How Do I Download All Data from Gmail?

To download all your data from Gmail, you need to use Google Takeout. Here's a step-by-step guide:

1. Log in to your Gmail account. Ensure you're logged into the correct account from which you want to download data.

2. Go to Google Takeout: Navigate to Google Takeout. This is Google's official service for exporting your data from various Google products.

3. Deselect All: By default, all Google products are selected for export. Click the "Deselect all" button to avoid downloading data from other Google services besides Gmail.

4. Select "Mail": Scroll down the list of Google products and find "Mail." Check the box next to "Mail" to select it for export.

5. Customize Mail Data (Optional): Click the "All mail data included" button. This allows you to choose specific labels or folders within your Gmail to export, instead of everything. You can select to include/exclude specific labels. If you want to download everything, leave it as is.

6. Proceed to Next Step: Click the "Next step" button at the bottom of the page.

7. Choose Delivery Method, Frequency & File Type:

   • Delivery Method: Select how you want to receive the archive (e.g., send download link via email, add to Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, or Box).
   • Frequency: Choose whether to export once or schedule regular exports (every 2 months for 1 year).
   • File Type & Size: Choose the archive format (.zip or .tgz) and the archive size. If your data is larger than the selected size, it will be split into multiple files.

8. Create Export: Click the "Create export" button.

9. Wait for Archive: Google will now start preparing your archive. This can take hours or even days, depending on the amount of data in your Gmail account.

10. Download Your Data: Once the archive is ready, you'll receive an email (or a notification in your chosen delivery method) with a link to download your data.

Important Considerations:

• File Size: If your Gmail data is substantial, the download may be very large and could take a considerable amount of time to download.
• Security: The downloaded data will contain sensitive information. Store the archive securely and consider encrypting it.
• Archive Format: The downloaded file will be in either .zip or .tgz format. You may need a special program to extract the contents.
• MBOX Format: The mail data within the archive will be in the .mbox format, which can be opened by several email clients, such as Thunderbird or imported into other email services.
• Inactive Accounts: Google may delete the archives after some time if you don't download them. Download your archives as soon as they are created.