Thunderbird to G Suite Migration [Step-By-Step Process]

  Mohit Kumar Jha
Written By Mohit Kumar Jha
Anuraag Singh
Approved By Anuraag Singh
Modified On September 18th, 2025
Reading Time 5 Min Read

Planning to switch from Thunderbird to G Suite. Then, you have to also transfer the emails between these two programs. Here, I will explain two ways to migrate Thunderbird to Google Workspace. So, read the article to the end.

Mozilla Thunderbird is a popular and reliable email client created by Mozilla. Available in many operating systems like Windows, Mac, and Linux. It is a desktop email service that is free to use and provides add-ons for additional features. Users can save their emails in MBOX and also import the same exported file into Thunderbird.

But, for the past few years, the demand for cloud-based email platforms has increased. So, programs like Google Workspace become popular among individuals and businesses. Developed by Google, G Suite offers you Google products: Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs, etc., to help you improve productivity. That’s why many users are shifting from Thunderbird to Google Workspace to get the advantage of its features.

Reasons to Transfer Thunderbird Emails to G Suite

Thunderbird is a pretty nice email application. However, it lacks features which is now used in modern email services. You will find those functions in G Suite. Such as.

  • Google Workspace is more than email management. It offers you Google Drive, Meet, Calendar, Sheet, etc. to help teams work together in real time.
  • G Suite contains enterprise-level security features. So, you don’t have to worry about losing your data or your account being hacked.
  • Thunderbird has a limited storage space, and it stores the data on the local computer. However, G Suite uses a cloud platform, and you have more storage space than Thunderbird.
  • To access your Thunderbird, you have to use the same computer where the Thunderbird application is stored. In the case of Google Workspace, it is much easier to access your account.

Therefore, moving your data from Thunderbird to G Suite is a better way to keep your data secure. Now, without wasting time, let’s see how you can move your data.

Migrate Thunderbird to Google Workspace

If you have the Thunderbird program, then you can directly move your data by configuring your G Suite account. Both Thunderbird and G Suite support the IMAP option. So, syncing them together can make it easier to move your data.

  1. First, make sure IMAP is enabled in G Suite. Also, create a folder to store your Thunderbird emails. Then, run the Thunderbird program.
  2. At the top-right corner, click on the three bars.
  3. From the drop-down menu, select Account Settings.
  4. Click on the Account Actions button and press Add Mail Account.
  5. Enter the full name, Email address, and password of your G Suite account.
  6. Click on the Continue button and then choose the IMAP option.
  7. After connecting your account, you will see your G Suite account in the main screen of the software.
  8. From your Thunderbird inbox, select, drag, and drop the emails to the G Suite folder.

After moving the emails, G Suite automatically syncs into your account. This method is free, but there can be issues, like being unable to configure the program or the data not properly syncing. So, other than this solution, there is another technique that you can use.

Export Thunderbird Data

This is not a direct option, but in this case, you can migrate multiple emails without any issues. First, you have to extract your data from Thunderbird into an MBOX file.

  1. You have to install Import/Export Tools NG to export your data. Download this add-on from the official Thunderbird site.
  2. After installing, run Thunderbird and select the folder that you want to save.
  3. Right-click the folder and click on Import/Export Tools NG.
  4. Select the Export option and choose the MBOX file.
  5. Browse a location and export the file.

Now, you have all the data from Thunderbird in an MBOX file, which you can move to the Google Workspace with the help of professional software.

Migrate Thunderbird to Google Workspace with Professional Tool

In this section, I am going to use the SysTools MBOX to G Suite Import Tool. It is a professional solution that makes the migration process easier. It is a great way to access your file as it preserves data integrity and folder hierarchy. By using this, you can easily transfer files without needing a third-party tool. The tool comes with Windows OS compatibility. So, it is easy to download and install. Below are the Working Steps of the software.

Download Now Purchase Now

Steps to Perform Thunderbird File to G Suite Migration

  1. Properly download and install the software.
    downlaod the software
  2. Click on the MBOX file from the source tab and G Suite from the destination.
    choose mbox and g suite
  3. In the Source screen, browse the path where your exported MBOX file is located. Select it and hit the Validate to check the permissions.
    upload mbox file
  4. From destination, enter G Suite Admin Email, Service Account, and Certificate File. Also, validate your account.
    provide g suite details
  5. To add the users, you can choose Fetch users to automatically fetch the user account. Or manually import the user by downloading the Template, creating the CSV map file, and submitting it to the software.
    add users
  6. After that, validate your user account and click on the Start Import option.
    start importing the file

Conclusion

If you want to migrate Thunderbird to Google Workspace, then I have provided two simple methods that you can easily follow. These methods are direct and indirect. With the help of IMAP, you can directly move your data. But you may face a configuration issue during the process. The indirect method is a little lengthy. However, it securely transfers your Thunderbird to G Suite.

Read Also: How to Add G Suite Emails to Gmail?

  author

By Mohit Kumar Jha

Mohit is a Microsoft Certified expert for all things Microsoft. He brings a unique perspective gained from nearly a decade of active participation in various IT forums, blogs, and social media. Known in admin circles as the go-to guru for solving user queries in the domain of cloud migration, data backup, and digital forensics. The secret to his core expertise lies in solving problems practically. Through this hands-on experience, he has acquired knowledge in diverse domains like Microsoft 365 Cloud, On-Premise Exchange Server, AD, and Entra ID.