How Can I Resolve The Issue “No Valid MBOX Files Found”?
Summary: When attempting to import MBOX files from one macOS version to another, users are encountering the error message “No valid MBOX files found.” This blog has multiple fixes for this problem, allowing you to import your MBOX files without any trouble at all.
File formats and email clients are supported differently by different operating systems (OS). The most common file format used by several well-known email clients, including Apple, Pocomail, Entourage, Mulberry, SeaMonkey, Opera Mail, Spice Bird, Netscape Mail, etc., is MBOX. This format is compatible with a wide range of operating systems and email programs. Nevertheless, the MBOX file may get corrupted in specific circumstances. Your device’s screen will display an error message if the MBOX file is corrupted. When using MBOX files, the error “Error a valid mbox file was not found” frequently occurs and has to be fixed. Consequently, we will address the root of the fault and provide an explanation of the fix in this blog.
Users of Mac Mail are more likely to get the issue. It happens as a result of a compatibility problem between Mac OS X and previous versions. The MBOX file is not accessible due to differences in MacOS. As a result, “No valid MBOX files found” may appear.
The Reason Behind the “No Valid MBOX Files Found” Problem
When attempting to import MBOX files, Apple Mail users appear to be the main ones experiencing the “No valid MBOX files found” problem. The following explanation of the error’s causes will help you better comprehend the situation:
- If a user of Apple Mail tries to visit an unsuitable directory.
- When a user imports MBOX files between different macOS versions.
- Should a user wish to import an MBOX file that has already been corrupted?
How Can I Resolve The Issue “No Valid MBOX Files Found”?
When attempting to import MBOX files from one macOS version to another, such as from macOS 10.6 to macOS 10.7, the problem mostly affects Mac Mail users. The notice “No valid MBOX files found” is the result of compatibility problems. The steps below can be used to fix the problem of importing MBOX files from macOS 10.6 to macOS 10.7. But first, you ought to back up your Mac Mail mailbox before continuing.
Note: Follow these steps to open a hidden library folder on macOS.
Press “Go to Folder.”
In the ‘Go to folder:’ section, type ~/library/ and hit the Enter key.
![](https://www.cubexsoft.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/image-16.png)
Note: You must locate the files in the ~/library/mail/ folder in order to access the earlier messages if you wish to import MBOX files.
After completing the aforementioned procedures, carry out the command below.
- Shut down the mail.app program.
- Messagerules.plist should be copied from the old mail folder.
- Next, type in the new place for storage, such as ~/library/mail/v2/maildata/.
- The current folder contains messagerules.plist.backup, which you should remove.
- Open mail.app now.
- Review the rules by going to the settings.
How to import files from MBOX:
- Select Import Mailboxes under “File.”
- Click Mailbox Import.
- Click “Next” after choosing Apple Mail from the list of popular MBOX-based email applications.
![](https://www.cubexsoft.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/image-17.png)
- Find your MBOX file, pick it, and press the “Select” button.
![](https://www.cubexsoft.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/image-18.png)
- Click “Next” after previewing the MBOX files that have been extracted from mailboxes for inspection.
- Start the mail.app program again.
- Kindly transfer the imported mailboxes back to their original location after checking them.
- Verify the functionality of the system search software.
- If not, use the shell command sudo mdutil -e to rebuild the Spotlight index.
Limitations While Attempting to Manually Resolve the “No valid MBOX files found” Problem
The above-described manual procedure can be used to fix the “No valid MBOX files found” error in Apple Mail. But it takes a lot of time and technical know-how to use this strategy. Furthermore, you risk losing crucial data if you type the incorrect command. Consequently, you can use CubexSoft Converter for MBOX to convert MBOX files to PST files if you intend to move from Apple Mail to Outlook as a result of persistent issues.
A utility that converts MBOX files to PST files and other formats like MSG and EML is called CubexSoft MBOX Converter. Other well-known MBOX clients including Thunderbird, Google Takeout, Entourage, Spicebird, Pocomail, Eudora, Mulberry, SeaMonkey, Netscape, Opera Mail, Mozilla Mail, Evolution, and so on are supported by the utility in addition to Apple Mail.
In Summary:
Many email applications, including Apple Mail, Thunderbird, Pocomail, Netscape, and others, frequently use MBOX files. Nevertheless, when Apple Mail users attempt to import the MBOX files, they receive the error message “No valid MBOX files found.” The error is manually reversible. Nevertheless, the manual approach has the drawback of being laborious, unclear, and requiring technical expertise to successfully finish the stages.
If none of the aforementioned fixes resolve the issue or it still doesn’t go away, you might want to try using Microsoft Outlook or another email client. You might, however, need to convert your MBOX files to PST files in order to do this. MBOX to PST Converter and other automatic programs will enable you to accomplish this task in a matter of minutes. MBOX files can be converted to PST files and other file formats, like MSG and EML, with this software. You can import it into another compatible email client or make a backup in the format of your choice.
Read More: MBOX Duplicate Remover
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