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How to Export Gmail Emails to CSV or Excel Format? Top Methods

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Published By Jamie Kaler 
Rollins Duke
Approved By Rollins Duke
Published On November 18th, 2024
Reading Time 9 Min Read

If you are looking for a solution to export Gmail emails to CSV, then you are on the right page. You may be in search of the best ways to import emails from Gmail to Excel but have not found any solution that can convert your complete Gmail mailbox into CSV format. Here is why today we have come up with this article. In this article, we will discuss multiple methods to export emails from Gmail to Excel.
The solutions we are going to discuss here, will be accessible on both Windows and Mac Machine. If you want to get best results after exporting Gmail to CSV file format then you need to stick till the end of this article. Pay attention to each and every step carefully so that you can export Gmail emails to CSV hassle free.

What You Will Find Here? Hide
  1. Reasons to Export Emails from Gmail to Excel
  2. Some Best Methods
  3. Method 1: Using Microsoft Excel
  4. Method 2: Using the Thunderbird Email Client
  5. Method 3: Use the Best Automated Approach
  6. Limitation of Manual Method
  7. Conclusion
  8. Frequently Asked Questions

Reasons to Export Emails from Gmail to Excel Format?

  • Backup and Security: If something were to happen to their Gmail account, the local backup of emails that CSV files make would provide an additional degree of security against data loss.
  • Storage Management: Exporting emails from Gmail to Excel saves storage, which may enhance performance and prevent restrictions on free storage plans.
  • Data Analysis and Organization: Email data can be more easily analyzed in spreadsheets and other applications due to the organized nature of CSV files, which facilitates better organization and insights.
  • Organization: CSV files may be opened with Microsoft apps like Excel. This allows you to arrange and categorize your emails in a neat table.
  • Analysis: You may use specialized tools to examine the data in a CSV file. This can be useful for tracking spending or analyzing email trends.

Top Solutions to Export Gmail Emails to CSV

To export Gmail emails to CSV file format, you need a solution that can work according to your conversion needs. All methods that we are going to discuss below are in detail one by one. In the first method, we will discuss how to export Gmail to CSV. In the second method, we will learn how to complete the Gmail to Excel process by using the Thunderbird email client. We will also discuss the safest method to effortlessly export Gmail emails to CSV, which is also an expert choice solution. Then will also discuss a Chrome extension in the last method. You may select any of the methods which are suitable for you and make your export process more reliable.

Method 1: Export Emails from Gmail to CSV One by One

In this manual solution, we will export emails directly from Gmail to Excel. But the main reason why this utility is not recommended is that it takes too much time and effort. Saving entire emails one by one to export Gmail emails to CSV is a very cumbersome process. If you want to export only some selected data, then you can think about using this method. Follow the steps mentioned below:

  1. Go to Gmail and log in to your account.
  2. Click on a particular email >> click on 3 dots >> select Download message.
  3. You will receive a resultant message in the EML format.
  4. After that, open a blank Excel sheet and drag & drop the resultant file there.
  5. Save the files and see the entire data in CSV format.

Drawbacks: This method is done in just five easy steps, but you will have to do it one-by-one. You can not select, drag and drop all the desired emails at once. This is a time-consuming procedure which can also lead to miss backing up any of the email or you may save one email multiple times accidentally. Therefore, we recommend you to explore more methods

Method 2: Export Gmail Emails to CSV using Thunderbird

You have to complete this method into two phases. Firstly, we will connect both accounts and then export emails from Gmail to Excel format. Below are the steps for this method.

Step 1: Connect Gmail to Thunderbird

  1. Open a Thunderbird account.
  2. Choose Tools >> Account Settings option.

    tool to export Gmail emails to CSV

  3. Select the Account Actions >> Add Mail Account button.

    Account Actions

  4. Enter the login details of your Gmail account and hit the Next icon.

    login details of your Gmail

  5. Put the IMAP/POP details of Gmail and hit the Finish button.

    Finish

After a successful connection, now we will export emails in CSV format. follow the step 2.

Step 2: Export Gmail Emails to CSV/Excel

  1. Restart the Thunderbird account.
  2. Right-click on the connected folders of Gmail.
  3. Choose ImportExportTools NG >> Export All Messages in the Folder >> Spreadsheet CSV options.

    ImportExportTools NG

  4. Browse the location to save this file.

Drawbacks: to export Gmail emails to CSV format with this task, you have to go through two phases. Also, for this method make sure that the Thunderbird email client is installed on your system. Additionally, there is a high chance that you may lose some of your emails while performing these methods as they are a bit lengthy and time consuming as well.

Method 3: Automated Approach to Export Gmail Emails to Excel

You need a method that can work according to your exporting needs and goals RecoveryTools Gmail Backup Wizard that you must use to get best results for this problem. This is a solution to export Gmail emails to CSV in bulk. This tool is being designed with user-friendly algorithms that work as per the needs and requirements of the users. With this solution, users can download large amounts of Gmail emails without any kind of data loss or disruption.
The solution can easily export Gmail to CSV even with attachments. It ensures you the perfect export procedure with the original formatting of your email data easily. Below are the steps to use this tool as per your convenience.

Complete Working Steps for How to Use Automatic Tool

  1. Firstly, download and install the given tool on your system.

    tool to export Gmail emails to CSV

  2. And, login to your account using proper login credentials and hit on the Login button.

    login to your account

  3. Choose the required files and folders from the software panel.

    required files

  4. Select the backup option as CSV from the list of formats.

    backup option as CSV

  5. Apply the advanced filters as per your choice from Filter Options.

    advanced filters

  6. Select the desired location using the Browse button.

    desired location

  7. Lastly, click on the Backup button to export Gmail emails to CSV format.

    export Gmail emails to CSV format

Advanced and Prime Features/ Filters of the Tool

  • Export Entire Data Items – The software can easily export an unlimited number of emails, attachments, metadata, and email formatting to CSV format. The entire resultant data will be taken out in a unified manner while maintaining the entire data structure.
  • Maintains Folder Structure – The entire data structure is maintained throughout the conversion process and there will not be any kind of loss of data. While data is uploaded on the panel, the entire hierarchy of all files and folders is maintained throughout the process.
  • Option to Select Destination Path – The utility gives an option to choose any destination path on your system to save output files. Once you export Gmail emails to CSV, the output files will be stored at the chosen location.
  • Filter Search Option – Users can search for a particular email from bulk data present on the Internet. Moreover, the date range filter allows one to search for emails of a particular duration.

Limitations of Manual Method 

  • The first limitation of using this method is that you will have to give confidential access to your Gmail account. Due to this the possibility of your data theft increases.
  • The second limitation is that this is a very hectic task as you have to select the emails one by one. If you have 1000 emails in your mailbox then you have to select 1000 emails one by one. Because of this, a lot of time is wasted in doing this method.
  • If you think that this Chrome extension is free then you are absolutely wrong, this Chrome extension is not free. This is a very high-cost Chrome extension.

Conclusion

that you must use to get best results for this problem. This is a solution to export Gmail emails to CSV in bulk. This tool is being designed with user-friendly algorithms that work as per the needs and requirements of the users. With this solution, users can download large amounts of Gmail emails without any kind of data loss or disruption.
The solution can easily export Gmail to CSV even with attachments. It ensures you the perfect export procedure with the original formatting of your email data easily. Below are the steps to use this tool as per your convenience.

FAQs to Export Gmail Emails to CSV Formats

Ques. Can I export Gmail emails to CSV format?

Ans. While Gmail doesn’t offer a direct export to CSV, there are several methods to achieve this such as Chrome browser extensions, Professional desktop applications and Manual methods. You can use any method as per your needs and preferences.

Ques. What data gets exported when using CSV?

Ans. The specific data is exported if you can choose the automatic method. Typically, it includes:
Email headers: sender, recipient, date, subject, etc.
Message content: the body of the email
Labels: categories assigned to the email in Gmail

Ques. Are there any alternatives to exporting to CSV?

Ans. Google Takeout: This service allows you to download your entire Google account data, including Gmail, in various formats like MBOX.
IMAP access: Advanced users can access and export Gmail data through email clients that support the IMAP protocol.