How to Backup & Export Gmail to PST File with Attachments?

Admin | Cloud Backup Email Conversion How to's Outlook Software Technology | 7 minutes read | Last updated on February 8th, 2023,

Are you in a need to download Gmail to PST in Outlook? If yes, then there is a good news for all required users who wants a solution for Gmail export mail to PST on local computer or hard drive.

Large number of population make use of Gmail for many reasons. It is free, fast and offers substantial quantity of storage. It is a popular and very much known application and also the best example of cloud technology.

But, it is not all; Gmail is susceptible to cyber-attacks and crashes. Yes, deletion is one of the biggest issue due to which users want to archive/download Gmail to PST.

Nothing is trustable when it comes to internet. A news spread about Google in July 2018. Hackers attack Gmail account by inviting you through Google Docs and then it enable hackers to get the entire access to account database like Emails, Contacts and more.

After it happened, Google has warned to its users about Google Docs Phishing Scam that attack number of accounts in small span of time. Even it was stated by Google that more than 1 million of users has been victimized by Phishing attack.

Losing important information can’t be affordable and that’s why it is necessary to take the backup of data at another location.

Although, there are lot of people who wants to backup Gmail emails to .pst and also wants to keep the copy of the same on the computer/hard drive. Moreover, many users using Gmail can easily transfer mails either on same email client or on different cloud/IMAP/webmail account. So, not to worry, here we have provided tips and methods that describe where and how to export Gmail messages to PST.

Table of Content

The following information will highlight the description of how to move Gmail folders to PST. Let us go through the table of content:

Export Gmail Folder to PST

Transfer Gmail Account Database by using Google Takeout

Is Google Takeout an appropriate approach?

Try Gmail to PST Export – Automated Tool

Last Words

Export Email Folders from Gmail to PST in Outlook

The very first query comes in mind before exporting Gmail messages to PST is “where to open downloaded messages, mails, attachments of Gmail account?

In order to maintain email files with exact integrity then it is important to focus on desktop-based emailing program that delivers similar type of customized and personalized touch. And, MS Outlook is one of the application that offers this functionality and interface to users. So, let us discuss about PST format and then we will focus on the technique for Gmail export mail to PST.

PST – Personal Storage Table

PST is a format of Microsoft Outlook that stands for Personal Storage Table. Outlook is a desktop email client; it is a part of Microsoft Office Suite. It is also known as Personal Information Manager because it helps in managing the calendar and contacts of users. Outlook also offers Search, Spam Filter, Rules and many more remarkable features that makes the email facility facile.

It stores all its data such as meeting requests, appointments, contacts, distribution lists, tasks, notes, journals and other folder items in PST format on local machine. It is a benefit of downloading Gmail emails to PST and access the same in Outlook environment. Also, PST provides numerous advantages:

  • PST is a portable format. One can easily move the data from one system and copy the same to external storage device. Later, import .pst to Microsoft Outlook and access your data.
  • By applying proper security, PST file can easily be saved from unauthorized access.
  • Microsoft Outlook has two versions, one is for Windows and another one for Mac OS X. Apart from this, PST can be moved to multiple Gmail/G Suite account using GAMMO Tool provided by Google.
  • Also, PST file can be imported to many cloud based apps such as Yahoo, Zoho, Hotmail, Office 365, AOL and more.

How to Backup & Export Gmail to PST

As we have already discussed that there are numerous emailing apps where Gmail data can be transferred. And in order to perform the same, free utility is available provided by Google i.e. Takeout. It is a program archive, download and export messages from Gmail on local system in MBOX format. So, let us study how Gmail execute the export process. It is a free method of exporting Gmail mails on PC but has some limitations.

Step 1. Login to Takeout by providing specific username and password.

Step 2. A home screen with multiple data items will appear on the screen.

Step 3. And if you want to extract the data of only Gmail mails, then switch ON the button of Mail item and switch OFF the button of other items. Also, you will find two more options i.e. Include all of your mail & Select Labels. Choose option as per need and continue.

Step 4. In case of Gmail Label, a dialogue box appears on the screen. Select the label you need and click OK.

Step 5. Click on Next.

Step 6. Here, a user can customize the archive format by changing the file type and file size as well.

Step 7. Choose the delivery mode of archive file as displayed in the screenshot. We recommend to choose the option of Send download link via email.

Step 8. Now, hit CREATE ARCHIVE button.

Note: The time taken by the process of archiving Gmail data depends on the number of mailbox items and internet bandwidth. It can be little bit time-consuming process in case you are performing the bulk export of Gmail mails on local system.

  • Now, check the link of archive file sent by Google Takeout.
  • Sign in to Gmail account and open the link you received from Google Takeout.
  • Click the Download Archive button to download the Gmail mails.
  • You will be redirected to Takeout tab and start the process of downloading Gmail mails as Zip format on local drive.
  • Now export your files from download Zip folder.

The files extracted from the Zip folder will be formed as MBOX format. And, you can import the same into number of MBOX supported email applications.

Is Google Takeout Method is Perfect Solution for the process?

Takeout contains some couple of consequences that makes it a little bit complicated method to export Gmail to PST/local computer/hard drive. It has few limitations that are listed below:

  • It is necessary to have good internet connection when performing this method. Because, if you lost the internet connectivity in-between the task then you need to reattempt the same steps for download process.
  • It does not guarantee the complete download of data on local PC. Many times, it shows the error message of failed download archive file.
  • No Date Range Filter option is present, you cannot apply the date range to download the selective/required emails.
  • One the data is exported, there is no option of incremental export to export the newly appeared Gmail mailbox items.

Save Gmail to PST using Expert’s Choice Gmail Backup Tool

CubexSoft Gmail Backup Software is an impeccable solution to protect the account of Gmail data by saving it on local drive-in PST, EML, HTML, MHT, PDF and more. The software is equipped with excellent features, a couple of clicks are needed and all the processing will immediately executed by the application automatically. The tool works on all the versions of Windows OS. In the following section, we have shown complete working that cater the needs of every user. The working is very easy and instantly accessed by all technical and novice users. The utility offers the features such as Date Range, Folder Filter, different naming options and more. Download the free demo of the software to check its complete functioning.

Steps to Move Gmail Folder Data to PST

At first, download the demo or the complete version of the tool on the system. The launch screen will appear. Choose the Gmail option and enter the credentials of the account from where you need to save the data to PST format. Click Login button.

Note: Before you start the process, make sure that you enable the IMAP option from Gmail settings and also switch on the button of Less Secure Apps.

Now another software window will appear displaying the folder list of Gmail account on the left software pane. You can select/deselect the required folder and move only the desired item to PST file.

Once it is done, click the drop-down arrow appearing in Select Saving Option. Choose PST format from the same.


Set the destination path by clicking the Browse button. Select the section of Options for Selective backup (Filters). Choose date range, from, to, Subject accordingly and transfer the required Gmail mails to PST. Click Backup button.

Software will instantly start the process and show the live status by displaying green bar.

After the process is completed, the application will display TXT report showing the summary of backup displaying the Saving option, Selected Source, Destination Path and Status.

You can now navigate to the selected location and check the backed up PST file. Now import the PST file to Outlook.

Last Words

The article has discussed methods of exporting Gmail to PST. We have highlighted the method of Google Takeout which is quite a complicated process and inaccessible by non-technical users. We have also provided the automated solution, which is effective and does not require any technical skills to backup the Gmail data. Apart from the export of Gmail to PST, you can also move Gmail to Outlook.com, Office 365, Yahoo Mail, MSG, MHT, HTML, EML and many more. You can experience the software interface and functionality by downloading its free edition.