Download an offline copy of an IMAP mail account

1. Download offlineimap

2. Create ~/.offlineimaprc

   [general]
   accounts = Me
   
   [Account Me] # <-- account identifier
   localrepository = Local
   remoterepository = Remote
   
   [Repository Local]
   type = Maildir # <-- Download "format"/"structure"
   localfolders = ~/archives/REMOVED # <-- Location
   
   [Repository Remote]
   type = IMAP
   remotehost = imap.REMOVED.com <-- IMAP Server
   remoteuser = REMOVED@REMOVED.com <-- Complete email address!!!
   ssl = yes
   sslcacertfile = /etc/ca-certificates/extracted/ca-bundle.trust.crt
   

3. Run offlineimap
4. Read the folder in the format you choosen

For example I selected maildir¹ format. You can choose any program to easily read from that format or just backup/store in that format. It’s a very good way of storing your emails as it keeps all the “metadata” and not just the contents.

You can also keep this command in a cron job (in that case, you’ll have to find a way to autofill the password).