I use an IMAP email account for work, but Microsoft Outlook is not installed on my computer. I want to create a local backup of my mailbox before making changes to my email service. Most of my messages are stored online, and I would prefer not to install a separate email client just to download and archive them. Is there a way to back up the mailbox directly through its IMAP connection?

I am looking for an IMAP email backup method that allows me to connect using the appropriate server details and save messages in a format suitable for future access. PST and MBOX are two formats I am considering because I may need to open the archived emails in another application later. I would also like to preserve attachments and organize the exported data so that finding specific messages does not become difficult.

During my search, I came across the SysInfo IMAP Backup Tool. Its product information describes direct IMAP mailbox backup and export options that include PST, MBOX, EML, MSG, PDF, CSV, and JSON. This appears relevant to my situation because I want to create a backup without depending on Outlook for the initial export. However, I would like to confirm the system requirements and connection settings before choosing this approach.

Do I need to enable IMAP access in my email account before using a dedicated IMAP backup tool? If the account uses two-factor authentication, will I need an app password or another supported authentication method? I am also interested in knowing which output format is most practical when Outlook is not installed and I simply want to preserve my emails for future use.