How to Convert Eudora Emails to Outlook
In short: To convert Eudora emails to Outlook, know that Eudora stores mail as .mbx (MBOX) files with a separate Attach folder, while modern Outlook has no Eudora importer. Only old Outlook could import Eudora lite through Import Internet Mail and Addresses. The reliable route is a converter that reads the .mbx files, keeps the Attach folder and writes a PST you open in Outlook. Keep the mail files and the Attach folder together so attachments survive.
Why Eudora to Outlook is not a simple import
Knowing this saves the usual frustration. Eudora was discontinued back in 2006, so it stores each mailbox as an .mbx file, which is really the plain-text MBOX format, with attachments held separately in an Attach folder rather than inside the mail. Modern Outlook, from 2013 onward, has no Eudora import at all. Very old Outlook could pull in Eudora lite through a wizard, but the results were poor. So there is no clean native path today. Because the mail is MBOX and the attachments live in that Attach folder, the job is to convert the .mbx files to a PST while keeping the Attach folder with them, which a converter handles in one pass.
Senior Analyst, Corbett Software
“Two things sink people here. Modern Outlook has no Eudora import, so they hunt for a button that is gone. And they move the .mbx files but leave the Attach folder behind, so the attachments vanish. Keep the mail and the Attach folder together, then use a converter that writes a clean PST.”
Find your Eudora mail files and Attach folder
Before you convert, gather both pieces, since the mail and its attachments are stored apart.
- On Windows, press Windows + R, type %appdata%\Qualcomm\Eudora and press Enter. On a Mac, open ~/Documents/Eudora.
- You will see your mailbox files ending in .mbx, such as In.mbx and Out.mbx, alongside an Attach folder.
- Copy the whole Eudora folder, the .mbx files and the Attach folder together, to a working location.
Keeping them side by side is what lets a converter reattach the files to the right messages.
The old manual route and its limits
You may have seen the manual import. It is worth knowing why it rarely helps now.
- In older Outlook, go to File, then Open & Export, then Import/Export.
- Choose Import Internet Mail and Addresses, then pick Eudora (Pro and Light).
- Select Import Mail and Import Address Book, then finish.
The catch is real. This option only appears in old Outlook, it covers Eudora lite versions only, then Outlook 2013 and newer removed it entirely. On a current PC it is simply not there, which is why most people use the converter below.
Convert Eudora to Outlook PST with a tool
A converter reads the Eudora MBOX files, reunites them with the Attach folder and writes a PST you open straight in Outlook.
The Corbett MBOX Converter opens Eudora .mbx files, with no Eudora or Outlook needed, then saves them as a PST with folders and attachments intact, as long as the Attach folder sits alongside. A date and folder filter lets you convert only what you want, so it can also export to PDF, EML or MSG if your plans change. A free demo edition runs on every edition of Windows.
- Install and open the tool, then click Open, choose Email Data Files and select Eudora, pointing it at your .mbx files with the Attach folder present.
- Let it scan and preview the mailboxes and attachments.
- Click Export, choose PST, pick a location, then Save. Open the PST in Outlook with File, Open, Open Outlook Data File.
Move your Eudora contacts too
Your Eudora address book does not ride along with the mail, so move it separately.
- In Eudora, open Tools, then Address Book, then export the contacts as a CSV file.
- In Outlook, go to File, then Open & Export, then Import/Export, then choose Import from another program or file.
- Pick Comma Separated Values, select your CSV, map the fields if asked, then finish.
Frequently asked questions
Can Outlook import Eudora emails directly?
Modern Outlook cannot. Only old Outlook offered Import Internet Mail and Addresses for Eudora lite, then Outlook 2013 and newer removed it. Today you convert the Eudora .mbx files to a PST with a tool.
What format does Eudora use for emails?
Eudora stores each mailbox as an .mbx file, which is the MBOX format, with attachments in a separate Attach folder rather than inside the messages.
Why did my attachments disappear after converting?
Because the Attach folder was not with the .mbx files. Eudora stores attachments separately, so keep the mail files and the Attach folder together when you convert.
Where are Eudora email files stored?
On Windows they are under %appdata%\Qualcomm\Eudora. On a Mac they are under ~/Documents/Eudora. Look for .mbx files and an Attach folder.
How do I move my Eudora contacts to Outlook?
Export the Eudora address book as a CSV, then in Outlook use Import/Export, Import from another program or file, then choose Comma Separated Values to bring them in.
Can I convert Eudora to Outlook without installing Eudora?
Yes. A converter reads the .mbx files and Attach folder directly, so you do not need Eudora or the old Outlook importer installed to get a PST.