2 Easy and Fast Ways to Backup Gmail Emails to Computer

Through this article, you can learn why backup Gmail emails to computer and how to solve this problem easily and quickly in 2 ways.

Miya

By Miya Updated on July 7, 2023

Share this: instagram reddit

User case: Can I save Gmail emails to my computer?

"Hey, I'm using a Windows 10 laptop, and I'm wondering if there's an easy way to backup all my Gmail emails to my computer without losing any data. I don't want to risk losing any important messages or documents, and I'm not very tech-savvy, so I need something simple and straightforward. Any suggestions on how I can backup my Gmail emails to my computer? Thanks in advance!"

If you have the same concern as this user about how to backup Gmail emails to hard drive on computer, then you have come to the right place. In this article, we will recommend two ways to solve this problem, and if you are also a newbie, then we recommend the second easier way. Now let's see why you need to store Gmail emails to computer!

Why need to backup Gmail emails to computer?

Are you a Gmail user who wants to keep a local backup of all your received and sent emails? You're in luck, as it's quite simple to save a backup of all your Gmail emails, regardless of the device you're using. Whether you have a Mac, Windows PC, iPhone, iPad, or Android device, you can easily download a backup of your emails and store them locally on your computer, device, or hard drive.

Gmail Emails

All the emails you send and receive through Gmail are safely stored on Google's cloud servers. However, if your account becomes compromised or inaccessible, you risk losing access to all your emails, including important personal and business conversations.

Additionally, you could lose your valuable contacts and their email addresses. That's why it's a good idea to keep a backup of your Gmail data, especially if you prefer having a local backup of your data instead of relying solely on cloud services. In the following, we'll show you how to save all Gmail emails to computer.

How to backup Gmail emails to computer with 2 solutions

In this part, we will describe in detail two methods to backup Gmail emails to computer, including via Google Takeout and a professional and useful software.

Solution 1. Backup Gmail emails to computer via Takeout

To backup your Gmail emails, we'll be using Google Takeout. You can use any device with a web browser for this process. Follow the steps below to begin:

Step 1. Go to takeout.google.com and log in with your Google account.

Step 2. Click on the Deselect all option at the top of the page. This is because data from other Google services will also be selected by default.

Click on the Deselect All

Step 3. Scroll down and select the checkbox next to Mail. Then, click on All Mail data included to customize the data you want to download.

Click on All Mail Data Included

Step 4. Here, you have the option to either download a copy of all your emails or select specific folders, depending on your preferences. Once you've made your selection, click on OK at the bottom of the page.

Click on OK

Step 5. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on Next step, as indicated in the screenshot below.

Click on Next Step

Step 6. You can now select the delivery method for backing up Gmail to PC. By default, you'll receive a download link for your data via email. Additionally, you can choose the maximum size for the downloadable file, and it will be split into multiple files if necessary. When you're ready, click on Create export.

Click on Create Export

Note: Please keep in mind that the downloadable file will be in a compressed ZIP format. You will need to decompress it before you can access all the data.

Step 7. Now, all you have to do is wait for the file to be ready. Depending on the size of your Gmail data, this could take anywhere from a few hours to a few days. You'll receive an email notification once the export is complete.

Email Notification

That's it. Now you've learned how to save Gmail emails to computer. It's a little bit hard, isn't it? If so, please read on and we will recommend you a superb professional automatic Gmail backup software.

Solution 2. Backup Gmail emails to computer with the best auto backup software

You can also use professional email backup software - AOMEI Backupper Professional to backup Gmail emails to computer. AOMEI Backupper's Outlook Backup feature can back up the desktop version of Outlook, which supports Microsoft 365, Gmail, Yahoo, iCloud, and Exchange emails.

When adding email accounts from third-party providers like Gmail, iCloud, or Yahoo to Outlook, you'll need to modify some settings on their corresponding web interfaces. We've provided steps on how to modify Gmail IMAP when adding Gmail to the desktop version of Outlook.

To enable IMAP access for your Gmail account, follow these steps:

  1. Go to https://mail.google.com.
  2. Click on the settings wheel, then select Settings.
  3. Select Forwarding and POP/IMAP.
  4. Under IMAP Access, ensure that Enable IMAP is selected.

Gmail IMAP

Download Free TrialWin11/10/8.1/8/7/XP
Secure Download

To use AOMEI Backupper Professional for Gmail backup, you can start by downloading and installing the software on your computer. AOMEI Backupper Server is recommended for server users. Then, follow these steps:

Step 1. Add your Gmail account to Outlook and close it. Then, open AOMEI Backupper Professional.

Step 2. Click on Backup and select Outlook Backup.

Outlook Backup

Step 3. Click Add Outlook Data, and choose the account you want to back up, and then click OK.

Add Gmail

Step 4. Choose Select a local path and choose a folder to save all your Gmail emails in Outlook.

Select Backup Destination

Step 5. To schedule regular Gmail backups, click on Schedule Backup and select your preferred frequency (Daily, Weekly, or Monthly, Event triggers or USB plug in ), and be sure to check the Wake the computer to run scheduled task option.

Schedule Backup

Step 5. After verifying your settings, click Start Backup to save all Gmail emails to computer.

☺ Tips:

  • AOMEI Backupper Professional offers a Backup Scheme feature to help you manage your backup storage space more efficiently, with backup options including Full Backup, Incremental Backup, and Differential Backup.
  • For email restoration, refer to the Outlook Restore feature.
  • If your emails are encrypted, you'll need to verify them before selecting them for backup.
  • Please note that only Outlook 2007 and newer versions are currently supported.

FAQs about backing up Gmail emails to computer

✈ 1. Will backing up my Gmail emails to my computer delete them from my Gmail account?

No, backing up your Gmail emails to your computer will not delete them from your Gmail account. It simply creates a local copy of your emails.

✈ 2. How long will it take to back up my Gmail emails to my computer?

The time it takes to back up your Gmail emails will depend on the size of your email data. It could take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours.

✈ 3. How often should I back up my Gmail emails to my computer?

It's recommended to back up your Gmail emails periodically, such as once a month or once a quarter, to ensure that you always have a recent copy of your email data.

Summary

This article presents two effective methods to help you backup your Gmail emails to your computer, ensuring that you won't lose your data due to various reasons. Compared to Google Takeout, AOMEI Backupper Professional offers more comprehensive features and different levels of security for your computer, including email, system, and disk backup.

In addtion to backup Gmail to PC, it can also backup all Gmail emails to Snology NAS, cloud drive, network drives, etc. Give it a try today!

Miya
Miya · Editor
Miya has an excellent insight and receives professional and systematic technical training since joining AOMEI. She has a comprehensive understanding of computer issues, aiming at helping users troubleshoot all kinds of problems. A lot of computer users around the world have found her articles very helpful!