Summary: In today’s communication landscape, email clients play a crucial and indispensable role. As a result, the need to transfer data from one email client to another is a common challenge that many individuals face. One such challenge is how to convert Thunderbird to PST or how to export PST from Thunderbird. If you’re seeking answers to these questions, you’re in the right place.
About Mozilla Thunderbird and Microsoft Outlook
Mozilla Thunderbird is an open-source email client that stores data on local drives in mbox and Maildir formats. While Thunderbird exports emails in EML format using the drag-and-drop method, Microsoft Outlook requires PST or MSG files for data import.
Hence, the topic of how to convert Thunderbird to PST is of great interest to many users.
On the other hand, Microsoft Outlook offers advanced features that cater to modern communication needs and provide a seamless user experience.
Conversion process for Outlook PST to Thunderbird MBOX
Users looking to export Thunderbird to Outlook PST can choose from the following methods:
Method 1: Installing the Eudora Email Client
For older versions of Outlook, it’s possible to import Eudora mailboxes, facilitating the migration of Thunderbird emails to PST:
Install Eudora on the system where Outlook is already installed and configure it with a dummy account.
- Copy and paste the Thunderbird mailbox to Eudora’s mailbox location (usually C:Documents and SettingsUSERApplication DataQualcommEudora).
- Change the extension of the mailbox from mbox to mbx, as these formats share the same data structure.
- Open Microsoft Outlook, click on the File tab, select the Import-Export tool, and choose “import Internet mail and address” in the pop-up window.
- Choose the appropriate Eudora option and browse for your Mozilla Thunderbird data.
- Specify the destination where you want to import the Thunderbird mailbox in PST format.
- Click the Finish button and wait for the process to complete. Afterward, restart MS Outlook and check your mailbox.
Read this Blog: Complete Steps to Convert Thunderbird Emails to Outlook PST
Method 2: Using Outlook Express
To export PST from Thunderbird, you can use Outlook Express as an intermediary:
- Export Mozilla Thunderbird emails in EML format.
- Run Outlook Express, click the “Add File” button, and choose “Import email messages.”
- Select the Thunderbird EML mailbox and click “OK.”
- Click “Finish.”
- Follow the first method to import Outlook Express data into MS Outlook, selecting the Outlook Express option in the Import-Export wizard instead of Eudora.
Limitations of the First and Second Methods
- These methods may not be compatible with the latest versions of MS Outlook.
- You can only migrate one Thunderbird mailbox at a time.
- There’s a possibility of the folder structure being disrupted.
Method 3: Mozilla Thunderbird to PST Converter
For a simpler and more efficient solution, consider using the Mailvita Mozilla Thunderbird to PST Converter for Mac. This tool allows you to convert Thunderbird emails to PST with ease, providing accurate results and user-friendly features:
Steps to Convert Thunderbird Emails to Outlook PST
- Download and install the Mailvita Thunderbird to PST Converter Tool on any Windows-based operating system.
- Launch the program and click the “Browse” button. Press the “Auto-load” button to load the entire Thunderbird mailbox at once. (If you don’t have Thunderbird installed, you can also browse manually.)
- After loading and scanning the mailbox, click the “Export” button. Select the PST file format and choose between a single or separate PST conversion.
- Specify the destination for the converted data and click “Export” again to save it.
- You’ll see a progress window indicating the Thunderbird to PST conversion. Once it’s complete, you can access the data in Outlook 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, and other earlier versions.
Conclusion
In this guide, we’ve explained how users can choose between manual and automatic solutions to export Thunderbird mailboxes to PST format. While the manual methods have their limitations, they can still be useful as needed. Additionally, you can explore the free trial version of the Mozilla Thunderbird to PST solution, which allows you to export 20 emails from each mailbox for testing purposes.
