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Outlook to Thunderbird

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Import Outlook to Thunderbird Local Profile

Having Difficulty to Import Outlook to Thunderbird?

Majority users switch from Outlook Mail to Thunderbird (TBird) due the fact Thunderbird is open-source email client (free of cost), compatible with Windows, Mac OS, Linux. However, they confront a noteworthy issue while importing Outlook to Thunderbird Local Folders like invalid characters, missing folders & are unable to find proper step-by-step process importing Outlook Profile to Thunderbird from Outlook 2021, 2019, 2016, 2013 & later editions.

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You have landed up in an apt blog, where you will find different ways import mail from Outlook to Thunderbird Default, Local Profile & Folders.

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Best PST to MBOX Converter

Did You Know : You Can’t Import PST Directly into Mozilla Thunderbird?

To import Outlook mail to Thunderbird, it requires a compatible version of Outlook to be installed on the machine. As it’s a well known fact, that Microsoft Outlook stores data in PST file format, which is a proprietary format. Thus, Thunderbird does not actually understand a “PST” file & data present within the file. Moreover, there is no In-built or intergral Import facility by Thunderbird which lets you browse PST File or directly import to Thunderbird Local Folders, if Outlook 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021 is not installed.

Why Not the Add- Ons?

The greater part of the clients download Add-ons from a hazardous webpages to import mail from Outlook File to Thunderbird Default Profile. However, they are not aware that they can be the victim of data breach, identity leak problems.

Do Not Worry – Just Take A Deep Breath!

In this section, we are going to introduce different methods using which the user can import Outlook to Thunderbird without any data-related issues.

Import Outlook to Thunderbird - Video

Methods to Import Outlook Data Files into Thunderbird

The most reliable and easiest way to move Outlook emails to Thunderbird is:

Finding the Location of PST/OST File
Convert – Outlook data file to MBOX
Find Thunderbird ‘Local Folders’ Directory and Copy MBOX file
Restart Thunderbird

Let us Dig A Little Deeper!

Step 1: Find Local PST Files

Outlook stores PST and OST file in the application data folder on the user’s Windows system. Thus, first, the user needs to find the exact location of PST/OST files in the system.

Step 2: Convert Email from PST format

For Converting PST Files: The user can easily convert MS Outlook data files to MBOX with the help of SysTools Outlook to MBOX Converter. The software supports both Outlook PST file types: ANSI or UNICODE and also converts Outlook emails to MBOX file format without any file size limitation.
Note : Incase you have OST File, then user can make use of SysTools OST to MBOX Converter to convert multiple OST files into MBOX file format.

Step - 3: Find Thunderbird ‘Local Folders’ Directory and Copy MBOX Files

To find the local folders directory in Thunderbird:

Launch Thunderbird
Right-click on Local Folders
Select Settings
In Account Settings > Local Folder Field: C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Roaming \Thunderbird\Profiles\7l36jvtj.default\Mail\Local Folders
Now, you need to quit Thunderbird and go to Local Folders directory in an explorer. Here, drag and drop MBOX files

Browse MBOX in Thunderbird

Finally, you have to restart Thunderbird and you will be able to see the mailbox in local folders list.

Fastest Methods for Import Outlook to Thunderbird

Method 1 : Native Thunderbird (TBird) Import

There are many users who are unaware of the Original Import option provided by Thunderbird. To use this Native Tbird Import option, you need to set Outlook as the default email client then to go to Tools > Import > Mail in Thunderbird. Basically, this method uses SimpleMAPI calls to Outlook and Outlook accesses the contents of the personal folders (.pst) file.

Note :To make use of Import option provided by Thunderbird the user need to set Outlook as the default email client. If it is not set then the error will occur:

Method - 2: Use IMAP to Move from Outlook to Thunderbird

Gmail Intermediary IMAP Email Account Method

Another way to import Outlook to Thunderbird is to sign up for a free IMAP account (Gmail) and then add Gmail account to Thunderbird & Outlook. This IMAP account acts as an intermediary to migrate Outlook Mail to Thunderbird. IMAP supports remote folder on the server that the user can access just like the local folder. Thus, IMAP email account method can be applied.

A Word of Caution: :

In Outlook all the folders are stored within a single PST file. Thus, Outlook does not care about the folder names. However, Thunderbird stores all the messages for each folder in a file named after the folder. So, characters in the folder name can cause problems when importing to Thunderbird. As the characters can be invalid filename characters for the user’s operating system. If the user is facing an error message that is Thunderbird is unable to create a folder. Then the user needs to rename all the folder in Outlook to use 7-bit alphabetical ASCII characters and then try again. Sometimes, the issue occurs when two child folders with the same name are present under two different parent folders. Then, in such case, the user needs to rename one of the child folders.

verified way

How Do I Export Outlook to Thunderbird with this Native Import?

To import Outlook Mail to Thunderbird via using Native Import feature of Thunderbird, the user need to follow the step-by-step process given below:

Do Remember:

Thunderbird is a 32-bit program, so it cannot import from a 64-bit version of Outlook.
There is no concept of Outlook identities or profiles related to Thunderbird. Thus, Thunderbird only imports from the default identity or profile
If the user is having multiple identities or profile then he/she has to set one as the default and then import Default Outlook profile using Thunderbird.