Written by Jennifer Walsh. Reviewed for technical accuracy by Shubham Dixit, Independent Expert in Email Forensics and Data File Conversion. Updated 18 September 2026.
Shubham is an independent external reviewer and not an employee of PCDOTS.
Quick answer. Yes, Apple Mail imports EML files for free, with no extra software. Create a mailbox, then drag the .eml files from Finder onto it and they land as emails. To read one, right-click and open it with Mail. For a big batch, combine the EMLs into an MBOX and use File then Import Mailboxes. Dragging messages back out to Finder saves them as EML again.
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Can Apple Mail import EML files?
Yes. Apple Mail, the Mail app (Mail.app) on macOS, imports EML files on its own, and it costs nothing. No add-on or paid tool is needed for this.
An EML file is one email saved on its own, in the plain-text MIME format, carrying the From, To, subject, date and attachments. Once it’s in Apple Mail, it shows as a normal message in your mailbox. Apple Mail keeps its own copies as EMLX files, so a .eml or a .emlx both import fine.
If you want the mail on every device, drag the imported messages into your iCloud mailbox after the import. Apple Mail then syncs them to your iPhone and iPad too.
The quickest way is to drag the files onto a mailbox. To read a single file, you open it with Mail. For a large set, you bring them in as an MBOX. The steps for every route are below.
EML files drag onto an Apple Mail mailbox and open as normal emails.
“People are told they need software for this, and they don’t. Apple Mail reads EML natively, so on a Mac you make a mailbox and drag the files onto it. If you just want to read one, right-click it in Finder and open it with Mail. The one thing to know is that the File then Import Mailboxes wizard wants an MBOX, not loose EML, so for a big pile I combine them into a single MBOX first and the import is one clean step. A Windows converter earns its place only there, building that MBOX before you move to the Mac.” Shubham Dixit, Email Migration reviewer (draft, pending approval)
How do you import EML files to Apple Mail by drag and drop?
You import EML files to Apple Mail by dragging them from Finder onto a mailbox. Make a mailbox to hold them first, then drop the files in. This is the fastest way for a handful.
Here are the four steps.
- In Apple Mail, choose Mailbox, then New Mailbox, and make one under On My Mac.
- Open Finder next to Mail, and go to the folder that holds your .eml files.
- Select the .eml files, then drag them onto the new mailbox in the Mail sidebar.
- Apple Mail imports them as messages, with the attachments in place.
Make a mailbox and drag the EML onto it, or open one with Mail.
How do you open a single EML file on a Mac?
You open a single EML file on a Mac to read it, without a full import. In Finder, right-click the .eml, choose Open With, then Mail, and it opens as a message. A double-click does the same when Mail is your default handler. To keep it, use Move to in the message window and choose a mailbox. That covers the how to open an EML file on Mac question, with no extra app. If a .eml opens in a browser instead, right-click it, choose Get Info, set Open with to Mail, then click Change All.
How do you import a big batch of EML files?
You import a big batch of EML files through an MBOX, because Apple Mail’s importer reads MBOX, not loose EML. So you combine the EMLs into one MBOX, then bring that in. Dragging hundreds of files one by one is slow, and this keeps it to a single step.
Here are the four steps.
- Combine your EML files into one MBOX, with a converter or an export from another mail client.
- In Apple Mail, choose File, then Import Mailboxes.
- Select Files in mbox format, then locate the MBOX and continue.
- The mail lands in a new Import mailbox, and you drag it into the mailbox you want.
One warning, simply renaming a folder of EML files to end in .mbox can fail silently and import nothing. Use a real MBOX so the import doesn’t come up empty. Apple sets out the wizard in its Mail import guide.
How do you save Apple Mail messages back to EML?
You save Apple Mail messages back to EML by dragging them out. Select the messages in Apple Mail, then drag them to a Finder folder or the desktop, and Mail writes every one as a .eml file. That answers the convert Apple Mail to EML question, and it needs no tool.
When does a converter help?
A converter helps when your EML files are on Windows, or there are too many to drag comfortably. It combines a folder of EMLs into a single MBOX that Apple Mail imports cleanly, so the Mac side stays one step.
PCDOTS EML Converter loads a folder of EML files and exports them to MBOX on Windows, with the attachments and folder structure kept. You then move the MBOX to the Mac and import it. The free trial exports a sample first. Follow these four steps.
- Install and run PCDOTS EML Converter, then open the menu.
- Add your EML files or a folder.
- Open Export and select MBOX.
- Save the MBOX, move it to the Mac, then import it with File, Import Mailboxes.
The tool route, for building an MBOX Apple Mail imports.
Here are the same first steps with the screens.
Step 1. Install and run PCDOTS EML Converter.
Step 2. Add your EML files or a folder.
Step 3. Preview the loaded EML files, then export to MBOX.
Related reading, our guides to import EML files to Thunderbird and convert EML files to CSV. To check a file first, the free EML viewer opens a .eml on any system.
Match the route to how many files you have, or to go the other way.
Which method should you use?
Use drag and drop for a few files, an MBOX import for a big batch and Open With to just read one.
| Method | Best for | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Drag and drop | A few EML files | Free, built into Mail |
| Import Mailboxes, MBOX | A big batch | Combine to MBOX first |
| Open With Mail | Reading one file | Then Move to a mailbox |
Key takeaways
- Apple Mail imports EML for free, so no paid software is needed on a Mac.
- Make a mailbox, then drag the .eml files from Finder onto it for a few.
- For a big batch, combine the EMLs into an MBOX and use File, Import Mailboxes.
- Right-click a .eml and Open With Mail to read one, and drag messages to Finder to save them back as EML.
Frequently asked questions
Can Apple Mail import EML files without extra software?
Yes. Apple Mail reads EML natively. Make a mailbox and drag the .eml files onto it, or open a single file with Mail. No paid tool is needed.
How do I open an EML file on a Mac?
In Finder, right-click the .eml, choose Open With then Mail, or double-click it. The email opens in Apple Mail, and you can Move it to a mailbox to keep it.
Why won’t Import Mailboxes take my EML files?
Because Apple Mail’s importer reads MBOX, not loose EML. Combine the EMLs into an MBOX first, then choose Files in mbox format in Import Mailboxes.
Does renaming an EML folder to .mbox work?
It can fail silently and import nothing. A real MBOX, built by a converter or a mail client export, is the reliable way.
Do attachments come across with the import?
Yes. An EML file holds its attachments, so drag and drop and an MBOX import both keep them on the message.
How do I convert Apple Mail emails to EML?
Select the messages in Apple Mail and drag them to a Finder folder. Mail saves every one as a .eml file, ready to use elsewhere.
So how are your EML files reaching Apple Mail?
Getting EML into Apple Mail is free, so the route is the only choice. For a few files, make a mailbox and drag them from Finder. To read one, open it with Mail. For a big batch, build an MBOX and bring it in through File then Import Mailboxes. A converter only matters when the files start on Windows or run into the thousands. So how are your EML files reaching Apple Mail, a quick drag, or an MBOX import?
