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How to Import MBOX Files into Exchange Server?

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Written By
Nick Rogers
Published On
January 15th, 2024
Reading Time
6 Minutes Reading

Are you looking to import MBOX files into Exchange server? Searching for a step-by-step procedure to migrate MBOX to Exchange Online? If yes, keep following this article. Here we will guide you through the detailed information and all the necessary tips and tricks for this migration. Let’s start.

Microsoft Exchange Server is popular service used to send and receive emails. It supports all email protocol including IMAP, SMTP and POP3. It is basically used by large organisations to manage email communications, calendars, contact and various other tasks. Exchange server provide various advantages which cause users and organisations to look towards it.

Quick Steps to Import MBOX Files into Exchange Server

  • Download, install and start the required software.
  • Add your MBOX files into the software panel.
  • Convert files into Exchange supported PST
  • After conversion, import files into Exchange.

Reason to Import MBOX to Exchange 

  • Safety Enhancements: With a variety of options at both the server and mailbox levels, Microsoft Exchange was developed with security and privacy in mind. Kerberos is a standard for network security that is used by Microsoft Exchange Server. It provides mutual authentication over a network. Thus if you import MBOX to Exchange online; you may enhance the security of your data.
  • Improvements in the OWA App: New improvements to Outlook’s web interface and mobile app make it easier to keep track of all the many kinds of interactions users have with the program. You may now archive, remove, or move messages with just one click from the reading view in the inbox panel. With just one click, users can undo their most recent mailbox action.
  • Improved Isolation during Failover: For problem-free database operations, Exchange 2016 use DAG to partition database processes. Exchange 2016 failover is sped up by modifications to the code in the transaction log and the passive database. DAG is based on clustering and replication technology developed for Windows Server.

How to Import MBOX Files into Exchange ?

It is basically a multi-layer process to migrate MBOX to Exchange online. It involves using various Microsoft Tools and utilities. Please follow the general steps to export mailbox files to Exchange:

  • First: Convert MBOX Files to Exchange supported format
  • Second: Import Converted Files to Exchange server

Note: You must have an administrative level of access to the Exchange Server and the usage of PowerShell commend. Also make sure to take all the permission from the authority and take backup of all your MBOX files before proceeding.

Exchange Server does not support MBOX files. Hence, there is no way you can directly import MBOX files into Exchange server. You need to first convert MBOX files to PST, which Exchange support. And for this purpose, you may use the MBOX Converter Tool. It allows you to convert multiple MBOX files to PST with all attachments simultaneously in a single operation

download button

This software only takes a few steps to export MBOX files to Exchange compatible format. You may refer to the general outlines of the steps below to use the tool.

Steps to Convert MBOX to Exchange Supported Format 

  • Download install and launch the software to import MBOX files into Exchange server.
    download mbox to exchange migration tool
  • Click Open menu and go to Email Data File option. Then select MBOX File option, and Choose File or Choose Folder.
    choose files or folders option
  • Browse MBOX files that you need to import into Exchange.
    browse mbox files
  • After the MBOX files have been uploaded to the tool, you may preview them.
    preview mbox files
  • Now, click Export tab and choose PST from the drop-down menu.
    select saving option
  • Click the browse button and select the location to save the output files. Then click Save button.
    click save to convert mbox files to exchange server format

Once you have converted all the MBOX files into a PST file, it is time to import them into the Exchange server using PowerShell.  Please follow the following steps.

Import Converted Files into Exchange Online

Please see the basic reference of how to import MBOX converted files to Exchange with Exchange management Shell.

New-MailboxImportRequest -Mailbox <MailboxName> -FilePath <PathToPSTFile>

Replace <MailboxName> with the target mailbox’s name and <PathToPSTFile> with the file path to your PST file. You may need to specify additional parameters like -TargetRootFolder, -BadItemLimit, and -AcceptLargeDataLoss, based on your preference.

Benefits of the Smart Software  

  • The application has a very simple user interface for ease of use.
  • It can batch import MBOX files into Exchange Server with complete data.
  • It offers you preview of all MBOX files before converting them to Exchange format.
  • You can also view your MBOX emails in Hex and Raw mode for investigation.
  • Offers you a search bar to find specific emails from a specific time or address.
  • You can run the tool to import MBOX to Exchange on Windows 11, 10, 8 etc.
  • It’s completely self-contained and doesn’t force you to download additional settings.
  • It is completely secured and ensures that the integrity of MBOX Files will be preserved.
  • Besides Exchange, you can also import MBOX to G Suite, Outlook, Office 365 and IMAP.

Final Words

You now have the best option to import MBOX files into Exchange. The best practice to do this is to first convert MBOX files to Exchange server supported format and then start importing them using the PowerShell commend. In order to export MBOX to Exchange file type we have also offered you a best tool. We suggest you to read the whole article and start importing mailbox files into server.

Questions and Answers |Import MBOX to Exchange

Question 1) Can i monitor the process of mailbox import request in Exchange server?

Yes. You may use the PowerShell commend “Get-MailboxImportRequestStatistics” to monitor the process.


Question 2) Can i directly import MBOX files into Exchange Server?

No. You must first convert them to the Exchange supported file format first.


Question 3) Is there any challenges when import MBOX to Exchange?

Yes, sometimes there is a crash in Exchange server which may become challenge for you. Also, large MBOX files and corrupted files may be additional challenges.


Question 4) Is there anything i need to prepare before importing mailbox files into Exchange online?

It is a best practice to create a backup of your MBOX files first.


Question 5) Can i import MBOX files directly into Exchange with Exchange Management Shell?

No. You must need to convert them to PST files before before importing them using Exchange Management Shell.