Gmail Backup Software – Handy Backup

Gmail backup tool makes it easy to back up your emails and email attachments to cloud, network, or local storage of your choice. Handy Backup connects to Gmail using IMAP, and with the Email plug-in, it saves your emails in the widely compatible EML format. Download and see its full potential for yourself.

Small Windows Logo Download for Free

Version 8.6.6 , built on September 9, 2025. 153 MB

Gmail Backup Tool
4.5
Trustpilot
4.3
Capterra
4.0
G2
4.3
GetApp

Advantages of Handy Backup for Google Mail Backup Tool

Multiple Email Clients

Multiple Email Clients Compatible

Backups are stored in EML format, enabling users to effortlessly access and manage their emails across various email clients. This format guarantees seamless email migration.

Simple Access to Gmail Backups

Simple Access to Gmail Backups

You don’t need to run a restore operation to access your backup. Handy Backup saves emails in their native format, allowing you to open any gmail message using File Explorer or Word.

Easy email restore

Restore Individual Emails with Ease

Handy Backup allows you to quickly and easily access even a single email without recovering the entire backup set. Just open your backup and locate the Gmail message you need.

Selective Backup Icon

Selective Email Backup

Handy Backup provides the option to selectively choose which emails or folders to back up. This feature allows users to focus on specific data, making the backup process more efficient and tailored to individual needs.

Multiple Languages Icon

Backup for Multiple Accounts

Handy Backup allows you to back up multiple Google Mail accounts simultaneously. This feature is especially useful for users managing personal and professional accounts, ensuring that all important data is secured.

Compatibility Icon

Comprehensive Data Backup

Users can perform backups of their Google Mail, including all emails, attachments, ensuring no data is lost and allowing for easy restoration in case of data loss or account issues. This process simplifies backing up Gmail for peace of mind.

Indexable Files for Fast Search and Easy Access

Handy Backup saves each Gmail message in the widely compatible EML format via IMAP. EML keeps the full message (headers, body, and embedded attachments) intact, so your backups remain indexable by desktop search tools and email clients. That means you can find and open a specific message without running a full restore.

Pro tips

  • For fastest searching, store EML uncompressed (or compress only long-term archives). Compressed/encrypted containers are more secure, but content may not be indexed until extracted.
  • Keep a clear folder structure (by account/date/label) so both humans and search services can navigate backups quickly.
  • Schedule periodic test restores (sample messages with attachments) to verify searchability.

email search
email label mapping

Label Mapping: Mirror Gmail Structure the Smart Way

Gmail organizes mail with labels, which IMAP exposes as folder-like views. Handy Backup lets you select folders/labels to include, so you can mirror the structure you use in Gmail and keep backups tidy and easy to browse.

Example

  • Pick the labels that matter: in the Email plug-in, choose the target folders/labels (e.g., Inbox, Important, Finance, Projects).
  • Nested labels → nested folders: Gmail sublabels (e.g., Projects/2025) map to a matching folder tree in your backup for predictable navigation.
  • Multi-label messages: a single email may appear under multiple labels. If you choose multiple labels, storage can grow due to duplicates.

Customers reviews

Review

I’ve been using Handy Backup for years, and I like this software because it allows me to backup to native file format, and if I want to secure certain files and folder backups, I can compress and encrypt them easily. In my experience the program was also very stable compared to the others I tested.

Review

I’ve used this for years. I particularly like the fact that I can restore files by just going to the backup location and retrieving them without having to use a restore function. This is very important to me.

How to Backup Gmail Emails: Using the Email Plug-in

  1. Before connecting to Gmail, you must first generate a password for third-party software in the "App Passwords" section of your Google account.
App Password Generation
Generated App Password

This is an example of a generated password; you need to create your own unique password.

  1. Open Handy Backup and start a new task by clicking the “Create” button or pressing Ctrl+N.
  2. Select a backup task in Step 1. You can choose either the simple or advanced task wizard mode.
  3. In Step 2, choose the Email plug-in from the Email group.
How to Create a Gmail Online Backup via E-mail Plug-in
  1. Click on “Create a connection.” In the dialog that appears, enter the following Gmail backup connection parameters:
  • Server name: imap.gmail.com
  • Port: 993
  • User: Your account name
  • Password: Your Google-generated password from Step 1.
  • Connection type: TLS or StartTLS
Gmail Backup Connection Parameters



Effortless Archiving Using the Email backup Plug-in

In this video, we will demonstrate how to efficiently save and restore your emails from Google. This process only takes a few minutes to set up. Join us on YouTube to learn how to create a seamless online backup of your Gmail account!

Important Notice! Due to frequent updates in Google's security policies, Handy Backup is currently in the process of obtaining certification from Google. This may take some time, and during this period, the Gmail plug-in may not function as intended. However, you can still back up your Gmail using the Email plug-in as described earlier. We appreciate your understanding and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause!



Restoration Instructions

Backing up Gmail emails is only part of the process; the next step is restoring these messages from your backups. To restore data to a Gmail account, Handy Backup uses the same “Email” plug-in. To learn how to restore Gmail backups, follow these brief instructions.

  1. Create a restoration task, using either the simple or advanced mode.
  2. In Step 2, select the file backup.hbi from your storage.
Restoration Options: How to Restore Gmail Deleted Emails
  1. In Step 3, choose and restore all messages or specific components of the original dataset!
Restore Gmail Backup

Gmail Migration and Transfering

In addition to basic Gmail backup and restore functions, Handy Backup can be used as email migration software to transfer messages to a different account or even migrate emails to a new mail server (provided that the server supports IMAP). Simply adjust the restore location and configure the new mail server to copy your data.

Migrating Gmail emails

Note: The “Change Location” button is available only in advanced task wizard mode!

FAQ on Gmail Backup and Recovery Tool

  1. Handy Backup creates indexable files, which was my primary requirement for using a desktop search application. Where are Gmail attachments stored after backup?

Gmail attachments are stored inside the .eml file along with the message text and headers. This way, each Gmail email is saved in full and upon recovery, the email will open in its complete form with every Gmail attachment preserved. You can also access an email attachment without restoring the entire backup - just open the backup folder, find the needed message, and open it with Windows Explorer or any desktop mail app, such as Outlook, etc. This option is available when using the full Gmail backup feature.


Who uses Handy Backup?