How to Export Emails from Gmail to Text File? Quick Guide

Gmail is one of the most popular email platforms as it offers auto-categorization, advanced search filter, Encryption, modern interface etc. However, Gmail doesn’t provide a direct option to export Gmail but you can perform it manually and using Gmail Backup Tool as we have shared in this post.

Text is a lightweight format and simple plain text format, and it doesn’t contain special characters or HTML formatting. They can be easily accessed and edited using Notepad, Microsoft Word, or any editor on Windows or Mac machines. A TXT file does not contain hyperlinks, embedded images, or HTML formatting; they are ideal for storing email content only.

Necessity of Exporting Gmail Emails to Text file

• Storing emails in Text file ensures that you have a backup copy of your emails and it helps you in case of accidental deletion and Gmail account issues.
• Many businesses and professionals need to keep email records for legal or compliance purposes.
• Unlike formatted email files, Text files can be indexed and searched quickly using Notepad++ or command-line search tool.
• Text file consume less storage space as compared to other email formats such as MBOX, EML, PST, MSG and it makes ideal for large-scale data storage.
• Since text files are small, they can be easily shared via USB, cloud storage, or email attachments.

How to Export Emails from Gmail to Text Manually?

There is no official method offered by Gmail but some manual methods are available to export emails from Gmail to Text. But it has lots of drawbacks that we have explained after the solution. Manual methods is explained below:

Method1. How to Save Gmail to Text Using Copy-Paste Method?

1. Open “Google Mail” in your browser and login your account.
2. Click on the “Email” as you want to export.
3. (CTRL+A) highlight and copy the “Email’s content”.
4. Open “Notepad” paste the copied content.
5. Go to “File” option then click on “Save As”.
6. Enter file name and choose file type as “TXT” format.

Restrictions of Copy-Paste Method

• Suitable only for single emails.
• Doesn’t not retain email metadata such as time, date, sender and recipients details.
• Attachments are not exported.

Method2. How to Export Gmail Emails to Text By Enabling Plain Text Mode?

1. Open “Gmail” and select the email as you want to export.
2. Click on the “Reply” option and click on the “Three dot icon” menu.
3. Select plain text mode to remove “HTML formatting”.
4. Copy and paste the “Content” into the text editor.
5. Save the file as “TXT format”.

Issues with Plain Text Mode

• This approach is not suitable for bulk emails.
• Attachments and metadata may not be included.
• Email formatting might still be altered.

Method3. How to Download Gmail Emails to TXT documents by Print Feature?

1. Open “Gmail” and click on the email as you want to save.
2. Click on the “Print icon” and choose Save as PDF.
3. Open the “Saved PDF file” and copy the text content.
4. Paste into “Notepad” or any text editor and Save it as a TXT file.

Hurdles of Print Feature

• Required multiple steps to save in PDF file.
• Not reliable for bulk export.
• Attachments are not preserved.

Method4. How to Save Gmail Emails to Text File Using Google Takeout?

1. Visit “Google Takeout” and enter credentials to login to your Gmail account.
2. Now, Deselect all and check on “Mail” option.
3. After clicking on Next step, choose “file type, size, destination and frequency” as per needed.
4. Open “Mozilla Thunderbird” and install “Import/Export NG Tool” add-ons.
5. “Import MBOX file” as you have exported from Google Takeout.
6. Now, open email as you want to save in “Text format”.
7. Highlight the “Content” and copy it.
8. Open Notepad and save in “TXT file type” and press Save.

Challenges of Using Google Takeout

• Google Takeout sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t work.
• Generally, it requires 3-4 days to ready your mailbox data to export.
• Users must require a Mozilla Thunderbird application to perform this approach.

Process to Export Gmail Emails to Text File

1. Download and run “Gmail to TXT Converter” on your system.
2. Enter Gmail email address and click on “Sign with Google”.
3. Fill “Password” and click on Next to proceed.
4. Accept all “Permissions” and click on Continue.
5. Software loaded all “Gmail labels”, select as you want to export.
6. Choose “RTF” in the available options of select saving. (As we are committed to preserving user metadata and formatting, and the TXT file doesn’t maintain integrity, you can export in RTF format to keep it preserved in its original formatting.)
7. Click on “Change” to select the resultant location, filter options and press Backup to start “Export emails from Gmail to Text file”.

Paramount traits of Gmail to TXT Converter

• It allows you to export any individual or bulk Google accounts at once without losing any information.
• This software can also save Gmail to PDF, PST, TXT, EML, MBOX, and 30+ other saving options.
• You can also use filter options to convert selective mailbox data based on date range, subject, recipient, sender, specific words, excluded folders, incremental backup, and more.
• With this wizard, any user can perform the entire migration without advanced technical skills, as this software is specially created with a focus on both beginner and professional users.
• This software can also migrate Gmail to Microsoft 365, Thunderbird, Zimbra, Maildir, and all IMAP-supported email platforms.

Common Questions about Export Emails from Gmail to Text File

Can Gmail Send Email to Text?

Yes, Gmail allows you to send Gmail emails as text messages using email-to-SMS gateway. Simply enter the recipient’s phone number followed by their carrier’s SMS gateway domain(e.g., 16354@txt.att.net). The carrier converts your email into a text message and sends it to the recipients.

How to Forward an Email to a Text?

To forward an email as Text in Gmail, open the email and click “Forward”, enter the recipient’s phone numbers with their carrier SMS gateway(e.g.,36366@vtext.com for Verizon). The email content is then sent as SMS. Alternatively copy the email text and manually send it via SMS.

How to Send Emails to Phone Numbers?

To send an email to a phone number, compose a new email in Gmail, fill the recipient’s phone number with their carrier SMS gateway(22662@tmomail.net for T-mobile) and send it. The carrier converts the email message into text message. Ensure the recipient’s carrier supports email to text services.

Ending Remarks

In this guide, we have outlined the solutions to export emails from Gmail to a Text file using the top 5 effective techniques—4 manual methods and another automated approach. The manual approach is only reliable for exporting a few Gmail emails. So, we recommend you opt for the Gmail to TXT Converter for bulk migration and if you don’t want to take a risk with your mailbox data. Otherwise, If mailbox data is not very crucial or you need to export a few Gmail emails to a Text file, then perform it manually while maintaining attributes.