Summary: Gmail is one of the most widely used email platforms, but what happens if your emails get lost? Backing up your Gmail, especially with attachments, ensures that your important conversations and files are safe. In this guide, we will explain the best ways to backup Gmail emails with attachments to external hard drive.
Backing up your email is important for many reasons, especially when it comes to Gmail. Gmail is a popular choice for professional communication. However, data loss can happen to anyone and anytime, thus it is required to keep a backup copy to prevent data loss situations in the future. Also, hacking is the most common issue nowadays. As technology has advanced, hackers are now more widespread and constantly looking for ways to access your email data. This makes it even more important to backup your Gmail data to a hard drive or external storage.
Now, we will discuss some of the major benefits that users must know before proceeding with the methods.
Why Download Gmail Emails with Attachments?
Gmail strives to maintain a high level of security and trust for its users. However, certain risks still exist. What if a user is unable to log in? Cyber attacks, hacking, data theft, and accidental deletion of emails are major reasons why users may want to backup their Gmail data as a precaution. Losing essential data can be a significant issue, so being proactive about backups is important for Gmail users.
Here are some key advantages of Gmail Backup:
- Offline Access: Once backed up on your system, you can access your emails even without an internet connection.
- Storage Space Management: Backing up your Gmail account allows you to delete older or less important emails, freeing up space and making your account more manageable.
- Easy Search and Organization: With a copy of your data on a storage device, you can organize and manage your emails as you like, making it easier to search for specific messages when needed.
- Reduced Effort in Crisis: In case of a hack or inability to access your account, having a backup reduces stress and ensures important data is still available.
Methods to Backup Gmail Emails with Attachments
We will discuss three different ways to download Gmail emails to your PC. Each method is useful for saving Gmail emails. Explore them all and choose the one that best fits your needs.
How to Download Gmail Emails Using Google Takeout?
Backing up Gmail using Google Takeout is simple. Just follow these steps:
Step 1. First of all log in to your Gmail account with your Gmail ID.
Step 2. Go to “Manage your Google Account”.
Step 3. Tap on “Data & Privacy” on the left.
Step 4. Scroll down and click “Download or delete your data”.
Step 5. You will then be redirected to the “Google Takeout” page.
Step 6. Now, select the data to include for backup & click Create an Export.
Step 7. Check Mail in the list of checkboxes and click Next.
Step 8. Choose the file type, frequency, and destination to save your file.
Step 9. Click Create Export and download your backup once ready.
Limitations of Google Takeout:
- The backup process with Google Takeout can be very time-consuming.
- Exports are only available in MBOX format, which requires additional conversion to access the emails.
- This method is not ideal for users with multiple accounts.
- Gmail data is saved in a zip format, which further compresses the files.
How to Backup Gmail Emails via Save As Option?
This is an easy method to copy your Gmail data to a local storage device. Compared to Google Takeout, it is simpler and doesn’t require following a complex process.
1. Log in to your Gmail account and open the email you want to download.
2. Click the three dots in the upper-right corner and select “Download message”.
3. The email will be saved as a .eml file on your computer.
Drawbacks: If you try this method for a large amount of Gmail data, it can quickly become frustrating. While it’s an easy way to export messages, it’s only practical for 10-20 emails; beyond that, it can consume significant time and effort.
How to Download All Gmail Emails with Attachments Automatically?
Download and install the Mail Backup Tool on your system. This software is perfect for performing a complete backup of your Gmail mailbox, including attachments. It offers various saving options to download Gmail emails in your preferred file format. The tool ensures data integrity and maintains folder hierarchy throughout the backup process. Additionally, it allows you to download selected emails using advanced filters such as date ranges, sender, recipient, cc, bcc, and more.
So, what are you waiting for? Click on the free demo version and explore how it works!
Steps to Backup Gmail Emails with Attachments
Step 1: Install and Run the Gmail Backup Wizard on your system.
Step 2. Choose Gmail from the email source list and enter its login credentials to proceed.
Step 3. Select mailbox folders from where you wish to take backup.
Step 4. Choose the file format from the list of 30+ options.
Step 5. Browse location and click on the Convert button to start.
Done!! This is how you can easily download all Gmail emails with attachments in a few simple clicks.
Once completed, you will be redirected to your chosen location. Now, access your Gmail emails there.
Why Choose Automated Tool over Manual Methods?
This software is an all-in-one tool for all your Gmail backup needs. Here are some key features:
- The tool has an easy-to-use GUI that anyone can understand easily.
- With this feature, you can backup multiple accounts at the same time.
- Customize your backup with filters such as to, from, cc, bcc, etc.
- Choose specific folders to back up, or select all folders if needed.
- Export emails to over 15 formats, such as PST, MSG, and EML.
- Your backup is saved in an organized, structured format.
- Easily transfer emails between accounts or to other servers.
- Save your backup files wherever you prefer on your system.
- Keeps attachments and all email elements intact during export.
- Delivers results quickly and is fully secure.
Conclusion
Now you understand why Gmail backup is essential. Email is one of the most widely used communication tools, so it’s crucial to backup your data to avoid losing important information. We’ve provided some of the easiest and best solutions to download Gmail emails with attachments quickly and for free. Be sure to review the features and limitations of each method before choosing one for your backup needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I backup my Gmail to the hard drive?
Ans: Yes, you can backup your Gmail files to any of your storage devices. As this software provides features of saving in location as per your choice.
2. Is it possible to export backup files in multiple formats?
Ans: Yes definitely, you can export your files in various formats as per your requirement.
3. How much time will it take to download backup of Gmail account?
Ans: This Gmail backup wizard is a powerful tool that is fast and efficient. However, the time to give you the desired results depends upon your file formats and your internet speed.
