How to Migrate From Thunderbird to Outlook – Step-by-Step Guide

Thunderbird has two account configuration methods i.e., IMAP and POP. It also contains a separate mailbox storage folder called Local Folders. While conventional email accounts can be manually configured for IMAP or POP, local folders save all emails on the local machine, which is identical to POP accounts in terms of functionality. So, the data visible in Thunderbird is in an IMAP account, a POP account or stored within the Local Folders. Therefore, when you want to migrate Thunderbird to Outlook, you are looking to move data from these account folders into Outlook folders.

Article Content:

• A Quick Overview of Thunderbird’s File Format Support
• Three Simple Methods to Migrate Thunderbird to Outlook
• Location of Thunderbird Local Folders Data
• Conclusion

In this article, you will read three methods to use for Thunderbird to Outlook migration based on the type of storage you want to move. For an IMAP account, a simple reconfiguration of the email account will do. While for POP and Local Folders, a more orthodox approach is required.

Don’t worry, we have it all covered below.

A Quick Overview of Thunderbird’s File Format Support

When you are about to migrate Thunderbird to Outlook, it is beneficial to know about the data you wish to migrate beforehand. Thunderbird has 3 formats related to mailbox emails:

• MSF: Mailbox Summary Files (MSF) are index files that store mailbox summaries rather than actual data. In reality, as long as the actual files exist, you can remove them and Thunderbird will regenerate them.
• MBOX- These are files that do not have an extension. These are the mailbox files themselves, which include all of the crucial information.
• SBD – These are files that explain the structure of the mailbox folders. If the local folder has subfolders, an SBD file will be created for the email subfolders that contain these subfolders.

You may be interested in:

Difference between Thunderbird and Outlook

How to Open MBOX Files in Outlook

Three Simple Methods to Migrate Thunderbird to Outlook

Now that you understand the benefits of exporting your Thunderbird emails to Outlook, it’s time to learn how to do it. Here are two methods for migrating your Thunderbird emails to Outlook:
Now that you know that Thunderbird stores its emails in MBOX format, its time to know how to migrate your Thunderbird emails to Outlook. Here are three methods to do it:

1. Export Thunderbird Email to Outlook via IMAP Account – All Steps Ahead
2. Migrate Thunderbird Email to Outlook via Save & Drop Method – Check Steps Ahead
3. Export Thunderbird Email to Outlook via Professional Tool – All Steps Ahead

Export Thunderbird Email to Outlook via IMAP Account

When an email account is configured in Thunderbird using IMAP protocol, it means that the data is visible on Thunderbird but is stored on the email account server. Therefore, you can simply reconfigure the same email account in Outlook and the mailbox data will be visible here as well. There is no need for migration in this case.

The free method to migrate data from Thunderbird to Outlook when the data is stored in IMAP account is as follows:

• Launch Outlook and go to File >> Add Account to add a new account.
• Choose the account type like Gmail, Yahoo, etc. or simply select IMAP from the options.
• Enter the email address which is configured in Thunderbird and provide your password.
• Outlook will automatically configure the settings for your email account.
• After that, complete the account verification.
• Once your account is configured, Outlook will start fetching all the mailbox data and you will be able to access Thunderbird emails in Outlook.

Migrate Thunderbird Email to Outlook via Save & Drop Method

This method involves a bit more hands-on effort but remains straightforward. It’s about manually transferring your Thunderbird emails into an Outlook folder through a save-and-drop action.

Here’s how to proceed with this approach:

1. First, open both Thunderbird and Outlook on your computer. This will facilitate the direct transfer of emails between the two applications.
2. In Thunderbird, go to the folder containing the emails you wish to export to Outlook.
3. Select the desired emails in Thunderbird, right-click and save them into a desktop folder.
4. Now, drag the saved emails into an Outlook folder. This action moves the emails from Thunderbird to Outlook.
5. Once the emails are in Outlook, you have the option to organize them. This can include sorting them into specific folders and labeling them for easy identification.

To select multiple emails simultaneously in Thunderbird, click on one email, then hold down the Shift key. While holding Shift, use the arrow keys to extend your selection. This method allows for a quick and efficient way to select multiple emails without the need for individual clicking.

While this method is relatively simple, it can be time-consuming, especially if you have a large number of emails to transfer.

Export Thunderbird Email to Outlook via Professional Method

When an email account is configured in Thunderbird via POP protocol, it generally means that the entire mailbox resides on the computer itself. The email server has no data, unlike the IMAP account.

Therefore, you cannot use free manual methods here.

The same is the case with Local Folders, which itself is a separate mailbox provided by Thunderbird to help its users store important emails. It also resides inside the computer storage and is not connected to any email account whatsoever. Therefore, you cannot use the manual method here as well.

It leaves us with no choice but to convert Thunderbird emails to Outlook PST format. The PST format is chosen because Thunderbird stores its data in MBOX files having no extensions which is not supported by Outlook. As a result, exporting Thunderbird to Outlook-compatible PST files is critical. You can quickly import this PST file into Outlook, regardless of the version you’re using.

Use Thunderbird Converter for this task. It is a high-performance professional tool that caters to Thunderbird users’ needs. The program detects and analyses files connected with Thunderbird before exporting them into PST format. On a Windows PC, obviously, this is the best technique to convert MBOX file to PST.

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Migrate Thunderbird to Outlook in 5 Easy Steps

• Run the software and click the Add File button.
  
• Select Thunderbird and Default profile configured choices.
  
• Select the account you want to migrate and click the Process button.
  
• All of the emails from Thunderbird will be displayed by the software.
  
• Finally, select PST and click Export to migrate Thunderbird emails.
  

Once the files have been converted to PST format, follow these steps to import them into Outlook:

• In Outlook 2021, 2019, 2016, or 2013, go to the File menu.
• Choose Import/Export from the Open & Export menu.
• Go to Next after clicking Import from a file or application.
• Go to Next after selecting Outlook data file (.pst).
• Browse the PST file you got after conversion.
• Select the Outlook folder in which the data will be imported.
• Finish by clicking the Finish button.

All emails have been successfully imported into Microsoft Outlook. This ends our methods to migrate from Thunderbird to Outlook 2021, 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007 & 2003.

Location of Thunderbird Local Folders Data

Our specialists have identified a number of methods for locating Thunderbird’s local folders. On Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, Vista, and other PCs, you can use any technology to locate the local Thunderbird folder.sbd file.

It’s important to note that local folders are kept in a hidden folder. As a result, ensure that the setting to show hidden folders in Windows is enabled.

1 – Locate Thunderbird Local Folders on the System by searching for them.

• Users of Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, and older operating systems can use the “Start” button.
• Type %APPDATA % in the initial search bar and hit Enter.
• Open the Profiles folder after opening the Thunderbird folder.
• When you open the mail folder, you’ll notice a local folder with data.

2 – Locate by going directly to Thunderbird Local Folders

• Activate the location: C:\Users\<Windows user name>\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\<Profile name>\Mail\Local Folders\
• Files with no extensions, which are the core mailbox files, can be found in local directories.

3 – Use the Thunderbird menu to find it.

1. Select the “Help” option from the menu in the Thunderbird mail client.
2. After that, choose “Troubleshooting Information”.
3. Choose “Show Folder” from your local disc, then browse the “Local Folder” with ease.

4 – Locate using Thunderbird’s Account Settings option.

• Select Tools >> Account Settings from the Thunderbird mail client.
• Select the “Server Settings” option, then press the “Browse” button to navigate to the “Local” directory.
• To access the Thunderbird local folder data quickly, open the mail folder.

Last but not least,

After reading this blog post, anyone with a Windows machine may simply migrate Thunderbird to Outlook without any issues. Moving Thunderbird’s local folders, IMAP and POP account emails as well as all critical objects and components, to Outlook, is an excellent strategy. The recommended program is compatible with all versions of Thunderbird, both current and older, and includes a free demo version so that our customers may test it out before purchasing a license key.