How Can I Export Thunderbird Emails to Outlook 2016?

Summary: In this article, we have discussed in detail the procedure to export Thunderbird emails to Outlook. You will find three methods to perform Thunderbird to Outlook migration - two manual methods and one automated method. We have also addressed some common queries regarding the procedure.

Mozilla Thunderbird is a cross-platform email client that offers a wide range of features for email communication. Microsoft Outlook is a comprehensive email client and is more prevalent among organizations and individuals. This is because it offers impressive information management tools. It is also highly secure and works seamlessly with Exchange Server, which many organizations use.

If you want to export Thunderbird mailbox to Outlook 2016, follow the methods mentioned in this post.

How to Export Thunderbird Mailbox to Outlook 2016?

There are three ways to migrate Thunderbird to Outlook 2016.

1. Using Gmail’s IMAP

You need to first enable the IMAP settings in Gmail account and then configure the Gmail account in Thunderbird. After this, move the Thunderbird emails to Gmail account and add the same Gmail account in Outlook 2016 to download the emails.

Follow these steps:

Step 1 - Create a dummy Gmail account and login into the account on a web browser.
Step 2 - Go to Settings > Forwarding POP/IMAP.
Step 3 - In the IMAP access section, select Enable IMAP.

Step 4 -Open Thunderbird and go to Accounts > Set up an account > Email.

Step 5 -Enter your name, email address of the dummy Gmail account, and password. Then click Continue.
Step 6 -In the next window, select IMAP and then click Done. Your Gmail account is now set up in Thunderbird.

Step 7 - Create a new folder under the Gmail account in Thunderbird. You can create multiple folders if you want to segregate your Thunderbird emails when migrating Thunderbird to Outlook 2016.
Step 8 -Copy the Thunderbird emails to the new Gmail folder(s). These emails will be synced with the Gmail mailbox on the server. The time taken by this process depends on the number of emails involved and network speed.
Step 9 - After all emails are synched with the Gmail server, open Outlook.
Step 10 - Go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings > New.
Step 11 - Set up the same Gmail account, you used earlier, in Outlook.

Step 12 - Once the account is set up, wait for Outlook to download the emails from the Gmail server.

2. Drag-and-Drop Emails

If you don’t need to migrate all Thunderbird emails to Outlook, you can manually drag-and-drop the specific emails from former to latter. To apply this method, follow these steps:

1. Create a new folder named Thunderbird Migration on the Desktop.
2. Open Mozilla Thunderbird and select the emails that you want to export to Outlook 2016.
3. Drag-and-drop the selected emails into the Thunderbird Migration folder.
4. Open Outlook. Drag-and-drop the emails from the Thunderbird Migration folder into the desired folder in Outlook.

Using Third-Party Software

The above-mentioned methods are free and can export Thunderbird to Outlook 2016. However, these methods have certain limitations:

• The drag-and-drop method is time-consuming and tedious. Many Thunderbird users have thousands of emails that can’t be manually selected, dragged-and-dropped in Outlook.
• The manual methods require high technical understanding and knowledge.
• Any mistake or error can potentially cause data loss/corruption.

For a seamless, fast, and effective migration of Thunderbird to Outlook, you can use an advanced MBOX to PST converter. Since Thunderbird stores the mailbox data in MBOX files, you can use the tool to convert MBOX file to Outlook importable PST file.

A trusted MBOX to PST converter tool, such as Stellar Converter for MBOX Stellar Converter for MBOX , offers the following benefits:

• Converts multiple Thunderbird MBOX files to PST in a few easy steps
• Previews Thunderbird mailbox items before saving them in Outlook PST
• Exports Thunderbird emails to Office 365, PDF, HTML, and RTF formats
• Offers advanced filters to export only selective Thunderbird emails to Outlook

Conclusion

Migrating mailboxes from one email client to another is a challenging task. For Thunderbird to Outlook 2016 migration, you can follow the manual methods mentioned in this post. However, when the migration involves several large-sized mailboxes, a dedicated MBOX to PST converter software is recommended as it allows the user to convert multiple MBOX files simultaneously to save time.

Some Queries Regarding This Article

I have some backup MBOX files of Thunderbird. Can I export them to Outlook?

You can’t directly export MBOX files to Outlook. However, you can use a reliable MBOX to PST converter software to convert the backup MBOX files to PST and then import the PST into Outlook.

Can I migrate Thunderbird on a Mac system to Windows Outlook?
Yes, you can. However, you need to first copy the MBOX file (or individual emails, in case of the drag-and-drop method) on the Windows system first. If you are using the IMAP method, then you don’t need to copy any files.

Are these methods effective for Outlook 2016?
Yes, all three methods are effective for Thunderbird to Outlook 2016 migration.