Written by Jennifer Walsh. Reviewed for technical accuracy by Shubham Dixit, Independent Expert in Email Forensics and Data File Conversion.
Shubham is an independent external reviewer and not an employee of PCDOTS.
Quick answer. Zoho Mail has no direct MBOX upload, but you have two free ways in. Add Zoho as an IMAP account in Thunderbird or Apple Mail, import the MBOX there and drag it into Zoho so it syncs up. Or convert the MBOX to EML and use Zoho’s own import. A tool can upload it over IMAP in bulk.
On this page
Two ways into Zoho Mail
Start with the fact that trips people up, Zoho Mail cannot import a raw MBOX file. There is no place to hand it an .mbox and have it unpack. What Zoho is flexible about, though, is how the mail arrives, and that gives you two free routes rather than one.
The first uses IMAP. Zoho Mail is an IMAP service, so you add it to a mail client, bring the MBOX into that client, and drag it into a Zoho folder, where it syncs up. The second uses Zoho’s own import, which accepts EML files, so you convert the MBOX to EML first and let Zoho pull them in. Both are free, and which you pick just depends on what you find easier.
No direct MBOX upload, but two free doors lead into Zoho.
“Zoho is more accommodating than a lot of webmail services, it just does not speak MBOX. It speaks IMAP, and its import feature speaks EML, so you meet it on one of those two. For most people the IMAP client route is the least fuss, you drag the mail into the Zoho folder and the sync handles the rest. The one thing to sort out first is the password, if two-factor is on, Zoho will want an app-specific password before any outside client can connect.” Shubham Dixit, Email Migration reviewer (draft, pending approval)
The IMAP client way
This is often the simpler of the two, because there is no converting or zipping. You use a mail client as the go-between.
Add Zoho to a client. In Thunderbird, Apple Mail, or another client, add your Zoho account as an IMAP account, the incoming server is imap.zoho.com. If two-factor is on, use an app-specific password, see below.
Import the MBOX. In Thunderbird, install the free ImportExportTools NG add-on, right click a local folder, choose Import mbox file, and bring your MBOX in.
Drag it into Zoho. Drag those imported messages from the local folder into a folder under your Zoho account. Because it is IMAP, they upload to Zoho as you drop them and appear in your Zoho Mail shortly after.
The EML import way
Zoho’s own import accepts EML files, so the second route converts the MBOX into EML and lets Zoho pull them in. It takes a couple more steps but keeps everything inside Zoho at the end.
Export the MBOX as EML. Import the MBOX into Thunderbird as above, select the messages, then use ImportExportTools NG to export them as individual EML files into a folder.
Zip the EML folder. Compress that folder of EML files into a single .zip with any zip tool.
Import into Zoho. Sign in to Zoho Mail, go to Settings, Import/Export, and import the zip of EML files. Zoho unpacks them into your mailbox.
Zoho’s import takes zipped EML, not MBOX, which is why route B converts first.
The app-specific password
One detail can quietly block the IMAP route. If your Zoho account has two-factor authentication switched on, Zoho will not accept your normal password from Thunderbird, Apple Mail, or any tool. You need an app-specific password.
In Zoho Mail, open your account security settings, generate an app-specific password for mail, and use that when you add Zoho to the client or the tool. If two-factor is off, your normal password works. The EML import route does not need this, since it happens inside Zoho itself.
The bulk way, a tool
Both free routes are fine for a mailbox or two. When you have many MBOX files or very large ones and would rather skip the dragging or the export and zip, a converter uploads them to Zoho over IMAP directly. The PCDOTS MBOX Converter loads MBOX files or a whole folder and sends them straight into your Zoho account over IMAP, in bulk, with attachments intact. Two honest notes, it runs on Windows, and it needs the same app-specific password any outside client does when two-factor is on. A free version uploads the first ten items per folder so you can test it first.
The tool route, for many or very large MBOX files.
Here are the steps with the screens.
Step 1. Install and run the converter on Windows, then open the menu.
Step 2. Choose Email Data Files, MBOX, and add your files or folder.
Step 3. Open the Export menu and select IMAP.
Step 4. Enter your Zoho address and app-specific password, then Save to upload.
For the client and EML steps in more depth, see our guides to import MBOX to Thunderbird and convert MBOX files to EML, and for a similar webmail import, import MBOX to iCloud.
The methods compared
Match the route to how many files you have and which steps you would rather do.
| Method | Best for | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| IMAP client, drag into Zoho | Simplest free route | App password if two-factor on |
| Convert to EML, Zoho import | Staying inside Zoho, free | Export EML, zip, then import |
| MBOX Converter tool | Many or very large files | Windows, uploads over IMAP |
Frequently asked questions
Can Zoho Mail import an MBOX file directly?
No. Zoho has no raw MBOX upload. You either bring the MBOX in through an IMAP client that syncs up, or convert it to EML and use Zoho’s own import.
How do I import MBOX to Zoho Mail for free?
Add Zoho as an IMAP account in Thunderbird, import the MBOX, and drag it into the Zoho folder. Or export the MBOX as EML, zip it, and import the zip in Zoho’s settings.
Why will Thunderbird not accept my Zoho password?
If two-factor is on, Zoho needs an app-specific password for outside clients. Generate one in your Zoho Mail account security settings and use that instead.
Which route is easier, IMAP or EML?
The IMAP client route is usually simpler because there is no converting or zipping, you just drag the mail into Zoho. The EML route keeps everything inside Zoho at the end.
Do attachments come across?
Yes. Both free routes and the tool carry attachments with the messages. The IMAP route uploads the full message as it syncs.
Can I import many MBOX files at once?
Yes. A converter can send a batch of MBOX files to Zoho over IMAP in one pass, which is easier than dragging or exporting each one by hand.
Zoho takes mail in more than one way
The useful thing to remember about Zoho is that it does not lock you into a single method. It will not swallow a raw MBOX, but it will take your mail over IMAP through any client, or as EML through its own import, and either is free. Pick the IMAP client route when you want the fewest steps, the EML route when you would rather finish inside Zoho, and a converter when the batch is large enough to make both a chore. Whichever door you choose, your old mailbox ends up in Zoho with its attachments intact.
