Top 4 Ways to Backup Gmail Emails and Attachments

Overview of backing up Gmail emails with attachments

With approximately 1.5 billion active users worldwide, Gmail stands as one of the most widely used email platforms today, according to Statista. Moreover, the number of Android users who must register with Google to access Android's services further adds to this figure.

However, the extensive usage of Gmail raises the important question of how to backup Gmail emails and attachments. If you have been using Gmail for an extended period, you may have numerous essential emails, drafts, or attachments stored in it. In this article, we will delve into the crucial steps you need to take to secure your Gmail data, so let's get started.

Why need to backup Gmail emails with attachments

As mentioned previously, Gmail is one of the most widely used email platforms today, boasting a secure and reliable system for login and authentication, making it an excellent email service. This is why it is often pre-installed on Android devices, used by many mobile phone users worldwide.

In addition, Gmail is also prevalent in workplaces and educational institutions. Its work suite, which includes impressive programs like Google Drive, Docs, and Sheets, enables users to store their files more efficiently via email.

It is therefore essential to understand how to backup Gmail emails with attachments, as it offers several key benefits such as:

• Freeing up storage space. 
• Securing important emails, and creating more space for new files.
• Enabling access to Gmail emails with attachments at any time and from anywhere.

4 ways to backup Gmail emails and attachments

In this section, we will explore several tried-and-tested methods to help you understand how to backup Gmail emails with attachments, providing you with a comprehensive walkthrough for each. So without further ado, let's dive into it.

• Method 1. Backup Gmail emails via download
• Method 2. Use Google Takeout tool
• Method 3. Use MS Outlook tool
• Method 4. Use the best Gmail backup software (recommended)

Method 1. Backup Gmail emails via download

Although this method may be time-consuming, it allows you to save only the specific emails you require, instead of downloading a large archive file. However, if you wish to save a considerable number of emails, it may require some effort. Here's how you can do it.

Step 1. Open your Gmail inbox.

Step 2. Select the email you wish to save and open it.

Step 3. Click on the drop-down menu located in the top-right corner.

Step 4. From the menu, choose Download message to backup Gmail Emails locally.

Once you have selected Download message, the process is complete, and the specific email will be saved on your computer. Simply check the download folder to locate the file containing the saved email.

Method 2. Use Google Takeout tool

Another option is to utilize Google Takeout, which is a crucial initiative developed by the Google Data Liberation Front. With this tool, you can export your data into a downloadable archive file, such as RAR or 7Zip. However, you can also make specific selections to download only the data you require from your Gmail account, such as emails and their attachments. Here's a guide on how to use this feature.

Step 1. Go to Google Takeout.

Step 2. Sign in to your Google account.

Step 3. Click on Deselect All under Select data to include.

Step 4. Choose the data you want to include, such as Google Drive files, Emails, and so on. Scroll down and click Next Step.

Step 5. Choose Send download link via email, and select Export once. Under File type & size, select .Zip as the file type and choose the minimum file size under File size.

Step 6. Finally, click on Create export.

Once you have clicked on Create export, Google Takeout will begin creating your zip file. It may take a minute or two before you receive the link to download your data. Check your Inbox for the link to download the archive file.

Method 3. Use MS Outlook tool

Another method to save your Gmail emails is by using MS Outlook. However, before you can sign in using MS Outlook on your PC, you must enable certain settings on your Gmail account. Here's what you need to do.

Step 1. Click on the settings cogwheel located in the top-right corner of your Gmail account.

Step 2. Select See All Settings and switch to the Forwarding and Pop/IMAP tab. Then, under the IMAP Access section, find and click on Enable IMAP from the list.

Once you have enabled IMAP access, simply save the changes, and you're done. So now, you can sign in to your Gmail account on MS Outlook. However, you still need to save and export the Gmail emails to your computer. Here are the next steps:

Step 3. Save the changes and you're done.

Step 4. Open MS Outlook and click on Open & Export from the options menu.

Step 5. From the Open & Export menu, select Export to a file and then click on Next.

Step 6. Select Outlook Data File (.pst) and then click on Next.

Step 7. In the subsequent window, choose your Gmail email and ensure that the Include subfolders option is checked.

Step 8. Next, browse and select the location where you wish to save the PST file containing your Gmail emails. Once you have chosen the folder, click on Finish, and the export process will begin.

By following these steps, you can save your Gmail emails as a PST file on your computer using MS Outlook. This method is very tedious, so it is recommended to use the method mentioned later to make sure backup Gmail emails and attachments securely.

Method 4. Use the best Gmail backup software (recommended)

If you think the above three methods of backing up Gmail emails are complicated and time-consuming, a professional and simpler solution is available to you. AOMEI Backupper Professional is an excellent choice as the best Gmail emails and attachments backup solution.

Its Outlook backup feature can backup Outlook desktop supported emails, including Microsoft 365, Gmail, Yahoo, iCloud, and Exchange. You can enjoy the following features:

► The Outlook backup feature allows you to backup Gmail emails or other Outlook items to various locations such as local/external drives, USB flash drives, cloud, and NAS devices.
► You can schedule Outlook backups at daily, weekly, monthly intervals, etc. Moreover, you can use the Wake Up Computer feature to run scheduled tasks at off-peak or any other time.
► By using the incremental or differential backup method, it backs up only the changed files to save backup time and space. Additionally, you can preview your emails before restoring them once you have backups.

Download this reliable email backup software on your computer and give it a try. The Pro version is compatible with Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/XP/Vista. If you are a server user, you may consider using AOMEI Backupper Server.

For how to save Gmail emails with attachments to hard drive using AOMEI Backupper Professional, follow these steps:

Step 1. Add your Gmail account to Outlook. Once done, launch AOMEI Backupper Professional and select Backup, then click on Outlook Backup.

Step 2. Click on Add Outlook data and select the Gmail account that contains the emails and attachments you want to backup. Then, click on OK.

Step 3. Select a local, external hard drive, cloud drive, or NAS storage to store the Outlook backup that will contain your Gmail emails and attachments.

Step 4. Verify that you have selected all the Gmail emails and attachments you want to back up, and then click on Start Backup to initiate the process. 

FAQs about how to backup Gmail emails and attachments

1. Can Gmail emails be backed up to a hard drive?

Yes, they can. You can use the method 1 and method 4 mentioned in this article to back up your Gmail emails to your hard drive. You can either download an archivable file or use a professional tool to back up your Gmail in the form of a PST file.

2. How can I bulk download attachments?

You can use Google Takeout to obtain all your attachments in the form of an archived file. From there, you can opt to save all of the attachments before downloading them.

3. Where is Gmail offline data stored?

Typically, your offline data is saved in Gmail's Outbox or Drafts folder. In Outlook, it will also be saved as a draft.

4. Why am I unable to download attachments from Gmail?

One of the primary reasons behind attachments not being downloaded from Gmail is an outdated browser. Otherwise, you can try signing out and then signing back in, as it seems to resolve many users' issues.

Summary

In this article we have described four top methods to backup Gmail emails and attachments, including the use of Google Takeout tool, saving your Gmail emails via download and using MS Outlook tool.

But these three methods are relatively tedious to operate, so we recommend the last method to use the best software AOMEI Backupper Professional to learn how to take backup of Gmail with attachments in simple clicks, and you can do daily, weekly, or monthly backups for Gmail emails according to your needs. This software not only has a variety of functions mentioned above, it can also backup and restore Gmail Emails, so why not try it now?