This is how to cut clutter from Mail without losing any important messages. Now, you can delete the Archived Mail you just imported (Right-click, Delete Mailbox) - all your archived mail remains safe in the originally exported box. Find the ones you need and copy, print or move them. In a little while, all your archived mails will reappear in Mail.

Click Continue and navigate to the exported archive(s) on your Mac, select the right collection and click Choose. Whenever you need to search messages stored inside that archive, you should launch Mail and select File>Import Mailboxes, (select Apple Mail as data format). Don't worry - all your messages are already saved in your exported Archive. Now delete the Archive you created in Mail by Control-clicking the mailbox and selecting Delete Mailbox.

Do check to make sure all the mbox files and subfolders you created are there. Once export is complete, you'll see an mbox file icon appear where you exported the Mailbox too. You might want to go do something more interesting for a while. Click Choose.Įxporting your mail will take time - it could take a long time. You can also do this by choosing the mailbox and using Export Mailbox in the menu.Ĭhoose where to save your archive, but remember to check Export all subfolders, if you have any, to export. Control-click on the mailbox name in the list on the left, and select Export Mailbox… from the contextual menu that appears. With all your messages in the Archive, it's time to export them. Repeat this until all your messages are tucked away there. Once you've selected the messages you wish to archive, drag-&-drop them into your new Archive mailbox. You might want to choose all the mail you received between 2011-2012, if that happens to be appropriate to you. Press OK and the mailbox appears in the list at the left. Now name the mailbox (Archive 2011-12, for example) and choose On My Mac as the location. Launch Mail and choose Mailbox>New Mailbox. Uncheck Store deleted messages on server). ( Mail>Preferences>Accounts>Mailbox Behaviours>Trash. This also makes it essential you backup your Mac, so you won't lose these messages if disaster strikes.Īrchiving only works if you have Mail set up to remove deleted mail from the server sending mail to that account. Once you archive your emails they won't be available on any of your Macs or devices - they will only 'live' inside your archive mailbox.

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