How to Download EML File from Gmail?

Downloading an EML file from Gmail is a straightforward process that allows you to save individual email messages in a universally recognized format, preserving their original content and metadata.

Understanding EML Files and Why You Might Need One

An EML file is a standard file format for saving a single email message. It stores the entire content of an email, including the sender, recipients, subject, date, body (plain text or HTML), and any attachments, along with the email's original headers.

You might want to download an EML file for several reasons:

Archiving and Backup: To keep a local copy of important emails outside of your Gmail account.
Legal or Compliance Needs: For specific documentation or e-discovery purposes, as EML files retain critical metadata.
Sharing Without Forwarding: To share a specific email's full context and attachments with someone without forwarding the email itself, which can alter headers.
Opening in Other Email Clients: To view the email in another desktop email program like Microsoft Outlook, Mozilla Thunderbird, or Apple Mail.
Forensic Analysis: For more advanced users, to examine the email's full headers for detailed information about its origin and routing.

Step-by-Step Guide to Download an EML File from Gmail

Follow these simple steps to download any email message from your Gmail account as an EML file:

Log into your Gmail account: Open your web browser and go to Gmail and sign in with your credentials.
Open the desired email: Navigate to your inbox, sent mail, or any other folder, and click on the specific email message you wish to download to open it.
Locate the More Options menu: In the top right corner of the opened email message, next to the reply, reply all, or forward icons, you will find a vertical ellipsis (three dots) button. Click on this button.
Select "Download message": From the dropdown menu that appears, click on the "Download message" option.

What happens next?

Your browser will begin downloading the email file.
The file will typically be saved with a .eml extension (e.g., email_subject.eml) to your computer's default downloads folder.
You can then open this .eml file using most email clients installed on your computer, which will display the message as if it were in your inbox.

Tips for Managing Downloaded EML Files

File Naming: While Gmail often names the EML file based on the email's subject, you can rename it immediately after downloading for better organization (e.g., Project_Report_10-26-2023.eml).
Opening EML Files: Double-clicking an EML file will usually open it in your default email client. If you don't have one set up, you might be prompted to choose an application.
Organizing: Create dedicated folders on your computer to store your downloaded EML files, especially if you're keeping them for archival or legal reasons.

By following these steps, you can easily obtain a local copy of any email from Gmail, ensuring you have access to important messages in a versatile and widely compatible format.