How to Backup Roundcube Emails on Windows and macOS: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Ritu Roy | backup Email Backup How to's roundcube to outlook Software Technology | 6 minutes read | Modified on: 23-07-2026

Roundcube is a popular web-based email application that allows users to access and manage their messages through a simple interface. Although it makes email access convenient, your stored messages can still be at risk due to unexpected situations such as server issues, accidental deletion, hosting migrations, or account restrictions.

For many users, Roundcube contains valuable information, including professional discussions, customer communications, financial records, and personal conversations. Losing access to these emails can create unnecessary problems, especially when important data is not stored anywhere else.

Since Roundcube does not include a direct option to export an entire mailbox backup at once, users need to rely on alternative methods to save their emails securely. This guide explains practical ways to download and preserve Roundcube emails on both Windows and macOS systems, helping users protect their important mailbox data from potential loss.

Reasons to Keep a Backup of Your Roundcube Emails

Roundcube is an open-source webmail platform that allows users to manage their email accounts through a browser. It connects with IMAP mail servers, where emails are stored and managed remotely. While Roundcube provides a convenient way to read, send, and organize messages, it does not create a permanent copy of your emails on your local computer.

Creating a backup of Roundcube emails ensures that important messages remain available even if something goes wrong with the mail server or account. Email data can be affected by unexpected issues such as server crashes, software errors, accidental deletion, or account-related problems. Having a separate backup provides an additional layer of protection.

Some key benefits of backing up Roundcube emails include:

• A backup allows users to recover important emails if the Roundcube server becomes unavailable or messages are deleted accidentally.
• Businesses and professionals can preserve email records required for audits, tax documentation, legal purposes, or internal reviews.
• Saved email copies can be opened and reviewed without requiring an active internet connection.
• Users can keep important conversations, invoices, agreements, customer communications, and project-related emails safely for future reference.
• Having a local backup ensures that users are not completely dependent on their hosting provider or email server availability.

Things to Check Before Creating a Roundcube Email Backup

Before starting the backup process, make sure your system and email account are properly prepared. Following these basic checks can help avoid interruptions and ensure a successful backup.

• Confirm the correct IMAP server settings for your email account.
• Make sure your computer has enough available storage space to save the backup files.
• Maintain a stable internet connection during the backup process.
• Keep your Roundcube login details available before starting.
• Save backup files in a safe and secure location to prevent unauthorized access.
• Create backups regularly instead of depending on a single saved copy.
• Select a backup method that matches your requirements, mailbox size, and technical comfort level.

Free Methods to Backup Roundcube Emails on Windows and macOS

Roundcube users have several options for saving their mailbox data. The right approach depends on whether you want to export a few messages or create a complete mailbox backup. Below is one of the easiest manual methods to download Roundcube emails.

Method 1: Export Individual or Complete Emails from Roundcube

Roundcube provides options to save emails manually in commonly used formats such as EML and MBOX. This method is useful for users who want to download selected messages or create a copy of an entire mailbox.

Steps to Export Roundcube Emails

1. Sign in to your Roundcube webmail account.
2. Select the mailbox or folder containing the emails you want to save.
3. For a complete mailbox backup:
   1. Select the required folder.
   1. Open the folder options or settings menu.
   1. Choose the Export option to download emails in supported formats such as MBOX or a compressed ZIP file (availability may vary).
4. To save individual emails:
   1. Open the required email message.
   1. Click the More option.
   1. Select Download (.eml) to save the message.
5. Choose a destination folder on your computer and save the exported files.

Important Note: The option to export an entire mailbox is not available in every Roundcube installation. Its availability depends on the configuration set by your email hosting provider or server administrator. However, downloading individual emails in EML format is generally available for users.

Method 2: Save Roundcube Emails Using Desktop Email Applications

Another free approach to back up Roundcube emails is by connecting your account with an email client. This method works on both Windows and macOS systems and requires IMAP configuration to synchronize your mailbox data.

Popular email applications such as Mozilla Thunderbird and Apple Mail can be used to download and store Roundcube emails locally.

Steps to Backup Roundcube Emails with Email Clients

1. Install and configure Mozilla Thunderbird on Windows or Apple Mail on macOS.
2. Add your Roundcube email account using the correct IMAP server settings.
3. Allow the email client to synchronize all folders and messages from your mailbox.
4. In Thunderbird:
   1. Create a local folder for storing emails.
   1. Copy your mailbox data into the local folder.
   1. Use the ImportExportTools NG add-on to export emails in MBOX format.
5. In Apple Mail:
   1. Select the mailbox you want to save.
   1. Choose Export Mailbox.
   1. Save the mailbox data in the required format.
6. Move the exported files or local mailbox copies to a secure storage location.

Method 3: Export Roundcube Emails as PDF or HTML Files

Users who only need to save selected messages can also export Roundcube emails as PDF or HTML documents. These formats allow easy offline viewing and sharing without requiring access to the email server.

Steps to Save Roundcube Emails as PDF

1. Open your Roundcube webmail account.
2. Select the email message you want to preserve.
3. Click the Print option.
4. Choose Save as PDF from the print settings.
5. Enter a file name and select a location to store the PDF file.

Steps to Save Roundcube Emails as HTML

1. Open the required email in Roundcube.
2. Use the browser’s Save Page As option.
3. Select the HTML webpage format.
4. Provide a file name and choose a folder to save the email.

Drawbacks of Free Roundcube Backup Methods

Although manual methods are available, they may not be practical for users with large mailboxes or multiple accounts. Some common limitations include:

• Complete mailbox export may not be available in every Roundcube setup.
• Emails often need to be saved individually, which increases the effort required.
• Large mailboxes with many folders can take a significant amount of time.
• Folder hierarchy may not remain unchanged after manual export.
• Managing a large number of exported files can become difficult.
• These methods may not be suitable for businesses or administrators handling multiple accounts.
• Email client installation and IMAP configuration are required before starting the backup.

Professional Solution to Backup Roundcube Emails on Windows and macOS

For users who need a faster and more organized way to save Roundcube emails, a dedicated backup application can simplify the entire process. CubexSoft Webmail Backup Tool is designed to automatically download Roundcube mailbox data and store it locally without changing the original folder structure.

The software allows users to back up complete Roundcube mailboxes without mailbox size restrictions and provides multiple saving options, including PST, MBOX, EML, HTML, PDF, TXT, and MSG formats. It can also help migrate Roundcube emails to platforms such as Office 365, Gmail, and other IMAP-supported email services.

No additional email client installation is required, making the backup process easier for both technical and non-technical users. A free trial version is available for users who want to explore the features before completing the full migration.

Advanced Features for a Smooth Roundcube Email Backup Experience

A reliable Roundcube Backup Tool should make the process simple, secure, and efficient. The right tool can help users save their Roundcube emails without spending hours on manual exports or complicated configurations.

Key features that improve the backup experience include:

• Back up multiple Roundcube emails and folders at once without restrictions on mailbox size.
• Save only newly received emails during future backups instead of repeating the entire backup process.
• Apply filters to exclude duplicate messages and select only the required emails. Users can also filter data based on file names and dates.
• Download Roundcube mailbox data quickly while maintaining secure login authentication to protect account credentials.
• The simple design allows beginners and professionals to complete the backup process without advanced technical skills.
• The software works across different versions of Windows and Mac operating systems, providing flexible usage options.

Final Thoughts

Backing up Roundcube emails is an important step to protect valuable mailbox data from unexpected loss. Whether you choose manual export methods, email clients, or a reliable backup solution, having a separate copy of your emails ensures long-term accessibility.

This guide covered different approaches to save Roundcube emails on local storage and cloud platforms. Each method has its own benefits and limitations, so users should select the option that best matches their mailbox size, backup requirements, and technical preferences. Creating regular backups helps you access, restore, and manage important emails whenever needed.