How to Export Thunderbird to PST? 3 Easy Ways
On this Page;
- What is Thunderbird and why PST conversion is needed
- Thunderbird mailbox format vs Outlook PST format
- Why Export Thunderbird Emails to PST?
- Real World Scenario
- Methods to Convert Thunderbird Emails to PST
- Method 1: Export Thunderbird emails to PST using Drag & Drop
- Method 2: Convert Thunderbird to PST using IMAP synchronization
- Method 3: Export Thunderbird mailbox to PST directly
- Watch Video Tutorial
- Manual vs automated conversion compared
- Conclusion
- FAQs
Mozilla Thunderbird stores email in MBOX format and Microsoft Outlook stores mailbox data in PST files. Outlook cannot open Thunderbird mailbox files directly, so users often need to convert Thunderbird emails to PST. It is commonly needed when you need to transfer Thunderbird to Outlook, Microsoft 365, or other Outlook-based environment. This conversion helps in preserving emails, folder, attachments and other mailbox data to make it accessible in Outlook.
People usually export Thunderbird emails to PST during Thunderbird to Outlook migration, to create Outlook friendly backups, to consolidate business communications and when switching to Microsoft 365. Choose the method that best suits the size of your mailbox, the number of accounts etc.
What is Thunderbird?
Mozilla Thunderbird is a free and open-source email client available for Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems. It supports multiple email accounts, offline email access, calendars, contacts and email sync with POP3 and IMAP protocols. It stores it’s email data on local system in the MBOX format which is compatible with many open source email applications but you can’t open MBOX file in Microsoft Outlook directly.
Thunderbird Mailbox Format and Outlook PST Format
Thunderbird keeps mailbox data in a file format called MBOX. Every mailbox folder is kept as one file that includes email messages and folder information. Microsoft Outlook stores email messages, contacts, calendars, notes, tasks and other mailbox items in a file known as Personal Storage Table (PST) file.
Outlook doesn’t have a direct option to import MBOX file, so you need to convert your Thunderbird emails in PST file format before you can open them in Outlook. This conversion is required to access the same file data even when changing platforms.
Why Export Thunderbird Emails to PST?
There are various reasons for users to convert Thunderbird emails to PST:
- Migrating from Thunderbird to Microsoft Outlook.
- Transfer mailbox data to Microsoft 365.
- To backup Thunderbird emails in Outlook PST file.
- Long term storage of archived emails
- Keep email discussions important.
- Keep attachments and the emails metadata.
- Combine several email accounts into Outlook.
- Meet business or compliance archiving needs.
Real World Scenario
When researching Thunderbird to PST migration, we found users asking how to archive years of Thunderbird email in PST format on the Reddit platform. One Thunderbird user had collected almost 8 GB of business emails in 10 years and needed to submit to an email archive provide that only accepted PST files. Thunderbird stores emails in MBOX format and doesn’t provide a native option to export PST, so the user was searching for a practical way to convert mailbox data while keeping things like folders, attachments and historical email records intact without any modification. This is a typical scenario for users who are migrating to Outlook, Microsoft 365 or other third-party email archiving solutions.
Methods to Convert Thunderbird Emails to PST
Here we will explain three methods to accomplish this task. First, we will look at two manual methods using drag & drop option or email clients like Outlook or IMAP synchronization and then we’ll discuss the third party Thunderbird to PST Converter tool.
Method 1. Save Thunderbird Emails into PST via Drag & Drop
1. Open Thunderbird on your system.
2. Choose the email that you want to export.
3. Right-click on it and choose Save As.
4. Choose destination folder, give it a name and click the Save button.
5. Thunderbird email will be saved in .eml format
6. Now, open MS Outlook and create a new folder.
7. Drag and drop the EML file to new folder.
8. Follow the same process for all exported files.
9. Now, navigate to File >> open & Export >> Import/Export.
10. Choose Export to a File and click Next.
11. Select Outlook Data File (.pst) and press Next.
12. Choose the newly created folder and hit Next.
13. Browse the destination location and click the Finish button.
The process is complete! However, saving emails one by one takes a lot of time. If you have a large number of emails to export, then this is a time-consuming process.
Method 2. Convert Thunderbird to PST via IMAP
Another manual way to export Thunderbird to Outlook PST using Gmail. In this method, you need to add your Gmail account to Thunderbird & Outlook to complete this process. So, this approach works in multiple phases.
Phase 1. Enable IMAP in Gmail
1. Log in to your Gmail account and go to Settings.
2. Click Forwarding & POP/IMAP section and Enable IMAP.
3. Click on Save Changes.
Phase 2. Set up Gmail with Thunderbird
1. Now, open the Thunderbird application on your system.
2. Navigate to Tools >> Account Settings.
3. Click on Account Actions and select Add a Mail Account.
4. Enter your Gmail account login details to set up with Thunderbird.
5. Use the Drag & Drop or copy/move option to transfer Thunderbird emails to Gmail folder.
Phase 3. Add the Same Gmail Account to Outlook
1. Now, run the Outlook email client on your system.
2. Click on File >> Add Account.
3. Enter the Email address of the same Gmail account and press Connect.
4. Once Outlook completes the configuration process then click on the Done button.
6. Now, a Gmail account is added to Outlook. You will have all Thunderbird emails in Outlook.
Phase 4. Export Thunderbird Emails into PST
1. Click on File >> Open & Export >>Import/Export in Outlook.
2. Choose Export to a File and click on the Next button.
3. Select Outlook Data File (.pst) and press Next.
4. Choose the Gmail mailbox folder and hit Next.
5. Browse the destination location and click on the Finish button.
This is how you can export Thunderbird emails to PST file.
Note: This is a lengthy and time-consuming process. Users must have technical experts to perform the process.
To avoid such situations, refer to the method explained below.
Method 3. How to Convert Thunderbird to PST Professionally
Check out the Advik Thunderbird Converter Tool on your system. It will detect your Thunderbird account profile and allow you to directly export Thunderbird to Outlook PST file format. It can export the entire Thunderbird mailbox in a single attempt. Also, it allows you to choose specific folders to export. The tool maintains the complete Thunderbird mailbox folders hierarchy throughout the process.
Download the trial version of Thunderbird to PST Converter and explore its amazing features.
Steps to Export Thunderbird Mailbox to PST
Step 1. Run the software on your Windows system.
Step 2. Select your configured Thunderbird mailboxes data and press the Next button.
Step 3. Choose email folders that you want to convert into PST file.
Step 4. Select PST as a saving option from the given list.
Step 5. Apply filters to export specific emails from your Thunderbird profile.
Step 6. Choose the target location and then click the Convert button.
The software will start converting Thunderbird emails to PST file.
After completing this task, you will get the resulting data file in the destination location.
In this way, Thunderbird export emails to PST format in just a few simple steps.
Watch How Thunderbird to PST Converter Works
Manual vs Automated Method Comparison: Which Method Should You Choose?
| Feature | Drag & Drop | IMAP Method | Automated Tool |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outlook Required | Yes | Yes | No |
| Gmail Required | No | Yes | No |
| Bulk Export | No | Limited | Yes |
| Folder Structure | Manual | Usually Preserved | Preserved |
| Large Mailbox Support | Poor | Moderate | Excellent |
| Technical Knowledge | Moderate | High | Low |
| Multiple Accounts | No | Limited | Yes |
| Processing Speed | Slow | Moderate | Fast |
Final Words
Thunderbird saves it’s mailbox data in MBOX format while Microsoft Outlook uses PST file. Also, Outlook doesn’t support the direct import of Thunderbird mailbox files that’s why, users must convert Thunderbird emails to PST for migration.
This article has discussed three different ways including Drag & Drop, IMAP syncing and direct conversion methods. You can migrate small mailboxes using manual techniques. If you have large or multiple mailboxes then it’s only possible through an automated solution.
Select the method that suits your needs and requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Can I export Thunderbird emails to PST without Outlook?
Ans. You can convert your Thunderbird mailbox data into PST files without using MS Outlook.
Q2. Does Thunderbird have an option to export into PST?
Ans. No, Thunderbird stores mails in MBOX format and does not have a PST export option built in.
Q3. Will attachments also transferred through the conversion?
Ans. Yes, Most conversion methods will transfer email attachments and preserve it but the results may vary according to the method that is used.
Q4. Can I convert several Thunderbird profiles at once?
Ans. Manual methods typically support one mailbox at a time. Some of the automated solutions can batch convert multiple Thunderbird profiles.
Q5. Is MBOX better than PST?
Ans. No format is superior to the other. PST is required for Outlook compatibility, while MBOX is the format most commonly used by open-source email applications.
Q6. What is the best method for large Thunderbird mailboxes?
Ans. For mailboxes with a few amount of email data, a direct conversion method is usually suggested and easy than manual migration techniques.
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