Quick Answer
Save attachment from IceWarp email in 3 ways.
Use WebClient, Thunderbird or a bulk extractor.
WebClient saves one file per click.
Thunderbird Save All saves one message at a time.
Extractor software saves entire folders with filters.
Open SmartAttach links before they expire.
You open IceWarp, find an invoice and click once. Then 499 more wait. WebClient saves one file per click so a big mailbox becomes hours of clicking. Your files are safe inside their messages and three methods below get them out.
Why save attachments from IceWarp email?
You download IceWarp attachments to store business files outside your mailbox. IceWarp is an email and collaboration server and every attachment remains locked inside its message until you save it.
We see these reasons often.
- You are quitting your task and need project files.
- Your IceWarp server is shutting down.
- Your mailbox is full and old mail must go.
- An audit needs invoices and contracts.
- You are moving to Outlook or Gmail.
Pain is identical in all five cases. Webmail saves one file per click, folders contain thousands of messages and file names repeat.
How to save attachment from IceWarp WebClient?
Open your message, click a file's arrow menu and choose Download. It saves to your browser's download folder. Any browser works and you need no software.
- Sign in to IceWarp WebClient with your email address and password.
- Open a message that contains your attachment.
- Click your attachment's arrow to open its menu.
- Choose Download to save a copy on your computer. Choose Save to Folder to store it in your WebDocuments folder on your IceWarp server.
Older IceWarp versions label that option Save. Images and PDFs preview inside a message so you can check them before saving. Every file needs its own round of steps so 500 attachments mean 500 rounds.
To save a message itself, select it, right-click and choose Save As then EML. An EML file retains attachments inside it. Then Extract attachments from EML files in one batch.
How to download IceWarp attachments with Thunderbird?
Add your IceWarp account to Thunderbird over IMAP and click Save All. Thunderbird is Mozilla's free email client. It saves all files of a message in one click.
- Open Thunderbird and go to Account Settings, then Account Actions, then Add Mail Account.
- Enter your name, IceWarp email address and password.
- Select IMAP. Ask your IceWarp admin for your IMAP server name and enter it. IMAP over SSL/TLS uses port 993.
- Wait while your folders sync.
- Open a message with attachments.
- Click Save All in your attachment bar and select a folder.
A message with one file shows Save instead. You still open messages one by one. For more Thunderbird steps, see how to Download attachments from Thunderbird.
Why can't you download an IceWarp attachment?
Three problems stop you. Your browser download fails or your SmartAttach link expires or your phone mail app breaks. Real users on IceWarp community and support pages report all three.
ZIP attachment times out in IceWarp WebMail
One IceWarp community user reported that ZIP attachments start downloading in WebMail, then time out in every browser. Other file types worked. That ZIP opened fine through a local mail client. On their server, it showed 0 bytes in ~gw\attachments\. IceWarp posted no official fix in that thread.
The reported workaround is to add your account to Thunderbird over IMAP and save your ZIP from there. Admins should check server copies in ~gw\attachments\ too.
IceWarp attachments will not download on iPhone
Since iOS 18.0, Apple Mail fails to download some attachments and blinks between Downloading and Tap to download. IceWarp support lists two fixes.
- Go to Settings, then Mail and disable Protect Mail Activity. Restart Mail.
- Or remove your account and add it again.
Both fixes are temporary. Third party clients like eM Client do not show that problem.
SmartAttach link expired or asks for login
A link expires when your admin sets an expiry in days. It asks for a login unless anonymous access is on. Some links also ask for a password, because senders can protect a SmartAttach file with one. Ask your sender or admin to share that file again.
How to download IceWarp attachments in bulk?
Use Corbett Email Attachment Extractor. It opens your IceWarp mail folders and saves every attachment to your PC in its original format. It works on Windows 10, 8 and 7. You can test its free demo before you buy.
Steps to download IceWarp attachments with software
- Install Corbett Email Attachment Extractor on a Windows PC that can reach your IceWarp mail folders, then start it.
- Add mail data. Select Choose Folders and browse to your IceWarp mail folder. Folders list on left and messages show on right.
- Folders start ticked. Untick any you do not need.
- Set filters if needed. Options are date range, From, To, Subject, file name and file size range.
- Click Extract Attachments. Files save to a new folder on your PC, with one subfolder per mail folder.
Your IceWarp attachments retain their original format and folder hierarchy and inline images come along too. When two files share a name, a later one becomes File(1) so nothing gets overwritten.
Two other modes work alike. Choose Files takes one mail file. Configured Accounts pulls attachments straight from accounts you add inside it, including Gmail, Yahoo, Office 365 and iCloud.
You need no webmail login when you already have mail files, because Choose Folders opens them from disk.
Which way to get IceWarp attachments is best?
Use WebClient for one file, Thunderbird for one message and an extractor for folders or full mailboxes.
| Way to get IceWarp attachments | Files per pass | Filters | When it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| IceWarp WebClient | 1 file | None | You need a few files and have your login |
| Thunderbird Save All | 1 message | None | You need all files of a few messages |
| Corbett Email Attachment Extractor | Entire folders | Date, sender, receiver, subject, file name and size | You need hundreds or thousands of files |
Moving to another mail service? See how to Migrate IceWarp emails to Outlook. Need readable copies of messages? See how to Save IceWarp emails to PDF. Need sender addresses? See how to Extract email addresses from IceWarp. After moving to Outlook, Extract attachments from PST files same way.
What are IceWarp SmartAttach files?
SmartAttach files are attachments that IceWarp moved out of email and replaced with download links. SmartAttach stores files in groupware storage and puts a URL in your message body, for incoming and outgoing mail. It handles attachments up to 2 GB, which matches WebClient's upload limit.
These files are not attached to your message so Download does not show them. Open their links instead. Your admin sets expiry in days and 0 means files never expire. Recipients sign in with their account unless anonymous access is on. Senders can also add a password and IceWarp tracks who opens a link and from where.
One catch for senders is that a message can carry several SmartAttach files only when they come from one folder in Files & Documents. If a sender deletes or moves a file, its link stops working so ask for a resend.
On your IceWarp server, files sit in this folder.
IceWarp\mail\[domain]\[user]\~gw\attachments\See IceWarp SmartAttach documentation for every setting.
How to get IceWarp attachments safely?
- Get IceWarp attachments to a new folder so old and new files remain apart.
- Scan every downloaded IceWarp attachment with antivirus software before opening.
- Test a short date range first when you download IceWarp attachments in big mailboxes. A short test shows results before a long pass.
- Save SmartAttach files early, because your admin sets an expiry for attachments sent as links.
- Filter by file name or size to exclude tiny signature images and logos in IceWarp attachments.
- Maintain a copy of your original mail folder until every saved attachment from IceWarp opens.
WebClient steps above follow IceWarp's IceWarp WebClient User Guide.
Our view
Use WebClient when you need one or two files. Past ten attachments, switch to Thunderbird or an extractor, because a click by click pass loses time and invites missed files. We would also save SmartAttach files first, since only those can expire.
Key takeaways
- IceWarp WebClient saves one attachment per click through Download or Save to Folder.
- Thunderbird over IMAP saves all files of a message with Save All.
- An extractor saves attachments from IceWarp folders in bulk with six filters.
- SmartAttach files are links so open them and save before they expire.
- ZIP and iPhone download failures have workarounds above.
Questions about IceWarp attachments
Where does IceWarp save downloaded attachments?
IceWarp WebClient sends files to your browser's default download folder. Thunderbird asks which folder to use. Corbett Email Attachment Extractor saves files to a new folder on your PC.
Where are IceWarp mail files stored?
IceWarp servers store mail in .imap files under IceWarp\mail\[domain]\[user]\. SmartAttach files sit in ~gw\attachments\ inside that user folder.
Why does IceWarp ZIP attachment fail to download?
One reported cause is a ZIP stored as 0 bytes in ~gw\attachments\ on a server, even when WebMail shows a correct size. Add your account to Thunderbird over IMAP and try again and ask your admin to check server files.
Is there a size limit for IceWarp attachments?
SmartAttach handles attachments up to 2 GB, which matches WebClient upload size limit. Admins can set content filters that trigger SmartAttach by message size.
Can you save all attachments from IceWarp at once?
Yes. You can download IceWarp attachments in one pass with extractor software, which opens mail folders. IceWarp WebClient saves one file per click and Thunderbird Save All saves files of one message.
Can you save IceWarp attachments by sender or date?
Yes. Corbett Email Attachment Extractor saves attachments from IceWarp by From, To, Subject, date range, file name and file size range. WebClient and Thunderbird have no attachment filter.
Can you save IceWarp attachments without logging in?
Yes, when you have mail files. Select Choose Folders in Corbett Email Attachment Extractor and browse to your IceWarp mail folder. That route needs no webmail login.
