If the idea of backing up your entire Yahoo Mail history seems daunting, don’t worry. Tools like Mail Backup X are designed to streamline this process. Here’s a breakdown of how it works:
Step 1 – Get the Software
Mail Backup X can be used to archive Yahoo Mail in both MacOS and Windows systems, and under one single license (if you use both platforms). Before downloading, take a quick peek at your computer’s “About this Mac” (for Macs) or “System Properties” (for Windows) settings to note your OS version and system type (32-bit or 64-bit for Windows). This ensures a seamless installation later on.
The most reliable way to get your hands onthe tool is to go straight to the source – the official website (MailBackupX.com). This helps you avoid any potentially dodgy versions floating around elsewhere.Look for the “Download” link, at the top of the website.
Inside the download page, you’ll see tabs for “Personal” or “Team” editions – pick the one that suits your backup needs. Then, find the button that matches your machine: “For Mac”, “For Mac M1/M2” (if you have a newer Mac), “For PC 64 bit”, or “For PC 32 bit”. Your browser will either ask where you want to save the file or save it away into your “Downloads” folder.
Upgrade Note: If you’re an existing user looking to upgrade up from version 1 to version 2, reach out to support for a special upgrade price. New users will automatically get the latest version 2.
Installation Time:
- Navigate to wherever you saved the downloaded file. It’ll have a “.exe” extension for Windows folks and a “.dmg” extension for Mac users.
- Double-click that file and let the installation wizard be your guide. You might need administrator right to install software – if you’re not on an admin account, have that password ready.
- The wizard will walk you through the process with clear instructions.
- The installer might offer to automatically launch Mail Backup X when it’s done or place a shortcut onto your desktop for quick access.
Step 2 – Activation
We are just one step away from starting our Yahoo Mail archive before. You just have to activate the tool before linking up with your Yahoo account.
- After the installation, find the application icon on your desktop or in your applications folder. Double-click to open it.Next screen is pretty standard terms and agreement page. Scroll through the document, and at the bottom, you will find an ‘Accept’ button. Click the “Accept” button to continue.
- Following that, you will come to the activation screen. This is where you can input a license key if you have one. However, as a new user exploring the software, you’ll want to go for the free trial version.
- You will see a button labeled “Activate Free Trial.” Click on this to proceed without a license key.
- The next prompt asks for your email address. This step is not mandatory, so you have the choice to skip it. However, entering your email can be beneficial for receiving assistance, updates, and offers related to Mail Backup X.
The trial version of Mail Backup X is very comprehensive and has no restrictions.
You can try out most of the features found in the paid version, such as archiving emails from Yahoo or other profiles, scheduling backups, creating up to 5 profiles, and utilizing various tools to manage your email data efficiently. During the trial, you can export up to ten items per folder to evaluate the export function.
Even after the trial ends, the software still allows you to access and view all your backed-up data. You can search for specific emails, view their content, and even print them using the built-in viewer. This continued access ensures that your backed-up data remains accessible and valuable beyond the trial period.
You are almost there now.
In the steps below, we will see how you can sign in and link up with your account and define the content range of Yahoo Mail folders that you want to archive.
Step 3 – Connecting to your Email account for Yahoo Mail archives.
- If you’re setting up Mail Backup X for the first time, you’ll want to create a new backup profile. This can be done from the main dashboard by clicking on ‘Setup a New Backup Profile’. If you already have profiles, you can add a new one by selecting ‘Add new Backup’ from the ‘My Backup Profile’ section. This will help you create a plan for archiving Yahoo Mail that is suitable for your purpose only.
- On the next screen, you’ll bypass the list of email clients and go straight for the ‘Email Server’ option. This is where you’ll find what you need forbacking up Yahoo Mail.
- Among the various email providers listed, you’ll need to select the ‘IMAP Server’ option, typically found at the end of the list.
- Enter your Yahoo Mail login details—your email address and password—to authenticate your account.
Email providers often ask you to allow certain permissions or complete two-factor authentication. Complete those steps if applicable.
If you run into any login issues, make sure IMAP is enabled in your Yahoo Mail settings.
Step 4 –Select the Optimal range of folders from Yahoo Mail to Archive
Here, you will be shown a folder-view of your Yahoo mailbox, each folder is a container of your valuable emails. You can expand or collapse any folder to view any sub-folders inside them.This is where you have the chance to refine the extent of your Yahoo Mail archives.
Mostly, archives mean the complete copy of your data. But you are free to exclude any old folders, spam, or simply anything that are you are confident will not be required in the future.
- For comprehensive Yahoo archives, including every single email you have, just continue without making any changes. All the folders are already selected by default.
- On the other hand, you might choose to adjust the range of folders. Here, you can unselect any folder that doesn’t align with your backup goals. It’s a move to save space and make your backup more compact and manageable.
Sometimes, you may come across a situation where certain folders are hard to find and not immediately visible for selection. This is a sign that you need to check your Yahoo Mail settings. In those settings, there’s an option to enable IMAP for each folder. It’s important to make sure that this feature is activated for all the folders you want to include in your Yahoo Mail archives.
Step 5 – Backup Profile Configurations
After folder selection, what you see is the final configuration screen of the wizard. Here, you get to fine-tune and modify the preferences to suit your workflow and needs for archiving Yahoo data. You have settings like profile name, storage/destination, privacy settings, backup timings, and also USB drive storage.
Let’s take a look at some of the important settings:
- Destination: This could simply be any regular folder on your computer. For more sophisticated system, you can link up with a cloud-provider (Google Drive, OneDrive, and Dropbox are natively supported) or an FTP server and add them as storage spaces for keeping your Yahoo mail archives safe.
- Privacy mode: You can either keep the archived files encrypted or regular. Encrypted files require a specific key to access data on a different computer, providing a layer of privacy. Regular backups are quicker to create and restore but are less secure.
- The tool offers multiple approach to set the timings for archiving Yahoo Mail. You can keep it always on (“Automatic”), giving you real-time updates as new emails arrive. Or you can set a schedule at regular intervals and even specify exact time of day.
With these settings adjusted to your preferences, your backup profile is now ready to archive Yahoo Mail continuously or periodically (whatever setting you chose).Just click the “Save” button in the above configuration screen.
Keep in mind, you’ve got 15 days to try it out for free. It’s probably best to leave your Yahoo archive profile on ‘Automatic’ for these 15 days. This lets you see how it runs and how all the features can be implemented. You can even try the export feature to export your emails to other formats, including PDF.
After 15 days, you’ll have a clear picture of whether Mail Backup X is the right fit for you. Give it a go and see how it simplifies your email backups.