How to Resolve “No valid MBOX files were found” Error?

Bhawna Barwal | fix how to mbox software technology | 4 minutes read | Modified on: 03-07-2025

Do you often encounter error like “No valid MBOX files were found”? This error can occur when you try to import MBOX files and want to migrate from one Mac OS edition to another Mac OS version. In this blog, we will explore the common reasons why this error occurs, and also the best solutions to tackle this error.

The error “No Valid MBOX files were found” typically occurs when you try to import or access MBOX files (email data files) using a program or tool that supports this format, but the program cannot detect any valid MBOX files. There are a few possible causes why this error might happen.

Reasons behind The Error “No valid MBOX files were found”

  • The error can incur, if you have corrupted or damaged MBOX files. Make it sure that your files actually be in the MBOX format.
  • The program may access MBOX files in a particular location. Hence, it is essential to save the files in the expected location. The MBOX file can corrupt, if the file not properly saves, or if the storage path had any issue.
  • If your MBOX files have restricted access or the program doesn’t have the necessary permissions to read the file, it may fail to open.
  • Sometimes, the MBOX file itself may be empty or contain no emails. Open the MBOX file with a text editor to check if it contains data.
  • When your MBOX files are empty and they do not have any content. In that case, you must open MBOX files and check its content, it must not be empty otherwise, users may encounter error.

Read Also:

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How to Avoid the Error?

  • Verify that you have selected the correct folder or path where the MBOX file is stored.
  • Users need to provide permission to access the folder and read the MBOX file.
  • If the file is corrupted, you might need to rebuild or re-export the MBOX from its original source.

Manual Method to Fix “No valid MBOX files were found”                    

As we know, this error mainly occur while using Mac Mail, and when users tries to import MBOX files on Mac OS,  from any Mac OS edition to another Mac OS edition. Following are troubleshooting steps:

Firstly enter the command:

~/Library/Mail/

And
~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.mail.plist

Note: To open hidden user library folders then follow these steps:

Copy ~/Library/ select Go >> Go to the Folder and paste the path>> Go

The import process completes now in order to switch to a different version of Mail.app that employs somewhat different file formats or database structures.

After completing the aforementioned procedures, follow the command below.

  1. Close your the mail.app.
  2. Copy the messagerules.plist from the previous mail folder.
  3. And paste it to the new location, ~/library/mail/v2/maildata/.
  4. Delete The messagerules.plist.backup file in the current folder.
  5. Launch mail.app now.
  6. Now verify preferences.

Procedure for importing MBOX files:

  1. Click on the “File” and then “Import mailboxes.”
  2. Choose “import mailbox.”
  3. Click “Continue” after choosing Apple Mail from the list of well-known MBOX-based email clients.
  4. Save MBOX file and again click on the Continue.
  5. The preview MBOX files that are extracted from mailboxes. Then move further clicking Continue. 
  6. Then reopen your mail.app.
  7. Verify imported data and locate them to the original path.

Is Manual Method Worthy Enough to Fix the Error?

The aforementioned manual technique in Apple Mail can resolve the error “No valid MBOX files were found.” However, the process is extremely time-consuming and necessitates technical expertise to finish. Also, the risk of losing important data is there if you mistakenly type the incorrect command.

Try BitData Migration MBOX Converter for Mac to convert MBOX files to PST files if you intend to switch from Apple Mail to Outlook because of persistent error problems. The software helps to import MBOX easily, it is a professional utility that also helps to convert MBOX to PST files and other formats popular saving options such as HTML, MSG, EML, and many more. The tool enables to import MBOX from various email clients for example Apple Mail, Thunderbird, Entourage Google Takeout, Pocomail, Eudora, Spicebird Mulberry, SeaMonkey, Netscape, Opera Mail, etc.

Let’s Sum Up

This blog is the complete guide that illustrates on the issue of “No valid MBOX files were found”. It s advised to follow all necessary points given here. In the first half of the blog, we see the reasons of the error, and the basic steps to avoid it also mentioned. Still, users encounters this error, then they must follow the manual guide that helps to fix the issue. However, manual method may seem tricky to those belongs to non-IT background.  Still, you do not have to worry at all, the mentioned software solution is a seamless approach that is also well capable to get rid of such error.  And that solution is also the easiest one, anyone can opt for it without any hassle. This software can be operable on Mac OS and Windows OS, and also provides demo facility that enables to preview, export first 25 emails from MBOX free of cost.