Thunderbird to PST -Tutorial to Move, Export Thunderbird email folder to Outlook

by Admin
February 12, 2019

Grab Thunderbird to PST conversion opportunities by this tutorial that provides the step-by-step procedure to learn about how to Export folders from Thunderbird in Outlook manually and alternatively. It describes the drawbacks associated with manual tricks and suggests useful migration solution to move Thunderbird profile folder to Outlook.

It is true that email apps play an essential role in these days’ digital environment. In fact, emailing is the most relevant component which is precise communication medium. Accessibility as well as managing a mail app is easy but sometimes it becomes the new surprising level of challenge. Thunderbird is the most popular mail client which is used by thousands of users across the world. It supports multiple developed features such as – low cost, server address, multiple platform, open source, etc. Although Mozilla Thunderbird is a good mail client by Mozilla Corporation but now the company has discontinued the development of Thunderbird since 2012. Now days, the company is only releasing updates for security and maintenance. So, the user community has requirements to get a team of developers to organize the additional characteristics of it, which may be expensive for users. So there are thousands of users who would like to move Thunderbird email folder to Outlook, due to advance functions provided by the Outlook app.

Tips about Thunderbird Mail client

We know that Thunderbird is provided by Mozilla Corporation and it is open source and cross platform mail app which provides multiple mail functionalities such as junk filtering, themes, extensions, message management, and many more. It stores email messages, contacts & settings in a particular folder named “Profile” in Windows.

 C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Application Data\Thunderbird\ Profiles\ wspaeqja.default\Mail’

Every mail client supports a particular file extension and so does Thunderbird that supports .mbox file extension.Yet when we reach at default message stored location of it then there is saved data in three extension forms–

  • – With Extension of .msf – It is header data details extension of mailbox, so it has only header details of mails data mailbox.
  • – Without Extension file – There will show some mailbox files which have no extension such as Inbox, Outbox, Sent Items, Draft, Deleted Items, etc. These all are exact data file folders of Thunderbird. Actually these are .mbox files, if we rename these files with .mbox file then it becomes .mbox file format and there is no issue because Thunderbird supports .mbox file extension too.
  • – .sbd file – This file extension is the sub-folder of data in Thunderbird.

Importance of Outlook

Today, Outlook is preferred mail app which not only provides access to Exchange Server mail but it also maintains contacts, calendar, journals, reminder, and other multiple task function. Organizations can easily integrate Outlook with MS SharePoint platform to send information, project notes, collaborate with employees, send reminder, etc. It is provided by Microsoft Team with MS Office Suite and they update it from time to time with latest function. It’s recently version is 2019. It supports PST file to manage data. PST stands for Personal Storage Table. In previous time PST was saved in ANSI form but now it is generated in UNICODE form.

How to Export Folder from Thunderbird to PST – Follow Step by Step Manual Method

Thunderbird & Outlook both are absolutely different from each other so any direct method to move Thunderbird email folder to Outlook is not available but a manual method is available which has three stages to do that. If you are need to know the manual method, then follow the mentioned step by step procedure –

Stage 1- Export Thunderbird emails as .eml file Format

Stage 2 – Import Exported .eml files in Windows Live Mail

Stage 3 – Convert imported files into Outlook

Stage 1 – Export Thunderbird Emails as EML

  • 1. Firstly Open Thunderbird
  • 2. Select all files which all want to in Outlook
  • 3. After that drag them and drop at any location (these dropped files will be saved in .eml file format.)

Stage 2Import Exported EML files in Windows Live Mail

  • * After that install Windows Live Mail in same machine whereas Outlook installed and collect all exported .eml files in same machine too.
  • * Now open Windows Live Mail and go to File Menu >> Import >> Import messages and import all .eml files from the saving location
  • * All EML files are in Windows Live Mail

Stage 3 – Windows Live Mail Exported Files into Outlook

  • * Open Windows Live Mail on your desktop.
  • * Now go to File menu >> Export >> Export messages
  • * Then select MS Exchange Server option
  • * Then click on all documents or select folder which you want to convert into Outlook.

Then within few minutes, you can know about how to move mail folders from Thunderbird MBOX to Outlook. But the manual process has some limitations which may be the cause of data loss or doesn’t guarantee successful migration. A few drawbacks of manual method are mentioned below –

  • * Lengthy and Time-consuming process
  • * Non-technical users cannot handle it easily.
  • * Sometimes, it fails due to technical issues.
  • * Not safe for exact migration
  • * Possibility of data loss due to technical issues.
  • * Windows live mail and Outlook should be installed in same machine.

How to Move Mail Folders from Thunderbird to PST – Automated Solution

To overcome from drawbacks to move Thunderbird email folder to Outlook, get complete files migration solution at PCVARE Thunderbird Converter that is simple, safe and exact migration solution to move data from Thunderbird to PST. The software supports smart functions which provide exact migration with 100% accuracy. To move Thunderbird email folder to Outlook, it supports automate locate function to find location of Thunderbird files. It also supports batch approach for quick migration. If you are really needed then can try it with 25 Thunderbird files to Outlook migration absolutely free and solve your all issues about how to export folders from Thunderbird to PST.