Quick Answer
Export Yahoo emails to CSV in 3 ways. Use classic Outlook, Thunderbird or backup software.
Outlook exports one folder at a time. Thunderbird needs the free ImportExportTools NG add-on. Software suits many folders and filters.
Check your Yahoo IMAP settings first. CSV file drops attachments.
You want to export Yahoo emails to CSV so you can sort, search and count your mail in Excel or Google Sheets. Yahoo Mail has no button for that. You get there through a mail application that connects over IMAP or with software. Below are three ways to save Yahoo mail as CSV, what a CSV file retains and fixes for sign in errors.
What does a CSV contain for Yahoo mail?
A CSV file is plain text with one row per message. When you save Yahoo mail as CSV you get readable fields like subject, sender, recipients, date and body text, ready for a spreadsheet. A row cannot store an attachment file, a folder tree or a mail layout. Exact columns depend on your application so open one file before you rely on it.
That makes CSV right for reports, audits and lists. It is a wrong choice for backups. For a full copy that retains attachments, save PST, MBOX or EML as well. Our guide to Save Yahoo emails to computer includes those formats.
How to export Yahoo emails to CSV with Outlook?
To save Yahoo mail as CSV with Outlook, connect your Yahoo account over IMAP, wait for the sync, then start Outlook's export wizard. That wizard exists in classic Outlook only. If your File menu has no Open & Export, you are in new Outlook and need to switch to classic first.
- Sign in to Yahoo Account Security and create an app password under External connections. Copy that code.
- In classic Outlook, select File, then Add Account and enter your Yahoo address.
- When Outlook asks for a password, paste your app password instead of your usual one.
- Wait for your Yahoo folders to finish syncing so your export sees every message.
- Select File, Open & Export, then Import/Export.
- Choose Export to a file, then Comma Separated Values.
- Select one Yahoo folder you want, choose where to save and select Finish.
Limits: Outlook exports one folder per pass. A Slipstick poster asked how to use that wizard on all folders, said it is limited to one folder and did not think it includes subfolders. That thread shows no reply or fix. Repeat for every folder or use software. Add Account and Import/Export menu names are general Outlook behavior so check them in your version.
How to save Yahoo mail as CSV with Thunderbird?
To save Yahoo mail as CSV without Outlook, use Thunderbird with free ImportExportTools NG add-on. Its listing says it exports all messages in a folder as EML, HTML, PDF, CSV or plain text and exports an index of a folder as plain text or CSV.
- To save Yahoo mail as CSV here, add your Yahoo account to Thunderbird over IMAP and sign in with Yahoo's sign in window or an app password.
- Let your folders sync, then install ImportExportTools NG from Thunderbird's add-ons page.
- Right click a Yahoo folder you want and open add-on export options.
- Choose CSV option for messages or for folder index, then select a destination folder.
Catch: it works on one folder at a time and menu labels vary by version so test one small folder first. Its add-on page names Thunderbird 115 ESR as latest version it lists. Moving mail to Thunderbird itself? See how to Migrate Thunderbird to Outlook.
How to save Yahoo mail as CSV with software?
Use Corbett Yahoo Backup Tool to save Yahoo mail as CSV in one batch. Its page says it downloads a Yahoo Mail account to PST, MBOX, EML, MSG, PDF, HTML, CSV or TXT, with folders, attachments and dates intact. Batch mode takes several Yahoo accounts from a CSV list and a pause and resume option assists on a weak connection. Filters work before anything is written, by start and end date, sender, subject, message content, attachment, size and duplicates. It works on Windows 7 to 11 and Windows Server 2008 to 2025, with no Mac version. Free demo saves 10 emails per folder.
Steps to save Yahoo mail as CSV with software
- Install Corbett Yahoo Backup Tool on your Windows PC and open it with Run as administrator.
- Choose Yahoo and paste your app password. Software sets
imap.mail.yahoo.comon port 993 itself. - Tick Yahoo folders you want to save Yahoo mail as CSV from. Every folder and subfolder has its own checkbox.
- Preview a few messages, then add date, sender or subject filters if you need less mail.
- Choose CSV as output format and select a destination folder.
- Start export and open your CSV file in Excel to check your columns.
Its page lists CSV as a document format but does not describe its columns so check one file on a free demo before you buy. Licence is lifetime from $99 with a 30-day money-back window. To retain attachments, export PST or EML in a second pass. To send Yahoo mail into another account instead, use Corbett Yahoo Mail Migration Tool or see how to Transfer emails from Yahoo to another account. Need only a sender list? See how to Extract email addresses from Yahoo.
Which Yahoo IMAP settings do you need?
To save Yahoo mail as CSV from any mail application, you need these values. Yahoo's help page lists them for IMAP.
- Incoming IMAP server:
export.imap.mail.yahoo.com, port 993, SSL required. - Outgoing server:
smtp.mail.yahoo.com, port 465 or 587, SSL and sign in required. - Username: your full Yahoo address.
- Password: your account password or an app password if Yahoo rejects it.
Yahoo's page says an app password is needed for Yahoo Account Key or some older apps. Corbett's Yahoo page says that with two step verification on, a normal Yahoo password is rejected by every mail client. It also says Yahoo still retains an IMAP switch under Settings, More Settings, then Mailboxes so confirm IMAP access is on. Delete your app password when you finish, since changing your Yahoo password does not cancel it.
Which way to save Yahoo mail as CSV suits you?
To save Yahoo mail as CSV for one folder, use Outlook or Thunderbird. Use software when you have many folders, several accounts or need filters.
| Way to save Yahoo mail as CSV | Needs | Folders | Filters | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classic Outlook to save Yahoo mail as CSV | Classic Outlook, app password | One per pass | No | Free with Outlook |
| Thunderbird to save Yahoo mail as CSV | Thunderbird, ImportExportTools NG | One per pass | No | Free |
| Corbett Yahoo Backup Tool to save Yahoo mail as CSV | Windows PC, app password | Ticked folders and subfolders | Date, sender, subject, content, attachment, size | Free demo, then from $99 |
Want Yahoo mail in other formats? See how to Export Yahoo mail to MBOX, Save Yahoo email as PDF or Download all attachments in Yahoo Mail.
Why does a Yahoo CSV export fail?
Yahoo rejects your password in Outlook or Thunderbird
A Mozilla Support user in February 2026 got "Authentication error, LOG IN invalid credentials" while adding Yahoo to Thunderbird for Android and changing that Yahoo password did not help. A reply said Yahoo no longer works with basic sign in and suggested OAuth 2.0 or a 16 character app password and it was marked as AI generated. That thread shows no confirmed fix. Create an app password as shown above.
Import/Export is missing in Outlook
You are probably in new Outlook. Switch to classic Outlook to see Open & Export, Import/Export and Export to a file.
Outlook exports only one Yahoo folder
That includes one CSV export pass. Repeat it for every folder or use Corbett Yahoo Backup Tool to tick all folders and subfolders.
Yahoo folders are empty after you connect
Wait for first sync to finish and confirm IMAP access is on under Yahoo Settings, More Settings, Mailboxes. For setup help in other clients, see how to Download IMAP emails from server.
CSV file is missing attachments
A CSV row holds message text so attachment files are not inside it. Export PST or EML too or pull files with a separate pass.
What to do after the export?
After you save Yahoo mail as CSV, open your file in Excel or Google Sheets and check dates, senders and body text on a few rows. Retain your Yahoo mailbox until you confirm counts. Yahoo empties a mailbox left unused for 12 months, according to Corbett's page so retain a second copy of your file.
Our view
Outlook exports one folder per pass so large Yahoo accounts take many passes. Use software for all folders at once and open one test file before trusting columns.
Key takeaways
- To save Yahoo mail as CSV, connect Yahoo over IMAP first, because Yahoo Mail has no CSV button for messages.
- Classic Outlook exports one folder per pass and new Outlook has no Import/Export wizard.
- ImportExportTools NG lists CSV for message exports and folder indexes in Thunderbird.
- A CSV holds message text in rows so save PST or EML if you need attachments.
- Corbett Yahoo Backup Tool can save Yahoo mail as CSV with filters and its free demo saves 10 emails per folder.
Questions About Yahoo CSV Export
Can Yahoo Mail export emails to CSV directly?
No. Yahoo Mail has no button to save Yahoo mail as CSV so you route mail through a mail application or software.
Do I need a Yahoo app password?
Yahoo says it is needed for Account Key or some older apps. Corbett says a normal password is rejected when two step verification is on.
What are Yahoo IMAP settings?
Incoming is export.imap.mail.yahoo.com on port 993 with SSL. Outgoing is smtp.mail.yahoo.com on port 465 or 587.
Will exporting delete my Yahoo emails?
No. Every way here to save Yahoo mail as CSV copies mail. Your Yahoo mailbox remains as it was.
How do I export Yahoo emails to CSV?
To save Yahoo mail as CSV, connect Yahoo to classic Outlook or Thunderbird over IMAP and export a folder or use Corbett Yahoo Backup Tool for many folders.
Does a CSV file retain attachments?
No. A CSV row holds message text. Save PST, MBOX or EML to retain attachment files.
Does Outlook export all Yahoo folders to CSV at once?
No. That wizard can save Yahoo mail as CSV one folder per pass so repeat it for every Yahoo folder.
