Bluewin Mail Backup: Save Swisscom Emails to Your PC
Bluewin mail backup lets you save your Swisscom emails to your computer before you close your account or switch providers. The Turgs Email Backup Wizard connects to Bluewin over IMAP and exports every folder to PST, EML, MBOX, PDF or directly to Gmail or Office 365. The free trial saves 25 emails per folder.
Swisscom’s Bluewin webmail is reliable. But your emails only live on their servers.
Cancel your Swisscom contract and you lose access. Get hacked and you lose everything. A local backup puts a copy on your PC where you control it.
This guide shows you the fastest way to do a complete Bluewin mail backup to your hard drive.
Why Back Up Bluewin Emails?
Bluewin accounts are tied to your Swisscom subscription. If you cancel that subscription, your email access ends. Swisscom gives you a short window to export your data, but many users miss it.
These are the most common reasons people back up Bluewin emails:
- Cancelling Swisscom. Once you leave, your Bluewin inbox is gone.
- Switching to Gmail or Office 365. You want your email history in the new account.
- Security. A local copy protects you if your account is compromised.
- Storage limits. Bluewin has a 2 GB inbox cap. Exporting older emails frees up space.
One thing to know upfront: Bluewin does not offer a built-in export tool. You need either an IMAP client or dedicated backup software.
What You Need Before You Start
- Your Bluewin email address and password
- Your Bluewin IMAP server details (imap.bluewin.ch, port 993 with SSL)
- A Windows PC (Windows 7 through Windows 11 or Windows Server 2012 through 2022)
- Enough disk space for your mailbox (check Settings in Bluewin webmail for your current usage)
How to Back Up Bluewin Emails to Your Computer
Watch the tutorial below, or follow the written steps.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZY0-43v1sk]
Download and install the Turgs Email Backup Wizard on your Windows PC. The free trial exports 25 emails per folder so you can verify the output before purchasing.
Step-by-Step: Back Up Bluewin Emails
Step 1. Launch the Turgs Email Backup Wizard. From the left panel, select Swisscom Bluewin as the email source.
Step 2. Enter your Bluewin email address and password, then click Connect.
Step 3. The tool loads your Bluewin folders. Enter your server credentials if prompted: imap.bluewin.ch on port 993.
Step 4. Select the folders you want to back up. Tick the boxes next to Inbox, Sent, and any custom folders you need.
Step 5. Choose your output format. PST opens in Outlook. EML works with most desktop clients. MBOX is best for Thunderbird. PDF is ideal for archiving.
Step 6. Set your file naming option. The tool lets you name exported files by subject, date or sender to keep your archive tidy.
Step 7. Use Advanced Settings if you want to filter by date range or exclude attachments. This keeps the backup size manageable.
Step 8. Click Backup. The tool downloads all selected emails and saves them in your chosen format. A progress bar shows how many emails have been processed.
Export Formats Supported
The tool handles more output formats than most users need. Here are the most useful ones:
- PST. Use this if you open emails in Microsoft Outlook.
- EML. Individual email files that open in Outlook, Thunderbird and Windows Mail.
- MBOX. Best for importing into Thunderbird, Apple Mail or Gmail via Google Takeout import.
- PDF. Converts each email to a readable PDF for archiving or printing.
- Gmail or Google Workspace. Direct transfer from Bluewin to a Gmail account.
- Office 365. Migrates directly to your Microsoft 365 mailbox.
Manual Backup Method: IMAP in Thunderbird
If you only have a handful of emails to save, you can use Mozilla Thunderbird for free. Add your Bluewin account as an IMAP account using these settings:
- IMAP server: imap.bluewin.ch
- Port: 993
- Security: SSL/TLS
- SMTP server: smtp.bluewin.ch
- SMTP port: 465 with SSL/TLS
Once Thunderbird syncs all your folders, use the ImportExportTools NG add-on to export them as EML or MBOX files. This works but takes time on large mailboxes. For mailboxes over 500 emails, the dedicated tool is faster and less error-prone.
If you also need to migrate to another platform after your backup, the guide on migrating ISP email to Gmail covers the full process. And if you are backing up other European webmail accounts, check the post on T-Online mail backup for a similar workflow.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Bluewin IMAP settings?
Use imap.bluewin.ch on port 993 with SSL/TLS for incoming mail. For outgoing mail, use smtp.bluewin.ch on port 465 with SSL/TLS. Your username is your full Bluewin email address.
Can I back up Bluewin email on a Mac?
The Turgs Email Backup Wizard has a Mac version. Download the DMG file from the Mac tab above. The steps are identical to the Windows version.
How long does a Bluewin mail backup take?
A 1 GB mailbox typically takes 15 to 40 minutes depending on your internet speed. The tool shows a live progress count so you can track it.
Will the backup include attachments?
Yes. All attachments are saved with the email. The PST and EML formats embed attachments. PDF exports show attachment filenames but do not include the attachment files themselves.
What happens to my Bluewin email after I cancel Swisscom?
Swisscom deactivates Bluewin email access when you cancel your subscription. The exact grace period varies, but you should back up your emails before cancelling, not after.
Can I transfer Bluewin emails directly to Gmail?
Yes. Select Gmail or G Suite as the output format and enter your Google account credentials. The tool transfers your emails directly to Gmail without creating any intermediate files.
