iCloud Mail Backup: Save Emails Locally
Apple offers iCloud Mail as part of its ecosystem. But with only 5 GB of free iCloud storage — shared with photos, backups, and documents — space runs out quickly. With mailriva, you can create a local backup of your iCloud emails directly on your computer.
Why an iCloud Mail Backup Matters
iCloud offers only 5 GB of free storage — for emails, photos, backups, and documents combined. If you don't want to upgrade to iCloud+, you'll hit the limit quickly. A local backup frees up space and protects you from data loss due to account lockouts or accidental deletions.
Apple doesn't offer a convenient export tool for iCloud Mail. The only alternative would be to download emails one by one in Apple Mail — not practical with hundreds or thousands of messages. mailriva automates this entire process.
Prerequisite: App-Specific Password
Apple requires an app-specific password for IMAP access by third-party apps. Your regular Apple ID password won't work. Here's how to create one:
- Go to appleid.apple.com and sign in.
- Navigate to Sign-In and Security > App-Specific Passwords.
- Click Generate an app-specific password.
- Enter a label (e.g., "mailriva") and copy the generated password.
The IMAP server for iCloud Mail is imap.mail.me.com (port 993, SSL). mailriva fills in these settings automatically when you select iCloud as provider.
How to Back Up Your iCloud Emails Locally
Create an app-specific password
Create an app-specific password at appleid.apple.com. Without this password, no third-party app can access your iCloud mailbox.
Download mailriva
Download mailriva for free and install the app on your Windows PC or Mac.
Connect iCloud Mail as source
Select iCloud Mail as the source provider and sign in with your Apple ID email address and the app-specific password.
Choose a local archive as destination
Select a local folder on your computer as the storage target. Your emails will be saved there in a structured format.
Start the backup
Select the folders you want to back up and start the process. Your iCloud mailbox remains completely unchanged.
Your Advantages with mailriva
- Passwords stay on your computer
- iCloud mailbox remains completely unchanged
- Folder structure is preserved during backup
- All attachments are included
- No web tool — everything runs locally
- Works on both Mac and Windows
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my regular Apple ID password?
No. Apple requires an app-specific password for IMAP access by third-party apps. You can create and revoke it at any time on appleid.apple.com.
Will my iCloud emails be deleted during backup?
No. mailriva only creates copies. Nothing in your iCloud mailbox is modified.
Does mailriva work on Windows?
Yes. Although iCloud is an Apple service, mailriva works on both Windows and Mac — access is via IMAP.