Import and export mail

Export one message as EML

icloud mail message export msg_… --output message.eml

Or stream it:

icloud mail message raw msg_… > message.eml

Use --force only when you intend to replace an existing regular file.

Export a whole synchronized mailbox

icloud mail mailbox export inbox \
  --format mboxrd \
  --output inbox.mbox

Another folder works the same way:

icloud mail mailbox export Archive --output archive.mbox

Or stream the archive:

icloud mail mailbox export Archive --output - > archive.mbox

Mailbox export uses the mail already synchronized locally. If you want the newest provider mail included, run icloud mail sync --folder <folder> first.

Import one EML message

Review the exact file and destination first:

icloud mail message import message.eml \
  --to inbox \
  --dry-run

Then import it:

icloud mail message import message.eml \
  --to inbox \
  --idempotency-key import-message-01 \
  --yes

You can set initial supported flags:

icloud mail message import message.eml \
  --to Archive \
  --flag seen \
  --flag flagged \
  --idempotency-key import-archive-01 \
  --yes

Import an mboxrd archive

Preview:

icloud mail mailbox import archive.mbox \
  --to Archive \
  --dry-run

Then import a bounded batch:

icloud mail mailbox import archive.mbox \
  --to Archive \
  --max-messages 100 \
  --yes

Large imports are resumable. Re-run the same archive and destination to continue from the saved progress.

For per-record automation output:

icloud mail mailbox import archive.mbox \
  --to Archive \
  --mode continue-on-error \
  --yes \
  --jsonl

If an import is interrupted

Do not edit the archive in place and assume the old import can continue. Resume the same source when possible. For a single EML import with an uncertain provider result, repeat the same normalized command with the same idempotency key so the CLI can reconcile the original attempt rather than blindly creating another copy.

See Troubleshooting if an import reports an unresolved state.