Yahoo Mail Backup: Download All Emails
Yahoo Mail has been one of the most well-known email services since the 1990s. Many users have accumulated important emails there over decades. With mailriva, you can create a local backup of your Yahoo emails — directly on your computer, without any web tool, and without modifying your mailbox.
Why a Yahoo Mail Backup Makes Sense
Yahoo has experienced several major security incidents in the past. In 2013 and 2014, billions of accounts were compromised. While Yahoo has since improved its security measures, the history shows how important it is to have your own backup. Additionally, Yahoo deletes inactive accounts after a period of inactivity — if you don't log in for a long time, you risk losing all your emails.
Yahoo itself doesn't offer a convenient export for your entire mailbox. The web interface only allows downloading individual emails. With thousands of messages, that's not an option.
Prerequisite: Create an App Password
Yahoo requires an App Password for IMAP access by third-party apps. Your regular Yahoo password won't work directly. Here's how to create one:
- Go to login.yahoo.com and sign in.
- Navigate to Account Security.
- Enable Two-Step Verification if not already active.
- Click Generate App Password and select "Other App".
- Copy the generated password and use it in mailriva.
The IMAP server for Yahoo Mail is imap.mail.yahoo.com (port 993, SSL). mailriva fills in these settings automatically.
How to Back Up Your Yahoo Emails Locally
Create an App Password
Create an App Password in your Yahoo account settings. Without this password, mailriva cannot access your mailbox.
Download mailriva
Download mailriva for free and install the app on your Windows PC or Mac.
Connect Yahoo Mail as source
Select Yahoo Mail as the source provider and sign in with your Yahoo email address and the App Password.
Choose a local archive as destination
Select a local folder on your computer as the storage target. Your emails will be saved there as copies.
Start the backup
Select the folders you want to back up and start the process. Your Yahoo mailbox remains completely unchanged.
Your Advantages with mailriva
- Passwords stay on your computer
- Yahoo mailbox remains completely unchanged
- Folder structure is preserved during backup
- All attachments are included
- No web tool — everything runs locally
- Backup can be used as a basis for future migrations
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my Yahoo emails be deleted during backup?
No. mailriva only creates copies. Your Yahoo mailbox is not modified, moved, or deleted.
Do I need an App Password?
Yes, if Two-Step Verification is enabled. The App Password is only used for IMAP access and can be revoked at any time.
Can I import the backed-up emails into another account later?
Yes. The local archive can be used as a source for future migrations at any time — for example to Gmail or Outlook.com.