Archive apple mail to external drive

A great question!

Archiving Apple Mail to an external drive is a great way to free up space on your Mac and keep your email organized. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you do just that:

Method 1: Using the built-in "Export" feature

1. Open Apple Mail on your Mac.
2. Select all the messages you want to archive by pressing Cmd+A or by selecting the messages individually.
3. Right-click (or control-click) on the selected messages and choose "Export Messages" from the context menu.
4. In the "Export" window, select "Export Messages" and choose the format you want to use (e.g., "EML" or "MBOX").
5. Choose the external drive you want to use as the destination and select a location to save the archive.
6. Click "Export" to start the archiving process.

Method 2: Using a third-party app

There are several third-party apps available that can help you archive Apple Mail to an external drive. Here are a few options:

1. Mail Archiver X: This app is specifically designed for archiving Apple Mail messages. You can select the messages you want to archive, choose the format and destination, and start the archiving process.
2. Export Mail: This app allows you to export Apple Mail messages to various formats, including EML, MBOX, and PDF. You can select the messages, choose the format, and save the archive to an external drive.
3. Mailbox: This app is a popular email client that also allows you to export Apple Mail messages to an external drive. You can select the messages, choose the format, and save the archive to an external drive.

Tips and considerations

• When archiving Apple Mail messages, you may want to consider using a format like EML or MBOX, which are widely supported by most email clients.
• If you're archiving a large number of messages, it may take some time to complete the process.
• Make sure to choose a location on the external drive that is easily accessible and has enough free space to store the archive.
• If you're using a third-party app, be sure to read the app's documentation and reviews to ensure it's compatible with your Mac and Apple Mail version.

By following these steps, you should be able to successfully archive your Apple Mail messages to an external drive.