1and1 Webmail Backup: Save IONOS Emails in Minutes

Switching hosting providers? Closing a 1and1 account? Or just done trusting a single server with years of business email?

Smart move. Because once you cancel your 1and1 (now IONOS) account, those emails are gone. No safety net. No undo.

This guide shows you exactly how to back up your 1and1 webmail. Use the manual method for a handful of emails, or the automated tool for hundreds or thousands.

Let’s get into it.

Why 1and1 Webmail Backup Matters More Than You Think

Most people assume their webmail is safe because it’s “in the cloud.” It’s not.

IONOS doesn’t promise long-term retention. If you miss a payment, dispute a renewal, or simply decide to move to a different host, your mailbox gets wiped on account closure. For a business that’s been using a 1and1 email address as its primary contact for years, that’s a serious problem.

Here’s what a backup actually protects you from:

Account deletion. Accidental or planned, once the account closes, the emails go with it. A local backup means you still have everything.

Server outages. IONOS has had reliability issues over the years. Your backup is an offline copy you control.

Migration windows. Moving from 1and1 to GoDaddy, Bluehost, or any other host? You need all your old emails accessible during the transition. You cannot access them on a server you no longer control.

Legal or compliance holds. If any of your email history has contractual or regulatory significance, you need it preserved in a readable format.

What You Need Before You Start

You don’t need any technical background. You need two things.

Your 1and1 IONOS login credentials: the email address and password you use to access your webmail.

A Windows PC to run the backup tool. The tool doesn’t work on Linux. Mac users can use the manual IMAP method below.

That’s it.

Method 1: Manual Backup (Works for a Few Emails)

IONOS lets you export individual emails as EML files from the browser. It’s slow, but it works if you only need to save a few key messages.

1. Log in to your 1and1 webmail at mail.ionos.com.
2. Open the email you want to save.
3. Click the three-dot menu in the top right of the email view.
4. Select “Save as file.” The email downloads as an EML file to your computer.
5. Repeat for each email you want to save.

This approach works for 5 to 10 emails. It does not work for bulk export. There’s no “select all and export” option in the IONOS webmail interface. That is why most people run into a wall here.

Method 2: Automated 1and1 Webmail Backup (Recommended)

For any real backup covering your full mailbox, multiple folders or a migration to another email client, you need the Turgs Email Backup Tool. It connects directly to your IONOS account and handles everything in bulk.

What It Backs Up

Every folder in your 1and1 mailbox: Inbox, Sent, Drafts, Trash and any custom folders you’ve created. Emails with all metadata intact: sender, recipient, date, subject line, and attachments. Attachments saved alongside the emails in their original format.

Output Formats Available

• PST: opens directly in Microsoft Outlook.
• EML: works with Thunderbird, Windows Live Mail, and most other clients.
• MBOX: compatible with Apple Mail, Gmail import, and Thunderbird.
• PDF: permanent archive format you can open anywhere.
• MSG: native Outlook message format.
• HTML, MHT, RTF: document-style exports for easy reading.

You can also migrate directly to Gmail, Yahoo Mail, Office 365, and other IMAP-based accounts without saving a local file first.

Step-by-Step: How to Back Up 1and1 Webmail

Step 1. Download and install the Turgs Email Backup Tool on your Windows PC. The free trial lets you export 25 emails per folder. That is enough to verify the process works before purchasing.

Step 2. Open the tool. In the left panel, select 1&1 Webmail from the email source list.

Step 3. Enter your IONOS email address and password in the credential fields. The tool connects over a secure IMAP connection. It does not store your password.

Step 4. The tool loads your folder tree. Select the folders you want to back up. You can select all or pick specific ones.

Step 5. Choose your output format from the saving options panel. Select PST if you’re moving to Outlook. Select MBOX if you’re heading to Gmail or Apple Mail. Select PDF if you want a permanent read-only archive.

Step 6. Use the filter options if you only need emails from a specific date range, sender, or subject. This is useful when you only need to preserve emails from the past year, or from a specific client thread.

Step 7. Click Backup. The tool processes each folder and saves the output to your chosen location. A 500-email mailbox typically completes in under 3 minutes on a standard broadband connection.

Once done, open the destination folder to confirm your files are there.

Migrating to Gmail Instead of Saving Locally?

If your goal isn’t a local archive but a full move from 1and1 to Gmail, the process is almost identical. Just choose Gmail as your output destination instead of a file format.

The tool asks for your Gmail credentials and migrates the emails directly into your Gmail folders. You can even map your IONOS folder structure to match your existing Gmail labels.

For a full walkthrough of that specific process, read the guide on how to migrate 1and1 webmail to Gmail.

What About Attachments?

Attachments are included in the backup by default. But if you want to download your attachments as standalone files, separate from the emails themselves. There is a specific extraction mode for that.

The tool lets you pull all attached files from your 1and1 mailbox and save them in a folder organized by sender or folder name. Read the dedicated guide to download 1and1 email attachments for the step-by-step on that.

SMTP and IMAP Settings for 1and1 IONOS

If you want to set up your IONOS email in an email client like Outlook or Thunderbird instead of running a full backup, here are the settings you need.

IMAP (incoming): Server: imap.ionos.com | Port: 993 | Encryption: SSL/TLS

SMTP (outgoing): Server: smtp.ionos.com | Port: 587 | Encryption: STARTTLS

Use your full IONOS email address as the username.

Common Backup Mistakes to Avoid

Waiting until after account closure. Once the account is gone, there’s no recovery path. Back up before you cancel, not after.

Only backing up the Inbox. Sent items, Drafts, and custom folders often contain critical business records. Back up the full mailbox.

Choosing the wrong format. If you’re moving to Outlook, use PST. If you’re moving to Apple Mail, use MBOX. Picking the wrong format means you’ll need to convert again later.

Skipping the trial. The free trial exports 25 emails per folder. Run it first so you know exactly what the output looks like before committing to a full backup.

How Other Webmail Backups Compare

The 1and1 backup process is nearly identical for other webmail providers. The same tool works for backup RCN webmail and backup NetZero webmail emails. Just select the relevant source from the tool’s provider list. If you’re also looking to archive emails from a different provider like Yahoo, the process of exporting Yahoo Mail to PST follows the same pattern.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the 1and1 webmail backup tool work with IONOS?

Yes. 1and1 rebranded to IONOS in most markets but the email infrastructure is the same. The tool connects using your IONOS email credentials and works identically regardless of whether your account shows the 1and1 branding or the new IONOS interface.

Can I back up 1and1 email on a Mac?

The Turgs Email Backup Tool runs on Windows only. On a Mac, your best option is the manual IMAP export method described above, or adding your IONOS account to Apple Mail and exporting from there using Apple Mail’s built-in export feature.

Will the backup include email attachments?

Yes. Attachments are included by default in PST, EML, MBOX and MSG exports. In PDF export mode, attachments are embedded where possible. You can also extract attachments as standalone files using the selective export settings.

How long does a 1and1 webmail backup take?

It depends on mailbox size. A 500-email mailbox typically takes 2 to 4 minutes. A 5,000-email mailbox with large attachments can take 20 to 30 minutes. The tool shows a progress bar so you can track it in real time.

Is it safe to enter my IONOS credentials in the tool?

The tool uses a direct IMAP connection and does not store or transmit your credentials to any third-party server. Your login details are used only to authenticate with IONOS during the backup session.

Can I back up multiple 1and1 accounts in one session?

Yes. The tool supports batch mode. Add multiple IONOS account credentials and the tool processes each one in sequence, saving the output to separate folders.