If you are here looking for a solution to back up Mac Mail to iCloud, you have come to the right place. And the solution may seem surprisingly straighthood and intuitive, despite it being a very tedious task usually.

You want your Apple Mail history portable, findable, and intact, not scattered across ad-hoc exports. The simplest way to get there is to back up locally with a tool that preserves structure, then let macOS move that archive to iCloud on your terms. Backing up Mac Mail to iCloud is therefore a two-step idea, not a single switch.

Do the high-fidelity backup first; choose the iCloud transfer method that fits your workflow second.

This article shows how to create a dependable local Mail archive with Mail Backup X and then place or sync that archive into iCloud Drive using macOS methods. Although iCloud is not listed as a built-in option in Mail Backup X, you can still point your Mac Mail backup to an iCloud Drive folder and let macOS sync it.

Step 1: Build a dependable Apple Mail archive on your Mac

Start by setting up a new backup in Mail Backup X and choose Apple Mail as your source. Select the folders you actually want to keep.

This keeps your archive lean and useful. For storage, pick “On My Computer” and place the archive in a folder where you plan to manage it long term. You can set the schedule to run automatically whenever Mail changes, or at fixed times that work for you.

Once running, the app creates a searchable archive that includes a viewer for reading messages, browsing attachments, and running quick or detailed searches. If you have older mail stores—like MBOX, EML, PST, or OLM—you can bring them in as passive profiles so everything stays in one place.

Step 2A: Store Apple Mail backupsinside iCloud Drive

One of the simplest approaches is to point your Apple Mail backups straight into iCloud Drive. The app treats iCloud Drive as just another folder, so once the archive is saved there, macOS takes care of syncing it across devices.

This way, you get one archive, one location, and it shows up wherever you sign in with iCloud.

Step 2B: Keep both a local copy and an iCloud copy

Some people prefer to keep a primary Mac Mail backup outside iCloud Drive and maintain a second copy inside it.

You can do this by using the “Mirror” option in Mail Backup X to keep two storage locations for the same profile, one local and one in iCloud Drive. This gives you a working local copy plus a synced copy without extra steps.

Step 2C: Use Shortcuts or Automator for timed copies

If you’d rather have more control over when files sync, you can let the backup stay in a local folder and then set up a Shortcut or Automator workflow to copy the archive into iCloud Drive on a schedule.

This way, the app handles backup, and macOS handles transfer at the times you choose. It’s a clear division of tasks and can help you avoid extra background activity while you’re working.

Step 2D: Move snapshots with a USB drive

Another option is to use the USB Auto Snapshot feature. With one click, you can copy your backup to a registered USB drive. From there, drop the snapshot into iCloud Drive manually. This works well if you prefer having distinct snapshots at certain points in time, instead of a constantly updating Mac Mail backups to iCloud and on local drive.

Quick features, for Backup Mac Mail to iCloud

Mail Backup X is feature-rich, here are some of the notable features:

Apple Mail source with selective folders: Point a profile at Apple Mail and include only the folders that matter. You can update the selection later as your structure evolves.
Storage spaces on local disk and supported cloud services: Save to “On My Computer” for iCloud-style syncing via macOS, or use built-in connectors for Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, or FTP when you want native in-app cloud destinations.
Schedules that match your rhythm: Automatic, manual, or recurring intervals and times give you predictable backup behavior that plays well with your chosen iCloud copy routine.
Mirrors and distributed archives: Maintain multiple copies or split a mirror across locations to grow storage over time while keeping your routine intact.
Built-in viewer, advanced search, compression, and optional encryption: Read mail inside the app, search with fields and operators, store data in compressed form, and, if needed, secure a profile with its own key and recovery key. Keep keys safe if you plan to open encrypted archives on another machine.

Frequently Asked Questions (and Answers)

Question: Can I keep my Apple Mail archive only on iCloud Drive?

Answer: Yes. Mail Backup X treats the Drive that is linked with iCloud as a regular local folder, so you can point your archive there directly. macOS will handle the sync afterward.

Question: Do I need to back up every Apple Mail folder?

Answer: No. During setup you can pick only the folders you want. That way the archive stays manageable.

Question: Can I store one backup in two places at once?

Answer: Yes. Use the “Mirror” feature to keep a local copy and another in iCloud Drive, or any other storage space.

Question: What if I have old MBOX or PST files?

Answer: Import them as passive profiles. They won’t keep updating, but you can view, search, and export them.

Question: How can I make occasional copies instead of constant syncing?

Answer: Use the USB Auto Snapshot feature to create a snapshot on a USB drive, then move that file into iCloud Drive when you want.

Licensing:

Individual: A default license key runs the app on two computers. Profile add-ons are available if you need more active profiles later.
Teams: Multi-users licenses are available.

Backing up your Apple Mail to iCloud doesn’t need to be complicated. You set up the archive once, keep it running in the background, and then decide if iCloud is the right place to keep a copy. With the trial version, you can see how the viewer, scheduling, and storage options fit into your day. By the time you’re done testing, you’ll know exactly how you want to back up Mac Mail to iCloud and keep it available across your devices.