There are multiple ways to keep your Gmail messages offline.
Information in this article applies broadly to all PC, Mac, or mobile devices.
YourOSmay offer additional backup features.
To ensure that your email client downloads your Gmail messages:
Enable POP inyour Gmail options.
SelectSettings(the gear icon).
Go to theForwarding and POP/IMAPtab.
Set up Gmail in your email clientusing thePOP server tweaks.
Messages will download automatically to the default folder where all emails are stored.
Copy the emails to someplace safe on your hard drive.
For extra security, store your offline emails on anexternal hard driveor anonline backup account.
To set up offline mail:
Open your Gmail account in the Chrome net surf tool.
SelectSettings(the gear icon), then chooseSee All controls.
Select theEnable offline mailcheck box.
Adjust the sync and security configs to your liking and selectSave changes.
To view your messages while offline, kick off the Chrome surfing app and go tomail.google.com.
SelectManage your data and personalization.
In theDownload, delete, or make a plan for your datasection, selectDownload your data.
In theProductssection, selectDeselect all.
In theMailsection, select theAll of the messages and attachment in your Gmail account in MBOX formatcheck box.
SelectAll Mail data included.
Choose which types of messages to include, then selectOK.
Scroll to the bottom and selectNext Step.
In theCustomize archive formatsection, choose a file format for the download as well as your preferred delivery method.
Scroll to the bottom and selectCreate Archive.
A message appears and informs you that an archive is being created; this process can take a while.
When the archive is created, you’ll receive a single file containing all of your messages.
Your messages appear in the MBOX format, which is a largetext file.
Email programs like Thunderbird can read MBOX files natively.
For large archive files, use an MBOX-compatible email program instead of parsing the text file.
This method offers a snapshot-in-time view of your Gmail account.
For example,Backupifybacks up personal information from Facebook, Flickr, Blogger, LinkedIn, and more.
Backupify offers a 15-day trial for free before you commit to paying for the service.
