How does windows live mail store emails

Windows Live Mail (WLM) stores emails in a proprietary database file called Windows Live Mail.dbx. This file is a binary file that contains all the emails, contacts, and other data stored in WLM.

Here's a breakdown of how WLM stores emails:

  1. Email messages: Each email message is stored as a separate record in the Windows Live Mail.dbx file. Each record contains the following information:
    • Message ID (a unique identifier for the email)
    • Sender and recipient information (e.g., email addresses, names)
    • Subject line
    • Body text (including attachments)
    • Date and time sent
    • Flags (e.g., read, unread, flagged)
  2. Folders: WLM stores folders as a hierarchical structure within the Windows Live Mail.dbx file. Each folder is represented by a record that contains the following information:
    • Folder name
    • Parent folder ID (to establish the folder hierarchy)
    • Child folder IDs (to establish the folder hierarchy)
  3. Indexing: WLM uses an indexing system to quickly locate specific emails within the Windows Live Mail.dbx file. The index is stored in a separate file called Windows Live Mail.idx. The index contains a list of keywords, such as sender and recipient email addresses, subject lines, and message IDs, along with pointers to the corresponding email records in the Windows Live Mail.dbx file.
  4. Attachments: WLM stores attachments as separate files within the Windows Live Mail.dbx file. Each attachment is stored as a binary file, and the file name and type are stored in the email record.
  5. Contacts: WLM stores contacts as a separate database file called Windows Live Contacts.dbx. This file contains contact information, such as names, email addresses, and phone numbers.

When you open WLM, it reads the Windows Live Mail.dbx file and loads the email records into memory. WLM uses the indexing system to quickly locate specific emails and display them in the inbox, sent items, and other folders.

It's worth noting that WLM uses a proprietary format for storing emails, which means that it's not compatible with other email clients or email storage formats. If you want to migrate your WLM emails to another email client or storage format, you may need to use a third-party conversion tool or manually export and import the emails.