How to Export Thunderbird Emails to Outlook – Simple Methods

If you look for methods on how to export Thunderbird to Outlook, almost all the solutions will end with a third-party software. There is a specific reason behind that. In this article, we will elaborate on this very reason. Additionally, we will also explain what kinds of free methods have been tried out? In the very end, an assured way of converting Thunderbird emails to Outlook will be given along with the reasons to choose it over others.

Before that, let us view some queries that people often ask online:

• How do I export Thunderbird emails to Outlook?
• Is there any way to convert mail from Thunderbird to Outlook?
• How do I export emails from Thunderbird?
• Can Thunderbird export to PST?
• How to export Thunderbird emails to new computer?

Be it, files, folders, data, or mailboxes, all of them point towards Thunderbird mailboxes containing emails and attachments. Hence creating a situation wherein each case, users want to know how to export Thunderbird to Outlook.

User Queries Related to Exporting Thunderbird Emails to Outlook

Query 1:

Query 2:

Why Is It Difficult to Export Thunderbird to Outlook?

The reason is simple: Mozilla Thunderbird saves data in MBOX files whereas Outlook uses PST format for the same. Also, none of these email clients has any native option to perform this conversion. So, what do you do? The first answer that comes to mind is looking for some free workarounds. Because it is human nature.

Why Manual workarounds Fail:

One way that is all over the internet regarding Thunderbird to Outlook conversion is the drag and drop workaround. One simply drag-and-drops Thunderbird emails to the desktop, thus saving them as EML files. Then again drag and drop them into the Outlook platform.

The steps to use the manual method are as follows:

• Open Mozilla Thunderbird email client. Create a new folder by right-clicking on a mailbox folder.

• Give a name and hit the Create Folder button.

• Select the messages that you want to import Thunderbird to Outlook and right-click to copy/move them to the newly created folder.

• Make sure that all the emails are now present in the new folder in Thunderbird.

• Now, select an email and hit the ‘Ctrl+A‘ key. Then, right-click the messages and select Save As option.

• Save all the emails in the local storage of your system.
• Now, open the folder that contains all the saved emails on your system and drag and drop them on the Outlook interface.

A Few Drawbacks

Can a free alternative as easy as this be without any limitations? Most likely not!

This exactly is the case here. Though drag and drop seem a practical approach, it changes your email properties, especially the header part. You may even be unable to preview the files in Outlook.

Furthermore, drag-and-drop is only feasible for like 50-60 messages. For exporting emails from Thunderbird to Outlook numbering in thousands, the method becomes too time-consuming.

Lastly, the issue with every manual method associated with this migration: is the loss of data. Be it missing emails, attachments, headers or formatting, the free approaches are all affected by the loss of important data.

This is why, no matter where users begin, they always end up using third-party software for conversion.

Thunderbird to Outlook Converter: Just Another Software Or Something Great?

This is up to the users to decide. Instead of just accepting what’s written, it is more practical to use the software and get to know the tool for yourself. Because the end goal here is a safe and secure export Thunderbird to Outlook, not simply praising the software. That can come after successfully converting Thunderbird to PST.

The reason why we are recommending MBOX Email extractor software instead of so many available online is its Reliability & Flexibility. Take a look at some of its features to understand why users who have given it a try never regretted it.

• Conversion of entire Thunderbird data into PST format by directly fetching mailboxes from configured accounts.
• Ability to export backed up Thunderbird MBOX files from local disk without requiring any email clients
• Capable of scanning and exporting Thunderbird archives, SBD folders and local folders along with emails and attachments
• Selective and bulk conversion support in a 100% safe and secure environment
• An easy-to-use and interactive interface with options to display emails in eight different preview modes
• And finally, the ability to export Thunderbird to Outlook without losing attributes – Thus preventing any sort of data loss be it formatting, structure, inline images, hyperlinks, attachments, etc.

All in all, it covers every aspect of Thunderbird mail to Outlook migration and offers users a reliable platform to move their data with maximum flexibility. Even the steps to do so are simple and straightforward.

Simple Steps on How to Export Thunderbird to Outlook

Here’s how it works:

• 1:  Run the Thunderbird Email Converter and click on Add File button.

• 2: Now, select to auto-detect Thunderbird data or manually import its MBOX files.

• Step 3: Showcase all the emails along with attachments in proper previews.

• 4: Choose the PST option and save the files at the preferred location with the Export button.

A couple of minutes, depending on the size of the mailbox is all it takes for the successful conversion of MBOX file to PST without losing any data. Users can also make use of a unique split feature as per requirements during the process.

Also Read: How to Backup Thunderbird Emails to External Hard Drive?

Bottom Line

It has been seen that users looking to know how to export Thunderbird to Outlook often end up with incompetent tools and methods. This results in a web of issues and data loss. Through this article, I tried to shed light on the various reasons why the manual method is so incompetent. And also recommend users to go for a reliable and assured product. Of course, users can always try the freeware version before setting up their minds on this utility. After all, it is the smarter and more practical way to go about email migration.