---
name: "lei-convert"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "lei"
version: "2.1.0-2"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/lei-convert"
---

# lei-convert(1)

one-time conversion from one mail format to another

## NAME

lei-convert - one-time conversion from one mail format to another

## SYNOPSIS

lei convert -o OUTPUT \[OPTIONS\] LOCATION

lei convert -o OUTPUT \[OPTIONS\] (--stdin\|-)

## DESCRIPTION

Convert messages to another format.  `"LOCATION"` is a source of messages: a directory (Maildir), a file (various mbox), or a URL (`"imap://"`, `"imaps://"`, `"nntp://"`, or `"nntps://"`).  URLs requiring authentication use [**git-credential**(1)](/git-credential/1.md) to fill in the username and password.

For a regular file, the location must have a `"<format>:"` prefix specifying one of the following formats: `"mboxrd"`, `"mboxcl2"`, `"mboxcl"`, or `"mboxo"`.

## OPTIONS

- \-F MAIL\_FORMAT

  - \--in-format=MAIL\_FORMAT

  Message input format.  Unless messages are given on stdin, using a format prefix with `"LOCATION"` is preferred.

The following options are also supported and are described in [**lei-q**(1)](/lei-q/1.md).

- \-o MFOLDER, --output=MFOLDER

  - \--lock METHOD

  - \--no-kw

  - \--torsocks=auto\|no\|yes

  - \--no-torsocks

  - \--proxy=PROTOCOL://HOST\[:PORT\]

  ## CONTACT

Feedback welcome via plain-text mail to \<mailto:meta@public-inbox.org\>

The mail archives are hosted at \<https://public-inbox.org/meta/\> and \<http://4uok3hntl7oi7b4uf4rtfwefqeexfzil2w6kgk2jn5z2f764irre7byd.onion/meta/\>

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright all contributors \<mailto:meta@public-inbox.org\>

License: AGPL-3.0+ \<https://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl-3.0.txt\>

## SEE ALSO

[**lei-mail-formats**(5)](/lei-mail-formats/5.md)