How Migrate Emails from Thunderbird to Outlook 2021, 2019?

Last updated on September 19th, 2023

Many users seek the perfect solution to export Thunderbird to Outlook 2016 and 2019. In today’s online world, emails are the most accepted way for professional communication, and Mozilla Thunderbird is a widely used email client.

Thunderbird has numerous features such as message management, junk filtering, open source, follows industry standards, provides cross-platform support, et cetera. Although Thunderbird has too many features, still, users are exporting Thunderbird emails to Outlook. There are some reasons why Thunderbird to Outlook export is increasing day by day.

Thunderbird asks users to configure all the additional functionality and is very extensive. While On the other hand, market trends prefer Microsoft Outlook because of its user-oriented features. It can be easily installed on Windows, MAC, Android, and iOS and provides flexible features like Contacts, Calendars, Journals, Tasks, Events, et cetera.

Why waste precious time and energy on tedious manual migration when you can trust Shoviv 
MBOX Converter tool to handle Mozilla Thunderbird to Outlook Conversion?

Table of Content

Why Users Need to Export from Thunderbird to Outlook

Below are some common reasons why users shift their Thunderbird mail to Outlook:

The most common reason is that Thunderbird has no spam filter. Outlook has a powerful spam filter that helps in preventing phishing attacks.
Thunderbird doesn’t include a task and calendar list.
Due to the slower development process of Thunderbird, there is no focus on security and stability.
Outlook allows configuring complex rules to automate your workflow and manage email messages.
Thunderbird supports various email clients that support POP3/IMAP/SMTP protocols, but it only configures with an add-on.

So, these were some common issues due to which users export Thunderbird to Outlook.

Also Read: How to Migrate Thunderbird to Office 365.

How to Import Thunderbird Mail to Outlook

Users can opt for Manual methods and Professional third-party tools to export Thunderbird emails into Outlook PST. The manual ways require technical expertise, which has some limitations, while the professional tools provide a convenient process. Let’s know about both:

Free Method to Import Thunderbird Emails to Outlook

Run Thunderbird and click on File>New> Existing Mail Account.
Enter your login credentials and click ‘Done’.
Install and Run Outlook. Click File > Add Account.
Enter the same login credentials to finish the configuration.
Your Thunderbird to Outlook Import is successful.

You can find the comprehensive configuration method outlined below. Configuring the same account in Thunderbird and Outlook allows you to access the Mozilla Thunderbird mailbox within Outlook. Subsequently, you can copy or move the emails to Outlook and remove the email accounts to retain the data in Outlook Account.

The instructions are organized into distinct steps to provide a complete guidelines set. You must configure your Thunderbird mail account with Gmail to import Thunderbird mail into the Outlook Application.

Remember that the data may take several days or weeks to complete if the data is substantial. This method is quite long, so I’ve split it into 3 phases, making it easy to understand for everyone, including novices. So, let’s start.

Phase 1: Enable IMAP access for Gmail account

Then, click on the See all settings option.
Now go to the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab and check the radio button adjacent to Enable IMAP option.

Phase 2: Sign in to Thunderbird with your Gmail account

Launch the Thunderbird application and click on the Accounts option.

Now, click Email and provide the asked details, i.e., Name, Email address, Password.
Select the radio button adjacent to IMAP remote folder option and click Done.

Allows the asked permission in the following wizard.
Create a new folder and export all your Thunderbird emails to this folder.

Phase3: Configure Gmail to Outlook and export Thunderbird emails to PST

Open Outlook in your system and go to the File option.

Now click the Add account option and provide your Gmail account credentials.
Go to the file option once you log in to Outlook with your Gmail account.

Select the Open & Export option and click Import/export.

Following, select the Export to a file option and click Next.

Next select Outlook data file (.pst) and hit Next.

Select the folder where your Thunderbird emails and click Next.

Browse a location in the local drive to store the PST file and click the finish.

You’ll have a PST file of your Thunderbird emails that you can access in Outlook 20121, 2019 or any other version.

Export Thunderbird to Outlook through Webmail account:

Phase 1: Add Webmail Account in Thunderbird

First, log into your Webmail Account, click the Gear icon, and open the Webmail settings.
Choose the Forwarding and POP/IMAP>> Enable IMAP option.
Now configure the IMAP account & click on the Save Changes option.
Run Thunderbird, provide the name, email address, and password of the Thunderbird account, and click on the Continue button to open it.
Click on the IMAP checkbox and provide all the necessary information. After that, click on the Re-test button.
After providing all the information successfully, select the Create a new account option.
In the end, open any email message to verify the account in Thunderbird.

Phase 2: Configure Webmail Account to Outlook

Firstly open the File menu & click on the Add Account.
Then a dialog box will appear, choose Manually Configure Server Settings or Additional Server Types, and click Next.
After that, click on the Internet Email>>Next button to proceed.
Now, provide your name, email address, and password in the dialog box.
Following the Account Type wizard, choose the IMAP option.
Here, sequentially, type imap.servername.com and smtp.servername.com for the Incoming and Outgoing servers.
Then click on the More Setting.
Go to the Outgoing Server and select the My Outgoing Server (SMTP).
Then, click the Use Same Settings as My Incoming Server option.
Under the Incoming Server Port, enter the 993 port number.
Next, select This Server Requires an Encrypted Connection option.
Then, for the Outgoing server, enter the 587 port number and click the Ok button

to exit the dialog box.
Click on the Test Account setting option to check the account setting.
After getting the “Your account settings are correct” message, click the Next Button.
At the end, import Thunderbird MBOX files to Outlook 2016.

Export Thunderbird to Outlook Using Drag-Drop Method

Using the drag & drop method, first, you have to export Thunderbird emails in EML files. Then, simply drag and drop the EML files into the newly created Outlook folder. Let’s know in detail.

Phase 1: Export Thunderbird Emails MBOX files as an EML file

Firstly run the Mozilla Thunderbird client.

Open the messages folder you want to Export to Outlook 2019, 2016.

Here, users can choose either select single or entire messages as per requirements.

Right-click on the selected messages and select “Save As” option.

Create a new folder or browse the folder to export the EML file.

Wait until the export process gets complete.

Phase2: Drag and drop the Exported EML files in the Outlook folder

In windows, open the folder where you export EML files.

Drag and drop the exported EML files into the Outlook folder.

Phase 3: Export Emails files into PST

Open the MS Outlook.

Go to the File menu, select the Open & Export option, and click Import/Export.

Pick the Export a file option, and click Next.

Select Outlook Data File (.pst) and then click Next.

Select the folders where exported EML files are saved.

• Select the folders where exported EML files are saved

Ensure that the subfolders box is marked as checked, click Next.

Choose a new path/location to save the PST file, click Finish.

When the process is complete, Outlook will create a new PST file.

Limitations of Manual ways:

The manual methods are not suitable to Export Thunderbird to Outlook in batches.
There is always a threat of data loss and data corruption as chances of human error are always there.
It has a risk of losing the data hierarchy.
The manual method can’t export orphan or deleted emails from Thunderbird to Outlook.
These methods are very time-consuming and complex; not appropriate for non-technical users.

A Professional Tool to Convert Thunderbird Emails to Outlook

Shoviv MBOX to PST Converter is a well-known and easy-to-use freeware for exporting Thunderbird to Outlook. It has several user-friendly options to export Thunderbird to Outlook 2021, 2019, and 2016. Here are a few of them:

Most secured approach: Shoviv has developed the tool to be a self-contained utility that prioritizes your data privacy. The software easily exports many Thunderbird emails, including their properties and attributes, without changes. You also don’t have to share your files and can track the entire process on your computer.
Desirable process: The software has no bar on the file size and can easily export big MBOX files. It works with multiple email clients that handle MBOX files, including PocoMail, Opera Mail, Eudora, Entourage, Webmail, and many more. As a result, you can convert MBOX files from different email clients to EML, MSG, Exchange Server, Outlook Profile, and Exchange Server.
Exclude unrequired data: The software includes a filter option on the Subject, From, and To-based criteria. Using this option, you can exclude unwanted items of MBOX files and export only the required items.
Resuming facility: We take clients’ satisfaction as our utmost priority, and we know several instances can cause process interruption. For this, we have embedded an incremental export option to our tool that resumes the interrupted process without hassle. It helps users in preventing duplicity when exporting Thunderbird to Outlook.
Free evaluation for all: We have tried our software in several complex scenarios and always performed astoundingly. We provide a free version if anyone wants to evaluate the software skills and compatibilities. The free version holds all the premium features and allows converting the first 50 items per folder.

Steps to Convert Thunderbird Emails into Outlook

Run Shoviv Thunderbird MBOX Converter.
Click the Add option and Add MBOX files.
Choose Outlook PST as a resultant file.
Click the Export button and wait until process is finished.
Open Outlook, click the Export option, choose Import/Export.
Select .pst as an Outlook data file and click on Import.

Detailed Steps to Export MBOX Files to PST Format

First, install and open the Shoviv MBOX Converter.
Secondly, click on the Add button from the ribbon bar.
Browse the MBOX folder containing multiple MBOX files, and then click on the Add

Folder button at the bottom of the opened wizard.
The software will display a preview of the added MBOX file. Now click on the Outlook

PST option, which is present on the ribbon bar.
Now, Export in PST wizard will get open. Check/un-check subfolders you want to export in Outlook >> browse the target location to save the new PST file. Users can also split and add a

password in the PST file. Filter options are also available to apply filters to get only the desired data. Once done with all options, click on Export.
Now, a dialog box gets open. Here you can trim the folder hierarchy as per need. After that, click the Ok button, and the software will export MBOX items to the PST file.

7. Once the process is completed, the software will provide you with a log report; you can save for later use.
So, it was the process of exporting Thunderbird to PST file format for All Outlook versions. Now we will upload the converted PST file into Outlook.

Import converted PST files into Outlook

First, Open Outlook and then click on the File option.
Now click on the Open & Export option, then click the Import/Export.
A wizard gets open, select Import from another program or file option, and click Next.
Now, select the Outlook data file (.pst) option, and click Next.
Now select the PST file using the Browse button and choose the duplicates option as per need. After that, click on the Next button.
Now, pick the folder from which you want to export items, use other options as needed, and click Finish.

Wrapping up:

From the article, we know there are better choices than the manual method to export Thunderbird to Outlook. Manual methods have limitations, while on the other hand, the professional third-party tool Shoviv MBOX Converter facilitates many user-oriented features. The software offers an easy and accurate way to export Thunderbird to Outlook. A demo/trial version of the software is also available to check the tool’s working, which allows processing the first 50 items per folder.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q. Can I import the Thunderbird MBOX file directly into Office 365?

A. Yes. You can export Thunderbird MBOX files into Office 365 directly without hassle. Using Shoviv MBOX Converter, you can also migrate MBOX to Microsoft 365 and Live Exchange.

Q. Is it possible to keep the converted PST file as a backup of email data?

A. Yes, users can keep the converted PST file as a backup of MBOX
files’ email data.

Q. I am using Windows 10 Pro; is Shoviv’s MBOX Converter compatible with it?

A. If you have a task to convert Thunderbird to Outlook and you are using any Windows version, then you can use Shoviv’s tool. Shoviv MBOX Converter is compatible with all Windows O.S. versions.

Q. Can I convert Thunderbird MBOX emails into MSG for Outlook using Shoviv MBOX Converter?

A. Yes, you can convert the MBOX files into MSG and EML format using Shoviv MBOX Converter.

Q. Can I use this method for Outlook 2013 or the below versions?

A. Yes, this software is compatible with all versions of Outlook, including Outlook 2013.

Q. How can I open Thunderbird files in open?

A. Outlook can only open Thunderbird files with the help of a third-party tool or by manually converting the Thunderbird files into a format that Outlook can recognize, such as PST (Personal Storage Table) files. Use professional utility for the effective and efficient file conversion.

Author
Recent Posts

Stuart

Stuart Clark is working as a technical content writer at Shoviv Software for the last 5 years. He specializes in crafting informative and engaging articles for diverse audiences. With a solid understanding of complex technologies, he explains complex concepts in a simpler manner that Leyman users can also understand easily. He has vast expertise in writing articles related to email migration and conversion niches. Apart from that, he likes to research newer technologies and gain knowledge to stay updated with the current trends.