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Switch from Airmail to Apple Mail | How to Transfer All Your Emails?

  author
Jamie Kaler   Contribution
Rollins Duke
Rollins Duke  Approved By
Published On June 9th, 2026 • 6 min read

In general, a number of Mac users switch over to the default Mail application on macOS, as it is installed in your system by default and also works really well on nearly every Apple device, letting them enjoy a good email-handling experience. But migrating emails from Airmail for years could be really difficult. In this blog, we will be looking at how you can move your emails manually and then a special tool, which can get this done efficiently, safely, and faster.

Think about this – you have a huge number of emails, including personal messaging, official mails, receipts, & crucial email attachments saved in Airmail. One fine day, you eventually decide to use Apple Mail instead of Airmail as it better integrates with your Mac. The very first thing that will come to your mind is: How to move all emails securely with no loss? Luckily, there are multiple ways to do this migration.

Why Do People Switch from Airmail to Apple Mail?

Apple Mail is actually pre-installed on macOS, and it gives smooth syncing with iPhone, iCloud, iPad, & all other Apple services. Most people prefer to use this due to its neat interface design, stable features, & support given with Apple’s native ecosystem. The most common reasons to make the switch include the following:

  • For better integration with macOS.
  • For having no extra subscription cost(s).
  • For a simpler setup as well as easier email management.
  • For seamless syncing across all Apple devices.
  • For long-term, dependable support provided by Apple.

Airmail vs Apple Mail

Let’s now check Airmail vs Apple Mail. Both apps are quite powerful. But people who wish to have simplicity & deeper Apple integration usually pick Apple Mail.

Feature Airmail Apple Mail
Interface design Quite customisable Neat & simple
3rd-party integrations Comprehensive  Very limited
Support of Apple’s ecosystem  Fine Quite good
Pricing  Premium features are there This is free with macOS
Easiness Best for advanced-level users Novice-friendly
System integration Pretty moderate Native Apple’s support

Prerequisites Before the Migration from Airmail to Apple Mail

Before you start migrating from Airmail to Apple Mail, you must take the following into mind and move accordingly:

  • Form a backup of all your critical emails.
  • Try to make sure there is sufficient space available for storage.
  • Update both the apps to their latest versions.
  • Try verifying your internet connection for using IMAP accounts.
  • Also, check your mailbox folder organisation.

Such small preparations will help you to prevent any migration problems being faced later.

Manually Migrate Airmail to Apple Mail Account

There are some manual methods that you can attempt to transfer from Airmail to Apple Mail. The methods below are fine if the limited free option does not appeal.

Method 1: Use the Same IMAP Email Account

The most obvious way to move your emails is to set up the same IMAP account within Apple Mail. This involves no file exports, as emails sync automatically.

  1. Open Apple Mail.
  2. Select Add Account.
  3. Enter your email credentials.
  4. Next, allow Apple Mail to sync the mailbox.
  5. Wait until all the folders, as well as mail messages, show up.

Note: This requires internet access and will only work with email accounts that are hosted on IMAP. It may also take a significant amount of time for larger email accounts.

Method 2: Export Mailboxes from Airmail & Import into Apple Mail

This method works well if you have local folders stored in Airmail. With no dependency on email server syncing, this process is useful in case of archived emails, as it preserves the mailbox structure. Undertake the following steps:

  1. Open Airmail.
  2. Select the required mail messages to extract.
  3. Move ahead by going to File.
  4. Select Export to EML.
  5. Now, save Files in the “To Import Folder” or “the Files Folder”.

Note: This could be a time-consuming thing in case of large mailboxes, as it involves manual importing, so multiple folders might require separate exports.

Method 3: Try Dragging & Dropping Emails

Some users transfer selected emails manually. Easy for selective migration, this process is ideal in the case of small email collections. Do the steps mentioned below:

  1. Initiate the process by opening Airmail.
  2. Now, you have to drag & drop mail messages in the EagleFiler Window (and not the Dock icon).

Note: such a way isn’t quite practical if a large number of emails are there, as there is a great risk of missing email messages because of more manual effort. Also, this won’t work on macOS 10.14. However, in macOS 10.15 & other versions, this will work when dragging only a single message. If you try dragging multiple email messages, then only a single email will be given to EagleFiler.

Expert Talk: Migrate Airmail to Apple Mail with a Dedicated Pro Tool

For people who have been managing large mailboxes, the professional tool could simplify the whole process of migration considerably. Airmail Converter helps people to export their Airmail emails into multiple formats, which are supported by Apple Mail, while still maintaining email properties, bulky attachments, and folder structure. This could be helpful while dealing with large-scale email data migrations or for archived data.

Important Tips for a Successful Migration

  • Always keep a backup copy of critical data before starting the migration.
  • Move the emails in batches if your mailbox is pretty huge.
  • Try verifying imported folders after performing the migration.
  • Do check email attachments as well as formatting.
  • Always avoid interrupting the process in between.
FAQ 

Q) How to move the emails from Airmail to Apple Mail?

A) You can try the manual ways, but for better results, the professional migrator can help you with a safe email data transfer.

Q) Could Apple Mail import Airmail mailboxes straightaway?

A) Apple Mail could definitely import supported mailbox formats like MBOX files that are exported from Airmail.

Q) Is it possible to move all the emails from Airmail to Apple Mail?

A) Certainly! It is indeed possible to move emails manually through several mailbox export/import ways, but using the professional migrator is a better option if data safety is your topmost concern.

Q) Will my email attachments also move while switching from Airmail to Apple Mail?

A) Definitely! If you do the transfer perfectly, all your attachments could also be easily moved along with the mail messages.

To Sum Up

Deciding to switch from Airmail to Apple Mail could give Mac users a much smoother and far more integrated mailing experience. There are both manual ways and professional tools to do the transfer; the choice rests with you, which one you pick!