I went through this a few months ago. I requested my data from Yahoo, and the status stayed on "pending" for days. When the file finally arrived, it was a bundle of raw files that I couldn't easily open or sort.
I realized I didn't need Yahoo's request process at all. A direct backup tool pulls emails from the account and saves them in a readable format. This guide on how to backup Yahoo mail to hard drive compares the manual approach with the automated one. I used the BitRecover Yahoo Backup Tool, which exports to PST, EML, MBOX and PDF, keeps folders and attachments intact, and lets you pick a destination on your hard drive. I had the full mailbox saved the same day, and the free demo let me test it first.
There isn’t a supported way to make Yahoo process a full “Download my data” request faster. Yahoo says preparing an account data package can take up to 30 days, and the actual wait may vary. Check the privacy dashboard for the request status and look for Yahoo’s notification in your inbox and spam folder.
If you mainly need your email, you may not have to wait for the full Yahoo data archive. You can add Yahoo Mail to a desktop mail app that supports IMAP and let it sync your Yahoo Mail messages locally. Contacts can usually be exported separately from Yahoo Contacts. These options cover specific content, not all the account information included in a privacy download.
If the request has passed Yahoo’s stated timeframe or you haven’t received a confirmation, contact Yahoo Support and include the request date. Avoid giving your Yahoo password to websites claiming they can speed up the export.
If Yahoo’s “Download My Data” request is taking too long, you can back-up the mailbox through IMAP instead of waiting for the Yahoo export to finish. This is especially useful when you need the emails sooner or want to save only specific folders or a particular date range.
Softaken Yahoo Backup Pro can handle this by connecting to Yahoo with an App Password and downloading the selected emails directly to your computer. You can choose Inbox, Sent, or other folders and save the messages as PST, MBOX, EML, MSG, EMLX, or PDF. It also has a pause and resume option, which is useful if the internet connection drops during a large backup.
For a large mailbox, I’d start with one folder or date range first and check the backup before downloading everything.