# How to Backup Gmail to Computer or Local Drive?

## How to Backed Up Gmail Data to Computer Folder?

**Summary:** This article illustrates two manual methods to backup Gmail to computer. Since those manual methods are complicated so, we also explained an alternative solution to save your Gmail data to computer by exporting your Gmail items to other file formats.

_Over the years, our emails collect important information that we don't want to lose, which gives rise to a need to back up our Gmail to local computer or on a local drive. In this article we will explain how to backup Gmail to computer by different backup methods._

## Backup Gmail to Computer Methods

There are mainly two manual methods to save your Gmail data to computer folder:

- [**Google Data Backup Solution**](/content/articles/backup-gmail-to-computer.html#free/index.html)
- [**Desktop Email Clients Solution**](/content/articles/backup-gmail-to-computer.html#desktop/index.html)
- [**Automated Solution to Backed Up Gmail**](/content/articles/backup-gmail-to-computer.html#tool/index.html)

### Free Google Data Backup Solution

Google announces a new utility known as Google Takeout that allows you to export and backup your Gmail to hard drive. By using the utility you can download and export your data items from Google products such as Gmail, Calendar, and Photos, etc. You can follow below mentioned steps to create an archive and can use the data in another service.

### **Create an archive of your Gmail data**

- Open **Google Takeout** solution. You need to login in your Google Account

- Select Google products that you want to include in your download
- Click on **Next**

- Select **File Type** of your **Archive** and **Delivery** method

- Click on **Create Archive**

In this example, we have selected **"Send download link via email"** as delivery method

- Click on **Download**
- As you click on **Download**, **Gmail Login Page** will appear on your screen. Type your **ID** and **Password**. You can also get an email having the link for the archive location
- Click on **Download** to save the archive on desired location of your computer

- Check the **Archive** file on your selected location

- You will get an email having the link of the archive location according to your selected delivery method.

### Backup Using Desktop Email Clients

In todays connected world of communication, everyone has a desktop email client. Most of the desktop email clients allows user to download emails directly from Gmail. You can follow the below mentioned steps to enable the IMAP protocol in Gmail to backup Gmail's data in desktop email clients data file.

- Open your **Gmail Account**. Click on the **Gear Icon** and then click on **Settings** from drop down menu

- Now, click on **Forwarding and POP/IMAP** tab and select **Enable IMAP**

- To apply setting click on **Save** Changes
- Now Open your desktop email client and **ADD** your Gmail account. Here we will use Outlook as a desktop email client
- Launch **MS Outlook**
- Click on **File** then Click on **Add Account**

- Select **E-mail Account** and enter your name, **Gmail ID** and **Password**

- Click on **Next** and then Click on **Finish**.

#### Backup Gmail Data using Automated Solution

You can also use an automated tool for backup Gmail data into multiple formats that can easily accessed by the email clients. [**Gmail Backup Tool**](/content/gmail-backup/index.html) is recommended by the experts to backup your Emails, Contacts, Calendars and Documents from Gmail Account. Backup gmail account to Hard Drive software provides an option to convert your Gmail data into four desired file format; **EML, MBOX, MSG and PST** and supports backup to **MS Outlook, Apple mail, Windows Live mail** etc. You can install the free demo version and after verifying the tool you can purchase the full version of Backup Software for Gmail from its official website. By following the below mentioned steps you can easily backup your Gmail with Gmail Backup.

- Launch the Software
- Type your **User Name** and **Password** and then click on Log in
- From **Select Category**, choose the items you want to backup
- Select the E-mail format in which you want to save your Gmail data
- Click on **Browse** to select the **Destination Path**
- If you want to delete your emails after back up then Click on **Delete After Download**

- Click on **Apply Filters** if you want to export **Selected Folder** of data items of specified date range

- Click on **Start** for Backup Process.

#### **Conclusion**

To end, we can say that you can backup your Gmail data by using the above explained manual methods. Since, the manual methods are complicated and it is difficult for a non tech person to back his/her Gmail data by using those methods. So, Gmail backup Software is the best solution to save the Gmail data automatically.