How to Open or Import EML Files to Gmail in Minutes

Emails archived in .eml format have been collected over time from various business activities. They are stored either on company servers or on external drives. These files are not centrally managed and are scattered across multiple storage locations. While the emails are retained, they are difficult to access, and searching for a specific email is slow. Therefore, they must import EML to Gmail to organize the emails centrally. They can do so manually or using a specialized Cigati EML Converter to import .eml files quickly and accurately. This will ensure that all the past emails are stored in one Gmail account, improving cross-device access. 

EML is a plain-text file format that holds individual email messages. It retains email headers, body, and attachments. Gmail is an email platform that enables users to manage emails and offers them custom domains. Users import .eml files to Gmail to consolidate emails in one place for efficient email management. 

Need to Import EML File to Gmail

Importing .eml files into Gmail improves accessibility by allowing users to access their emails from a single location. Here are the key reasons why this is beneficial:

• Emails saved as .eml format are stored across various devices, external drives, etc. Importing these emails into Gmail brings them into one inbox, simplifying both access and management.
• Since Gmail is cloud-based and is accessible globally. By importing .eml files, users can access their archived emails anytime and anywhere, from any device. 
• Gmail offers powerful search functionality, which helps users find individual emails quickly and more efficiently. 
• Gmail ensures a secure backup of emails in the cloud. It is protected by Google’s strong security measures, eliminating data loss from hardware issues or accidental deletion. 
• Emails can be easily accessed and shared among team members with Gmail. Whereas .eml files are difficult to access and are often isolated on separate devices. 

How Do I Import EML to Gmail? – Simple Methods That Work

EML files can be converted to Gmail through two approaches. The first two involve using Thunderbird and Outlook. The second method utilizes a professional specialized tool that allows users to convert multiple EML Files into Gmail in one go. Let’s go through these methods step-by-step in detail.

Manually Import EML Files into Gmail Using Thunderbird

Gmail does not directly import EML files, but a manual import is possible by using the Thunderbird email client. The user has to sync the email client using IMAP with Gmail.

Follow this step-by-step approach to import .eml files into Gmail: 

Step 1: Set up Gmail in Thunderbird 

1. Download, install, and launch Mozilla Thunderbird.
2. Navigate to Account Settings > Add Mail account and enter your Gmail account credentials.
3. Now, head to Settings > See all settings > Forwarding and POP/IMAP > Enable IMAP.

Step 2: Import EML Files into Thunderbird

1. Open Thunderbird.
2. Go to the location where you have your .eml files. Select the files/folders. 
3. Drag and drop the .eml files into the folder in Thunderbird. 

Limitations: This process takes a considerable amount of time while handling a large number of emails. Also, it does not automatically retain the folder structure, and there might be a loss of data. 

Manually Open EML File in Gmail Using Forwarding Method

With this method, you first open the .eml file in a compatible email client and forward the emails to your Gmail address. It is a simple solution for importing small batches of emails.

These are the steps to begin the import process:

1. Open Microsoft Outlook.
2. Browse and open your .eml file.
3. Click on the Forward button.
4. In the “To” field, fill in the Gmail email ID where you want to import the file.
5. Click on Send. 

Limitations: Some of the attachments and formatting will not be imported properly. There are also chances of loss of metadata. 

Top-Notch Solution to Import EML to Gmail in Batch

The EML to Gmail Migration Tool provides a perfect solution to perform bulk email conversions, while supporting multiple formats. It also features selective conversions, automatic duplicate removal, and a built-in preview option before converting. Moreover, it allows direct migration to email platforms such as Office 365, Gmail, etc. The software also includes features like naming conventions and custom folders. 

Below are the easy steps to import EML file to Gmail: 

1. Download and launch the software.
2. Pick between Select Files/multiple files or Select Folder. Then, click Next.
3. Now Select Files, browse the EML file, and open it.  
4. Choose the EML files from the hierarchical tree structure and preview them. Then, click Next to continue.
5. Now, select the Email Client as Gmail and enter the Gmail login credentials.
6. Finally, click Convert to start the process.

Conclusion

Opening EML files in Gmail will improve accessibility, boost collaboration, and enhance efficiency. In this blog, we have explained why there is a need to import EML to Gmail and the various methods to do it. The manual methods do work and are cost-effective, but require effort and time. In contrast, a specialized EML to Gmail Migration Tool provides an error-free and faster solution. Explore all the methods and choose the right method as per your requirement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q – How do I import EML files to Gmail?

Ans – There are various methods to do this migration. It includes using the Thunderbird email client, forwarding emails, and using a specialized email migration tool. The simplest of all is the forwarding method. You have to open the .eml file in Outlook, click on Forward, and enter the Gmail Email ID where you want to import the .eml file.

Q – Why is there a need to import the EML files into Gmail?

Ans – Gmail’s advanced security is one of the major reasons for importing .eml files to Gmail. Other reasons include cross-platform accessibility, finding specific emails efficiently, etc.

You May Also Read: Import EML to Google Workspace [G Suite]

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