Export messages

[dave b.]

Is there any way to export gmail messages in order to keep them on a
local computer?

dave b.

[Nick Chirchirillo]

You can use either POP or IMAP to download your messages.

--
-Nick

[Sean Murphy]

    Yes. If there is only one local computer you wish to export them to, install a desktop email program, like Thunderbird, Eudora, or Outlook Express. Enable POP access in your Gmail settings, and there is a link right there to the setting up the desktop POP access for whichever program you use. However, emails downloaded through POP will be marked read, but not deleted - you can decide to have them archived when you enable POP access in Gmail's settings, or whether to leave them in your Inbox.

Forewarned...

...Is half an Octopus.

[dave b.]

Thanks for the comments. They address the issue of downloading, and
saving locally, current mail in a program other than Gmail.

However, my question is concerning old mail, both gmail and POP,
received and read on gmail's reader and stored on google servers (or
where-ever).

I am wondering if down the road, months or years, it will be possible
to export them to a local computer, for storage & archiving.

dave b.

[bkennelly]

You can download all the mail in your Gmail account with POP or
IMAP.

With POP, you get everything, but in small batches.
With IMAP, you can choose to download particular labels, if you want.

[dave b.]

So, would I use a program like Outlook or OE to do this? If so, how
exactly?

dave b.

On Aug 26, 11:09 am, bkennelly <bkenne...@gmail.com> wrote:
> You can download all the mail in your Gmail account with POP or
> IMAP.
>
> With POP, you get everything, but in small batches.
> With IMAP, you can choose to download particular labels, if you want.
>

> On Aug 26, 6:30 am, "daveb." <dave.bel...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > Thanks for the comments.  They address the issue of downloading, and
> > saving locally, current mail in a program other than Gmail.
>
> >  However, my question is concerning old mail, both gmail and POP,
> > received and read on gmail's reader and stored on google servers (or
> > where-ever).
>
> > I am wondering if down the road, months or years, it will be possible
> > to export them to a local computer, for storage & archiving.
>
> >daveb.
>

> > On Aug 25, 11:13 am, "daveb." <dave.bel...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > > Is there any way to export gmail messages in order to keep them on a
> > > local computer?
>

> > > daveb.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[Sean Murphy]

     When you activate POP access in Gmail's settings, it asks you if you want to allow POP access to download mail form now on, or all mail. The all mail choice will download everything. Down the road, that will just mean more to download, and a greater chance of overloading your OE or Outlook program, but you can export old mail for archiving and storage right now. The directions for doing so are in the Gmail settings, which you have to visit first any way.

Forewarned...

       ...Is half an Octopus.

[bkennelly]

You can use those programs, or dedicated backup software.

Thunderbird is nice, because it stores the mail in a simple text file.

I often see IMAPsize recommended: http://www.broobles.com/imapsize/index.php