How do I Backup Thunderbird Local Folders into Outlook?

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If you are reading this post then you are definitely looking for a way to backup Thunderbird local folders into Outlook. So, complete read this post to get the easiest and effective ways to import Thunderbird to Outlook.

Everyone knows that Mozilla Thunderbird is a desktop based email client for all versions of Windows Operating system. It stores attachments, emails, calendars, contacts etc. on their system or PC. 

On the other hand, Microsoft Outlook is one of the widely used desktop based email clients that can read all emails offline. Moreover, it serves your purpose as a standalone application and multi-user application.

Reason to Transfer Thunderbird Local Folders into Outlook

  • Thunderbird by default does not provide a feature to manage calendar and tasks. Users are required to add an extension that allows them to manage their tasks and calendars separately.
  • The Outlook user interface is much better than Thunderbird. Even home users will be able to handle Outlook easily.
  • Users cannot access their older data without connectivity. While Outlook allows access to mailbox data offline.

How to Backup Thunderbird Local Folders into Outlook Manual?

Migrating or backing up Thunderbird local folders to Outlook involves a multi-step process. Please note that the process may vary slightly depending on the versions of Thunderbird and Outlook you are using. Here’s a general guide:

  • Backup Thunderbird Local Folders:
  • Launch Thunderbird on your computer.
  • In Thunderbird, create a new folder to store the messages you want to export. You can create a new folder by right-clicking on the account name and selecting “New Folder.”
  • Move the emails you want to back up to the newly created folder. You can do this by dragging and dropping the emails or using the right-click menu to move them.
  • Right-click on the folder, select “Properties,” and click on the “Compact” button.
  • Open Thunderbird’s profile folder, which contains your mail data. You can find the profile folder location by going to “Help” > “Troubleshooting Information” > “Open Folder” next to “Profile Folder.”
  • Find the folder you created in step 2 within the Thunderbird profile. Copy this folder to a location where you want to store your backup.
  • Import Thunderbird Local Folders into Outlook:
  • If you don’t have Thunderbird installed, you’ll need to install it temporarily for the conversion process. You can download it from the official Thunderbird website.
  • In Thunderbird, install the “ImportExportTools” add-on. You can do this by going to “Tools” > “Add-ons,” searching for “ImportExportTools,” and clicking “Add to Thunderbird.”
  • Select the folder you want to export, go to “Tools,” choose “ImportExportTools,” then select “Export Folder” and choose “MBOX format.” Save the exported file to a location you can easily access.
  • If you don’t have Microsoft Outlook installed, you’ll need to install it on your computer.
  • Open Outlook on your computer.
  • In Outlook, go to “File” > “Open & Export” > “Import/Export.”
  • Choose “Import from another program or file” and click “Next.”
  • Select “Mailbox (MBOX file)” and click “Next.”
  • Browse to the location where you saved the MBOX file and select it.
  • Choose the folder where you want to import the emails and click “Finish.”
  • Verify that the emails have been imported into Outlook. You may need to organize them into folders as per your preference.

Drawbacks of Using Manual Solution

  • The manual process may involve technical steps such as exporting to MBOX format, installing add-ons, and importing into Outlook. Non-technical users may find this process complex and challenging.
  • Manual methods may not always handle complex data structures, and there’s a risk of data loss or corruption during the export/import process, especially if there are attachments or special characters in emails.
  • Metadata such as read/unread status, flags, and folder structure may not be fully preserved during the manual conversion. This could lead to a loss of organizational structure and categorization.
  • Attachments and embedded content within emails might not transfer seamlessly in the manual process, potentially leading to missing or improperly linked attachments.
  • The manual process can be time-consuming, especially if you have a large amount of data to transfer. This can result in downtime and potential disruption to daily workflow.

How to Backup Thunderbird Local Folders into Outlook Via Automated Solution?

As there is no direct solution available to backup Thunderbird local folders into Outlook. So, we recommend that Corbett Thunderbird Migration Tool is an excellent solution and it allows conversion into PST format to easily access any Outlook profile or any account. This application is completely developed and examined by experts to get accurate output without losing any information.

  • Download tools and run on your windows pc.
  • After that, Choose the Thunderbird file as you wish to transfer.
  • Then, select Outlook PST option in the list of exports.
  • Finally, set the output location and press save to get output quickly.

Benefits of Using Automated Wizard

  • You can also speed up Thunderbird.
  • This application can easily be handled by all types of technical and individual users.
  • It can also download attachments from Thunderbird.
  • With this software, you can also convert specific mailbox data as per date range, subject, sender and recipients etc.
  • You can also transfer Thunderbird emails to GSuite.

Conclusion

In this guide, we have shared the way to backup Thunderbird local folders into Outlook. As there is no official solution offered by Thunderbird to transfer in Outlook. So, we recommend you to opt to complete the process without taking any single risk with your mailbox files.

Also Read: Can I Recover Permanently Deleted Emails from Outlook?

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