Roundcube allows you to download individual emails as .eml files. An EML file is a standard email format that can be opened in most desktop email clients (Outlook, Thunderbird, Apple Mail) or imported into other accounts.
Downloading an Email
- Log in to Roundcube through your webmail interface.
- Navigate to the folder containing the email you want to download (e.g., Inbox).
- Click on the email to open it in the message preview pane.
- Click the More button (usually represented by three dots or a gear icon) located in the toolbar above the message.
- Select Download (.eml) from the dropdown menu.
The file will be saved to your computer's default Downloads folder.
Opening Downloaded EML Files
- Windows: Double-click to open in the default mail app (Outlook or Windows Mail). You can also drag the file into an open Outlook or Thunderbird window.
- macOS: Double-click to open in Apple Mail. Alternatively, drag the file onto the Apple Mail icon in the Dock.
- Linux: Open with Thunderbird or your preferred email client using
File -> Open.
Important Notes
- Downloaded EML files preserve the full email including headers, attachments, HTML formatting, and embedded images.
- You can download emails one at a time. For bulk export, consider using IMAP sync with a desktop client or contacting your hosting provider for a mailbox backup.
- EML files are plain text and safe to open -- they are not executables.
Troubleshooting
- "Download (.eml)" option not visible: Make sure you have clicked on an email to open it first. The option only appears in the message view toolbar, not in the folder list.
- File opens as garbled text: The file association on your system may be incorrect. Right-click the file, select Open With, and choose your email client.
- Missing attachments in downloaded file: Ensure the email had fully loaded before downloading. Try refreshing and downloading again.
