How to open gmail mail files

Gmail doesn't store emails as files that you can open directly. Instead, it stores them in a database and provides a web-based interface to access and manage your emails. However, there are a few ways to access your Gmail emails offline or in a different format:

  1. Export emails as EML files: You can export your Gmail emails as EML files, which are a standard format for email messages. To do this:
    • Log in to your Gmail account.
    • Click on the gear icon in the upper right corner and select "See all settings."
    • Go to the "Filters and Blocked Addresses" tab.
    • Click on the "Create a new filter" button.
    • Enter a filter name and select "Apply the label" and choose a label (e.g., "Exported").
    • Click on the "Create" button.
    • Go to the "Labels" tab and select the label you just created.
    • Click on the "Export" button next to the label.
    • Choose "EML" as the file format and select a location to save the files.
  2. Use a third-party email client: You can use a third-party email client like Microsoft Outlook, Mozilla Thunderbird, or Apple Mail to access your Gmail emails. These clients can connect to your Gmail account using IMAP or POP3 protocols and allow you to access your emails offline.
  3. Use a Gmail client: There are several Gmail clients available that allow you to access your Gmail emails offline, such as:
    • Gmail Offline: A Chrome extension that allows you to access your Gmail emails offline.
    • Boxy: A Chrome extension that allows you to access your Gmail emails offline and provides additional features like email filtering and labeling.
    • Mailspring: A desktop email client that allows you to access your Gmail emails offline and provides additional features like email filtering and labeling.
  4. Use a file converter: You can use a file converter like Gmail Backup or Gmail Extractor to convert your Gmail emails to a file format like PDF, CSV, or EML. These tools can help you export your emails in a format that can be easily accessed offline.

Keep in mind that Gmail has limitations on how many emails you can export at once, and some features may not be available when exporting emails. Additionally, some email clients or tools may require you to enable IMAP or POP3 access in your Gmail settings.