How to Convert Eudora Emails to PDF
In short: To convert Eudora emails to PDF, remember Eudora stores mail as .mbx (MBOX) files with attachments in a separate Attach folder. You can print a single email to PDF from Eudora, but that drops the attachments, so it suits one or two messages. For a whole mailbox with attachments kept, a converter reads the .mbx files, keeps the Attach folder and writes a PDF per email or one combined PDF. Keep the mail and Attach folder together.
What you are working with in Eudora
A quick fact up front decides which method you need. Eudora, discontinued years ago, stores each mailbox as an .mbx file, which is the plain-text MBOX format, while it keeps attachments in a separate Attach folder rather than inside the mail. That single detail is why a plain print loses attachments: printing captures the email text you can see, not the files sitting in the Attach folder. So for a couple of messages and for any email whose attachments matter, you want a method that reads the .mbx and the Attach folder together and writes them into the PDF.
Senior Analyst, Corbett Software
“The surprise is always the attachments. People print a Eudora email to PDF, it looks perfect, then the attachment is gone, because Eudora kept it in the Attach folder. For a real archive, point a converter at the .mbx files with the Attach folder present, so the PDFs come out complete.”
Print a single Eudora email to PDF
If Eudora still runs and you only need one or two emails, printing is quickest.
- Open the email in Eudora.
- Go to File, then Print, then choose Microsoft Print to PDF as the printer.
- Click Print, then name and save the PDF.
Remember this saves only the message text, so any attachment stays behind in the Attach folder. For emails with attachments or a whole mailbox, use the tool below.
Convert Eudora emails to PDF in bulk with a tool
A converter turns your whole Eudora mailbox into PDFs at once, then pulls in the attachments from the Attach folder.
The Corbett MBOX Converter opens Eudora .mbx files, with no Eudora needed, then saves them as PDF, either one PDF per email or a single combined file, with attachments embedded as long as the Attach folder sits alongside. A date and folder filter lets you convert only what you want, so it keeps the folder structure and naming tidy. 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 PDF, pick per-email or a combined file, apply any filter, then Save.
If Eudora is no longer installed
You do not need Eudora running to do this, which helps on a modern PC where it will not install.
- On the old machine or a backup, open %appdata%\Qualcomm\Eudora on Windows. On a Mac, open ~/Documents/Eudora.
- Copy the .mbx files and the Attach folder together to your current computer.
- Point the converter at those .mbx files, with the Attach folder beside them, then export to PDF.
Frequently asked questions
Why are attachments missing when I print Eudora emails to PDF?
Because Eudora stores attachments in a separate Attach folder, not inside the mail, so a print captures only the message text. Use a converter with the Attach folder present to keep attachments in the PDF.
How do I convert many Eudora emails to PDF at once?
A print does one at a time. For a whole mailbox, a converter reads the .mbx files and the Attach folder and writes a PDF per email or a single combined PDF.
Can I convert Eudora to PDF without Eudora installed?
Yes. Copy the .mbx files and the Attach folder to your current PC, then a converter reads them directly, so Eudora does not need to be installed.
What format does Eudora store emails in?
Eudora saves each mailbox as an .mbx file, which is the MBOX format, with attachments separately in an Attach folder.
Can I get one PDF for the whole mailbox?
Yes. A converter can write a single combined PDF for a folder. It can also write a PDF per email if you prefer separate files. Choose the option that suits your archive.
Will converting change my original Eudora files?
No. A converter only reads the .mbx files and Attach folder and writes new PDFs, so your original Eudora data stays untouched.