Free online EMLX to PDF converter

EMLX files are created by Apple Mail, while PDF is easier to share, print, and archive across operating systems. Convert an EMLX message when the recipient lacks Apple Mail or when a fixed, non-editable record is required.

What the EMLX format is

EMLX is Apple Mail’s per-message storage format on macOS. It contains an RFC 822/MIME email message, usually preceded by a line specifying the message size. Apple Mail stores these files inside its Mail library, commonly below ~/Library/Mail/. Related attachments may be stored separately as .emlxpart files.

You normally encounter EMLX files when recovering messages from a Mac, inspecting an Apple Mail backup, or exporting data from the Mail library. The format is not intended as a universal interchange format, so some non-Apple applications cannot open it directly.

What the PDF format is

PDF preserves a document’s page layout, text appearance, images, and print settings across operating systems. A PDF copy of an email is suitable for forwarding, legal or business records, printing, and long-term archiving, but it is a rendered document rather than a mail container: recipients cannot use it like an email message with normal headers, folders, or MIME attachments.

How to convert EMLX to PDF

Convert online without installing software

1. Open the EMLX-to-PDF converter on 101convert.com.
2. Select the .emlx file from your computer.
3. Start the conversion and download the resulting PDF.

This method is convenient for individual messages. Do not upload confidential email, credentials, personal data, or regulated records unless the service’s handling policy is acceptable for that material.

Use Apple Mail on macOS

1. Make a copy of the original EMLX file before converting it.
2. Open the file with Apple Mail, either by double-clicking it or using open -a Mail message.emlx in Terminal.
3. In Mail, choose File → Print.
4. In the print dialog, open the PDF menu and choose Save as PDF.
5. Choose a destination and filename, then select Save.

If Mail does not display the message, the file may be incomplete, may depend on a missing .emlxpart attachment, or may be from a Mail-library structure that requires restoring the containing mailbox rather than opening the individual file.

Quality and compatibility limits

The PDF contains the visible rendering produced by the mail application. It may not retain the original message’s full MIME structure, mail headers, message flags, embedded tracking behavior, or separate downloadable attachments. Check the rendered pages before deleting the EMLX source, especially when the message contains inline images, unusual character sets, signatures, or attachments.

For reliable archival, keep the original EMLX together with any associated .emlxpart files and store the PDF as a readable copy. A PDF cannot normally be converted back into a fully functional email with its original metadata and attachments.