G-suites have evolved from using Postini to Google Vault to the current Google Archived users (“low cost” subscription required)<\/li>\n<\/ul>","upvoteCount":0,"datePublished":"2024-03-20T07:43:02.249Z","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/t/bulk-download-user-mailboxes-from-google-workspace/958865/16","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"adrian_ych","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/u/adrian_ych"}},{"@type":"Answer","text":"For downloading bulk mailboxes from Google Workspace, I recommend the WholeClear G Suit Backup Software. This tool safely exports G Suit emails into multiple file formats like PST, MBOX, EML, HTML, etc. Support Windows OS and MS Outlook versions. Use the free demo version to get more about it.<\/p>","upvoteCount":0,"datePublished":"2025-01-13T08:02:41.652Z","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/t/bulk-download-user-mailboxes-from-google-workspace/958865/17","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"spiceuser-m3us","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/u/spiceuser-m3us"}},{"@type":"Answer","text":"
But why do you need it of Google Workspace Admin console have a export to Mbox feature ?<\/p>\n
Anyway the OP have stopped asking 2 yrs ago and another person who hijacked this have also stopped asking qns almost 10 mths ago<\/p>","upvoteCount":0,"datePublished":"2025-01-13T08:40:14.470Z","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/t/bulk-download-user-mailboxes-from-google-workspace/958865/18","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"adrian_ych","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/u/adrian_ych"}},{"@type":"Answer","text":"
The DavaVare G Suite Backup Expert Software<\/strong> easily downloads bulk emails from Google Workspace to multiple file formats like PST, MBOX, EML, EMLX, MSG, etc. It maintains the original database while exporting emails and attachments from Google Workspace.<\/p>","upvoteCount":0,"datePublished":"2025-02-08T05:55:15.092Z","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/t/bulk-download-user-mailboxes-from-google-workspace/958865/19","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"spiceuser-li1j","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/u/spiceuser-li1j"}},{"@type":"Answer","text":"\n\n
<\/div>\n
john2k77:<\/div>\n
\nI have a Google Workspace account with over 30 accounts and need to soon cancel the Google service. I need to download each users mailbox into a PST or MBOX file. I know Google has a takeout service that allows each user to do that and download the mbox. But just wondering if there was a way to do this as an admin for everyone in bulk?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/aside>\n
As an admin, you can use Google Vault<\/strong> to bulk export mailboxes for multiple users. Here’s a quick overview:<\/p>\n\nEnsure Google Vault<\/strong> is enabled on your account.<\/li>\nCreate a new Matter<\/strong> within Vault and add all the users whose mailboxes you need to export.<\/li>\nRun a search within the matter to filter the emails you want (based on criteria like date range or labels).<\/li>\n Once the search is complete, you can export the results in MBOX format, which will generate files for each user.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nIf you don’t have Vault, you can also use the Google Workspace Admin SDK<\/strong> or third-party tools like SysTools Google Workspace Backup<\/strong> for bulk exporting user mailboxes to formats like MBOX or PST.<\/p>","upvoteCount":0,"datePublished":"2025-02-08T09:29:22.908Z","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/t/bulk-download-user-mailboxes-from-google-workspace/958865/20","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"spiceuser-8s80","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/u/spiceuser-8s80"}}]}}
john2k77
(john2k77)
September 12, 2023, 6:51am
1
I have a Google Workspace account with over 30 accounts and need to soon cancel the Google service. I need to download each users mailbox into a PST or MBOX file. I know Google has a takeout service that allows each user to do that and download the mbox. But just wondering if there was a way to do this as an admin for everyone in bulk?
8 Spice ups
adrian_ych
(adrian_ych)
September 12, 2023, 7:16am
2
If I am not wrong, there is a export function in Google Admin for all users.
But logically, the other email service should have some migration tools available.
john2k77
(john2k77)
September 12, 2023, 7:26am
3
Thanks @adrianyong4136 . I just had a look and there is a Data Export tool. When I click on it, it has a caution alert saying: “To access exported data, you need Google Cloud Platform (GCP) turned on for your account” What does that mean?
adrian_ych
(adrian_ych)
September 12, 2023, 8:00am
4
john2k77:
Thanks adrian_ych. I just had a look and there is a Data Export tool. When I click on it, it has a caution alert saying: “To access exported data, you need Google Cloud Platform (GCP) turned on for your account” What does that mean?
I just tried exporting emails from a few users, all it did was to ask me for the admin login…what did you chose to export ??
john2k77
(john2k77)
September 12, 2023, 9:03am
5
I have seleted anything yet. I just went to export and it had that caution and I was sure what the caution meant. It sounded like to access the exported data after it has been exported I still need Google? but then that would defeat the reason I am exporting.
kambwili
(Kambwili)
September 12, 2023, 9:17pm
6
You will be fine to continue
GCP is Google’s cloud platform, like AWS. I believe the export ends up in a storage bucket in GCP. It shouldn’t cost you anything since a new GCP account gets $300 free credit and your export may likely fit within the free minimum any way. When you close your Google Workspace account, be sure to close the GCP billing account too
john2k77
(john2k77)
September 13, 2023, 7:44am
7
Kambwili:
You will be fine to continue
GCP is Google’s cloud platform, like AWS. I believe the export ends up in a storage bucket in GCP. It shouldn’t cost you anything since a new GCP account gets $300 free credit and your export may likely fit within the free minimum any way. When you close your Google Workspace account, be sure to close the GCP billing account too
Thanks, so just to clarify that i’m understanding correctly. The caution message is telling me that the exports will be stored on Google Cloud Platform. So, technically once the exports are created I should be able to download them for offline use and possibly remove from GCP so that it’s not taking space there?
kambwili
(Kambwili)
September 13, 2023, 8:44am
8
That is correct. You’ll be able download them. I have someone else on our team who does this for every internal off boarding, before we delete a Google Workspace account.
Here is the Cloud Storage docs on downloading objects from a bucket:
1 Spice up
john2k77
(john2k77)
September 14, 2023, 10:47am
9
Kambwili:
That is correct. You’ll be able download them. I have someone else on our team who does this for every internal off boarding, before we delete a Google Workspace account.
Here is the Cloud Storage docs on downloading objects from a bucket:
Mendownload objek | Cloud Storage | Google Cloud
Awesome, thank you. I will try this out.
john2k77
(john2k77)
September 15, 2023, 11:01am
10
Kambwili:
That is correct. You’ll be able download them. I have someone else on our team who does this for every internal off boarding, before we delete a Google Workspace account.
Here is the Cloud Storage docs on downloading objects from a bucket:
Mendownload objek | Cloud Storage | Google Cloud
Do you happen to know if it will allow me to export data for accounts that are Suspended in my Google Admin Console? Or does it only allow export of Active accounts?
Thanks
kambwili
(Kambwili)
September 16, 2023, 3:18pm
11
Not sure. If not, just change the users password and set them to active
john2k77
(john2k77)
October 16, 2023, 8:33am
12
I’ve just tried the Data Export tool for one user. But google does not let me choose what to export. Once the export has completed. For that user I have about 8 .zip fles starting with the name takeout. I am assuming it’s backing up everything. But how do i know which is the mailbox backup? Isn’t mailbox backup supposed to be a mbox file?
Its madness. I expected it to be a whole lot simpler . This functionality is sorely needed and for such a routine thing to be able to do (its needed), it should be much simpler - its normal to need to save email inboxes of users being shut down or leaving. or as evidence.
Yes, google help files Says you need this whole other thing (GCP), and the documentation for enabling and then using it is horrendous pages of command line. Too much for me - I only need to download 2 users, not learn scripting etc.
Good news. I did the data export - it seems you dont need to do anything or even get a cloud account. For me anyway. when the archive has been created ( be sure not to enable download to drive or you will complicate matters - just ask for a link and make file size biggest possible so the archive isnt split into 2GB slices), you will get an email. click “access archive” and (after turning on GCP without changing a single permission or anything), once clicked thislink DOES take you to google cloud but ignore all the setup instructions - just look at the links in the table that is created, inside your bucket (folder in a link) is a zip file and then on the right the down arrow download icon is what you click download that to your PC (assuming your selected that download method I suppose)
now the bad news. its a .mbox file and while it contains stuff, you need to have an app for that, or use a converter ( cautious lots of dodgy apps out there that promise to solve this) .
The workaround, on the web anyway) is instead just synch Outlook to the existing email account, download a PST file and you will be able to open it with outlook (they say). Google should create a one click solution for this, really.
and they almost have - for education institutions (download the file for graduating students to access when they leave). that button doesnt exist for most of us, but it proves the know-how and functionality exists - its just being constrained.
I cant figure out is Google Takeout is an option. when logged in as the user I get access to what looks like everything except the inbox, contacts and calendar - the essentials in other words.)
meanwhile here are two amazingly complex-looking alternatives you might want to learn if you do this for a living everyday. But I may have gotten confused (surely Google would not provide 4 different ways to do the same thing, but not put them all together?)
https://developers.google.com/data-portability/user-guide/introduction - allows you to use their API to develop an app that does this.
or https://developers.google.com/admin-sdk/email-audit/download-mailbox - which seems massive to me. TLDR - I got scared.
But I think which steps you decide to take largely depends on what your goal is ?
Coz if you wanted to
import into Exchange or Exchange online, then there are tools to help you do that…
backup mailboxes & docs (full account backup), there are out of the box tools from NAS (eg Synology NAS)
export for other SAAS usage then can export to mbox
1 Spice up
yes thanks and good point - I haven’t heard of these yet, sound great for larger scale.
…and/But what I want /need/hoped for was ‘out of the box’ functionality from google for what I see as obvious basic functionality. storing someone email for backup. and when shutting down/departing employees. solutions for SME basically. it need not be so hard.
Googles solution is Vault (pay for and learn something new).
I have plenty of space on Drive where i could simply save archived inboxes / drive files form departing employees, that need to be retained (arguably the case is for all employees - its not just legal cases) . I will just go and submit suggested product feature. so many discussion threads on this on other sites cover this, showing many non-it experts simply lost when faced with this task.
Than again, with apologies, I think you may need to have your intentions clearer ?
Backup of Google Accounts (mail, docs etc)
Convert G-suites Accounts to Google Archived user (I am not sure if this is available only for paid or Enterprise G-Suites accounts but we are using this).
G-suites have evolved from using Postini to Google Vault to the current Google Archived users (“low cost” subscription required)
For downloading bulk mailboxes from Google Workspace, I recommend the WholeClear G Suit Backup Software. This tool safely exports G Suit emails into multiple file formats like PST, MBOX, EML, HTML, etc. Support Windows OS and MS Outlook versions. Use the free demo version to get more about it.
adrian_ych
(adrian_ych)
January 13, 2025, 8:40am
18
But why do you need it of Google Workspace Admin console have a export to Mbox feature ?
Anyway the OP have stopped asking 2 yrs ago and another person who hijacked this have also stopped asking qns almost 10 mths ago
The DavaVare G Suite Backup Expert Software easily downloads bulk emails from Google Workspace to multiple file formats like PST, MBOX, EML, EMLX, MSG, etc. It maintains the original database while exporting emails and attachments from Google Workspace.
As an admin, you can use Google Vault to bulk export mailboxes for multiple users. Here’s a quick overview:
Ensure Google Vault is enabled on your account.
Create a new Matter within Vault and add all the users whose mailboxes you need to export.
Run a search within the matter to filter the emails you want (based on criteria like date range or labels).
Once the search is complete, you can export the results in MBOX format, which will generate files for each user.
If you don’t have Vault, you can also use the Google Workspace Admin SDK or third-party tools like SysTools Google Workspace Backup for bulk exporting user mailboxes to formats like MBOX or PST.