Downloading a Single Email as an EML File

This is your bread and butter for creating an email archive that’s actually readable later. An EML file is essentially a digital snapshot of the email, preserving not just the body text but also the sender, recipients, date, subject line, and all those hidden headers that email geeks like to pore over.

Steps to Download an EML File

  1. Open the email you want to download in Gmail.
  2. Locate the three vertical dots (More) in the upper right-hand corner of the email, just above the message body.
  3. Click the three dots to reveal a drop-down menu.
  4. Select “Download message.” The email will download as a .eml file to your computer’s default download location.

What to Do with Your EML File

Once you’ve downloaded the .eml file, you’ll need an email client or viewer to open it. Common choices include:

  • Microsoft Outlook: The classic, and still widely used.
  • Mozilla Thunderbird: A free and open-source option, beloved by many.
  • Apple Mail: If you’re on a Mac, this is built-in.
  • Online EML viewers: Plenty of websites allow you to upload and view .eml files without installing software.

The advantage of viewing an .eml file in a dedicated email client is that it preserves the formatting of the email and allows you to interact with it as if it were still in your inbox (replying might not work, though).

Downloading Email Attachments

Sometimes, it’s just the attachments you’re after. Perhaps it’s a crucial PDF document, an insightful spreadsheet, or a hilarious GIF your colleague sent.

Steps to Download Attachments

  1. Open the email containing the attachments you want to download.
  2. Locate the attachment previews below the email subject and above the message body.
  3. Hover your mouse over the attachment you wish to download.
  4. You’ll see two icons: a download icon (downward-pointing arrow) and a preview icon (magnifying glass).
  5. Click the download icon. The attachment will download to your computer.
  6. For multiple attachments, you can often find a “Download all attachments” option, typically represented by a zip file icon. Clicking this will download all attachments in a single archive.

Pro-Tip: Selective Attachment Saving

Did you know you can save attachments directly to Google Drive? Instead of clicking the download arrow, click the “Add to Drive” button (it looks like a Drive logo). This is incredibly useful for keeping all your important files in the cloud and accessible from anywhere.

FAQs: Diving Deeper into Gmail Email Downloads

Here are some frequently asked questions that address more nuanced aspects of downloading emails from Gmail, covering everything from bulk downloads to mobile devices.

1. Can I Download Multiple Emails at Once from Gmail?

Yes, but not directly through Gmail’s standard interface. To download multiple emails, you’ll need to use Google Takeout. This service allows you to export your Gmail data, including all your emails, as an mbox file. You can then use an email client like Thunderbird to access and manage the mbox file. Be prepared: downloading all your emails can take a significant amount of time and create a large file.

2. What is an Mbox File, and How Do I Open It?

An mbox file is a mailbox format that stores multiple email messages in a single text file. Each message is separated by a “From ” line. To open an mbox file, you need an email client that supports this format, such as Mozilla Thunderbird. Import the mbox file into Thunderbird, and it will reconstruct your email folders and messages.

3. Can I Download Emails from Gmail on My Mobile Device?

Yes, the process is essentially the same as on a desktop. Open the email in the Gmail app, tap the three dots (More), and select “Download message.” Attachments can be downloaded by tapping on them directly.

4. How Can I Convert EML Files to PDF?

There are several ways to convert EML files to PDF. You can use:

  • Email clients: Open the EML file in Outlook or Thunderbird and then print the email to a PDF printer (like Microsoft Print to PDF or Adobe PDF).
  • Online converters: Numerous websites offer free EML to PDF conversion. However, be cautious about uploading sensitive emails to unknown websites.
  • Dedicated software: Some software specifically designed for email management also includes EML to PDF conversion features.

5. How Do I Download Emails That Are in a Specific Label or Folder?

Using Google Takeout, you can select specific labels to download, rather than your entire inbox. This allows you to create more targeted archives. During the Takeout process, look for the option to customize the data included and choose the specific labels you want.

6. Is There a Limit to the Number of Emails I Can Download at Once?

There’s no hard limit on the number of emails you can download through Google Takeout, but the size of the resulting mbox file can become unwieldy. Large mbox files can be slow to import and manage. Consider breaking your downloads into smaller chunks by label or date range if you have a massive email archive.

7. How Do I Delete Emails After Downloading Them?

Deleting emails after downloading is a matter of personal preference and storage needs. If you need to free up space in your Gmail account, you can safely delete emails after they’ve been downloaded and archived. However, be absolutely certain you have a reliable backup of the downloaded emails before deleting them from Gmail. Mistakes happen!

8. Can I Automate Email Downloads from Gmail?

Gmail doesn’t offer native features to automatically download emails. You would need to explore third-party tools or scripts that utilize the Gmail API. This requires programming knowledge and careful handling of your Gmail credentials. Services like IFTTT or Zapier might offer limited automation options, but typically don’t fully download emails.

9. Why Can’t I Download Certain Emails from Gmail?

Several reasons could prevent you from downloading an email:

  • Corrupted email: Rarely, an email might be corrupted, preventing it from being downloaded correctly.
  • Gmail outage: Temporary issues with Gmail’s servers can sometimes interfere with downloads.
  • Browser issues: Clear your browser cache and cookies or try a different browser.
  • Account restrictions: In very rare cases, account-specific restrictions might prevent downloads (usually related to security concerns).

10. What’s the Difference Between Downloading and Archiving in Gmail?

Downloading creates a local copy of your email. You’re essentially taking the email out of Gmail and storing it on your computer. Archiving, on the other hand, simply removes the email from your inbox but keeps it in Gmail. Archived emails can still be found through search or by browsing the “All Mail” section.

11. Are Downloaded Emails Encrypted?

The downloaded .eml or mbox files are not inherently encrypted. They are stored as plain text files on your computer. If you’re concerned about security, you should encrypt the folder or drive where you store your downloaded emails using tools like BitLocker (Windows) or FileVault (macOS).

12. Will Downloading Emails Free Up Space in My Google Account?

Yes, deleting emails after downloading them will free up storage space in your Google account. This is because Gmail (along with Google Drive and Google Photos) shares a common storage quota. If you’re running low on space, downloading and then deleting unnecessary emails can be an effective way to reclaim storage.

Filed Under: Tech & Social

Previous Post: « Do You Need an iPhone to Use the Apple Watch?
Next Post: How Much Is NFL Sunday Ticket on Spectrum? »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

NICE TO MEET YOU!

Welcome to TinyGrab! We are your trusted source of information, providing frequently asked questions (FAQs), guides, and helpful tips about technology, finance, and popular US brands. Learn more.

Copyright © 2025 · Tiny Grab