How to Export Thunderbird Emails to Outlook: Easy Guide

Switch your emails easily and discover how to export Thunderbird emails to Outlook. Convert EML to PST and maintain your folder hierarchy with our expert guide.

When you are moving from one email to another you want to make sure that nothing gets lost during the move. Many users need to export emails to Outlook when a business grows or when they want the advanced features of the Microsoft ecosystem. One problem is that Outlook and Thunderbird do not speak the same file language. 

Thunderbird stores its data in MBOX or EML formats but Outlook needs a PST file, so if you try to move the files they would not open. Today we will solve this problem by showing you how to export Thunderbird emails to Outlook so that you can get back to work without losing any attachments. We will see the manual and the expert solution, which is the DataHelp EML to PST Converter Software that helps you to convert the Thunderbird emails to a PST file. 

What is an EML File?

We should get to know about an EML file before getting to know how to transfer emails to Outlook. An EML file contains everything about one email only: the sender’s name, the date, the subject line and any files attached to it.

EML is a simple and open format and most of the email programs can create them which makes them the perfect for transferring data. While other formats keep all the emails together EML keeps them separate which makes it easy to pick and choose what you want to move.

Why Do You Need to Know This to Export Emails to Outlook ?

  • Universal Access: These files can be opened by any email application.
  • Safety: The file stays exactly as it was sent if you save an email in the EML format.
  • The Bridge: EML acts as the bridge that allows you to move your data from Thunderbird to Outlook.

Method 1: The Drag-And-Drop Way

If you want to export Thunderbird emails to Outlook then the manual method is the most effective way if you have a small number of files as this method does not require any special software.

Step 1: Save Emails from Thunderbird

  1. Open Thunderbird and select the folder that you want to move.
  2. Select the emails you want.
  3. Then right-click on the selected emails and choose the Save As option.
  4. Choose a folder on your computer to save these as EML files.

Step 2: Move The Files Into Outlook

  1. Open the Microsoft Outlook application.
  2. Create a new folder where you want to put these emails.
  3. Open the folder on your computer where your EML files are stored.
  4. Highlight the EML files and then drag-and-drop them into the Outlook folder that you created.

This is a free way to migrate Thunderbird emails to Outlook but it can be a slow process if you have thousands of emails and sometimes the attachments can get stuck.

Note: You can read this if you want to know how to copy OST file while in use.

Method 2: The IMAP Method

There is another way to transfer emails to Outlook by using the middleman that is Gmail or Outlook.com. Use the following steps to export the emails:

  1. Add your Gmail account to Thunderbird using the IMAP settings.
  2. Drag your old folders into the Gmail account Inbox.
  3. Wait for it to connect with the server.
  4. Finally open Microsoft Outlook and add the same Gmail account.

This method can take a long time if the internet is slow but it helps you to migrate Thunderbird emails to Outlook while keeping your folder names.

Method 3: The Expert Solution

The manual methods fail to keep your folder structure or change the Date and Sent information on the email. So if you are an IT admin or a business user with years of data then you need a professional tool to convert the Thunderbird emails to Outlook PST.

This tool makes the transition very easy as it is designed to handle the heavy lifting and ensure that every attachment and header is perfect.

Top Features of This Tool:
  • Folders are organized: It maintains the same folder structure that you had in Thunderbird.
  • Bulk conversion: You can convert the Thunderbird emails to Outlook PST for thousands of files.
  • No data loss: Ensures that the images, PDFs and links inside emails are not broken.
  • Simple interface: Anyone can use it as it does not require any software skills.
How to Use This Tool to Transfer Emails to Outlook:
  1. Select files: Open the tool and click on the Add File option.
  2. Choose Folder: Then select the folder where you want to save the new PST file.
  3. Convert: When you click the Export button, the tool will convert Thunderbird emails to Outlook PST.
  4. Import to Outlook: Finally open Microsoft Outlook and go to File > Open & Export > Import or Export and select the new PST file.

Final Thoughts

You have seen that you have to bridge the gap between two different files if you want to export Thunderbird emails to Outlook. The manual Save As and the Drag-And-Drop methods are for small tasks and you can also use the IMAP account as a temporary bridge to migrate Thunderbird emails to Outlook.

If you want to worry and want a fast experience then you should use an expert solution to convert Thunderbird emails to Outlook. It can handle complex things for you and ensure that when you open Outlook, everything looks like it did in Thunderbird. You can transfer emails with ease and also keep your communication professional and organized by following the steps mentioned above.