Import Thunderbird Mail to Outlook – A Step-by-Step Import Guide

A Quick Brief – Importing Thunderbird Mail to Outlook

While Thunderbird is a widely accepted email platform, it lacks some features required to improve productivity and collaboration. On the other hand, MS Outlook comes with comprehensive features, better integration with business tools, and enhanced security protocols. 

As a result, users feel the need to move Thunderbird mail to Outlook. Here are some scenarios you might have faced:

• If you are migrating to a unified corporate email environment, switching to MS Outlook as part of the Microsoft 365 suite is essential.
• Working on Outlook lets users leverage advanced functionalities such as shared calendars, task management, and integration with Teams, Excel, and SharePoint. 
• In addition, enterprises and large organizations require powerful security and compliance with data protection laws. Again, Outlook offers enterprise-grade encryption, advanced threat protection, and compliance tools, so it is chosen over Thunderbird. 
• CRM systems, third-party plugins, and enterprise applications are common in businesses. Thunderbird possesses limited compatibility with these applications, unlike Outlook. 
• Outlook also is the top choice as it is a cross-platform supported email client. It is compatible with all devices including Windows, Mac, and mobile platforms. 

Hence, these requirements organizations or individuals tend to import Mozilla Thunderbird Mail to Outlook.

Import Thunderbird Mail to Outlook Using Best Methods

Prominently known, there are three methods including manual steps and professional software. To perform manual migration, you can either use IMAP or import Thunderbird EML files to Outlook. However, these procedures require technical know-how and patience. On the other hand, expert software is the most preferred solution among non-technical users. Let us look at the detailed steps to perform migration. 

Method 1: Direct Configuration of Outlook in Thunderbird

The most significant way to move Thunderbird mail to Outlook is the direct configuration of your Outlook account in Thunderbird via IMAP. This process involves multiple multiple steps discussed one by one below:

Step 1: Enable IMAP in Outlook

1. Open your Outlook account via a web browser.
2. Go to Settings (gear icon) > View all Outlook settings > Mail > Sync email.
3. Under IMAP and SMTP, ensure that IMAP is enabled.

If needed, generate an App Password:

For accounts with 2-factor authentication enabled, generate an App Password. Do as directed below:

1. Go to Microsoft Account Security > Advanced Security Options > App Passwords.
2. Generate and note down the password for Thunderbird.

Step 2: Configure Outlook in Thunderbird

1. Open Thunderbird.
2. Click on Menu (☰) > Account Settings > Account Actions > Add Mail Account.
3. Enter the following details:

Your Name: Your name as you want it to appear in emails.

Email Address: Your Outlook email address (e.g., user@outlook.com).

Password: Your Outlook account password or App Password.

1. Click on Manual Config for advanced settings.

Step 3: Input IMAP and SMTP Server Details

Incoming Server (IMAP):

• Server: outlook.office365.com
• Port: 993
• Encryption: SSL/TLS

Outgoing Server (SMTP):

• Server: smtp.office365.com
• Port: 587
• Encryption: STARTTLS
• Username: Your full Outlook email address (e.g., user@outlook.com).

Click Done once the configuration is complete.

Now, Thunderbird will automatically synchronize your Outlook folders and emails, however, depending on the mailbox size, synchronization may take some time. Once configured, you can access your Outlook account directly from Thunderbird. Emails can be moved or copied between accounts within Thunderbird if needed to import Thunderbird Mail to Outlook.

Note: Alternatively, if you are using an older version of Thunderbird, the “Tools > Import > Outlook” feature may work. However, it only supports when both Outlook and Thunderbird are installed on the same machine. 

Method 2: Import Thunderbird Emails to Outlook via Gmail

For this process, you can use any webmail application (IMAP) but for convenience of understanding here we will go for Gmail. Do as the steps direct further.

Step 1: Enable IMAP in your Gmail Account

1. Open Gmail and log in to your account.
2. Locate the Gear icon on the top-right and click > See All Settings.
3. Move to the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab.
4. Next, in the IMAP access section, select the Enable IMAP option.
5. At last, scroll down to Save Changes.

Also, create a Gmail App Password, that will be used in further steps. 

Step 2: Add Gmail Account to Thunderbird

1. Open the Mozilla Thunderbird application > Menu (≡) on the top-right.
2. Click on Tools > Account Settings > Account Actions > Add Mail Account.
3. Enter your name and Gmail address > click “Continue.”
4. Thunderbird will attempt to configure your settings automatically. Choose IMAP to keep emails synced across devices.
5. Click ‘Configure manually’ and enter these settings:

• Incoming server (IMAP): imap.gmail.com
• Port: 993
• SSL: SSL/TLS
• Authentication: OAuth2

• For Outgoing SMTP server: smtp.gmail.com
• Port: 465
• SSL: SSL/TLS
• Authentication: OAuth2

1. Enter your Gmail password or App Password when prompted.
2. Click ‘Done’ and Thunderbird will start syncing your emails.
3. Now, check your Gmail mailbox in Thunderbird.
4. Drag and drop Thunderbird emails to the configured Gmail account. 

 Step 3: Configure the Same Gmail Account in MS Outlook 

1. Open MS Outlook and then, open the File menu. 
2. Click on the Info option > Add Account.
3. Now, enter your Gmail address and click ‘Connect’ or ‘Next.’
4. When prompted, enter these manual settings:

For Incoming mail (IMAP):

• Server: imap.gmail.com
• Port: 993
• Encryption: SSL/TLS

For Outgoing mail (SMTP):

• Server: smtp.gmail.com
• Port: 587
• Encryption: STARTTLS

1. After that, enter your Gmail address as the username.
2. Use the App Password you generated (not your regular Gmail password).
3. Click ‘Next’ and Outlook will test the connection.
4. Once successful, click ‘Finish’.

Note: If you’re using older versions of Outlook, you might need to go through ‘Manual setup’ or ‘Advanced options’ to enter server details.

Hence, your Gmail account with Thunderbird mailbox emails is successfully configured in Outlook. Now, import Thunderbird emails into Outlook from the Gmail mailbox. 

Method 3: Import Thunderbird EML to MS Outlook

Alternatively, you can import Thunderbird Mail to Outlook by saving Thunderbird emails to EML and later importing EML to Outlook. The process is as follows: 

1. Open Thunderbird, and select the email to export.
2. Right-click on the emails > Save As.
3. Specify a destination folder to save EML.
4. Thunderbird emails will be saved in .eml format.
5. Go to Outlook and create a folder in Outlook mailbox.
6. Next, drag and drop the .eml files into Outlook. (Or, you can use File > Open & Export > Import/Export > Import from another program or file.)

Things to Remember About Manual Approach

• You may lose some email formatting and metadata during conversion.
• Migrating large and embedded attachments can be problematic and improper.
• The mailbox folder hierarchies may not be preserved as original.
• Limited to migrate emails only and can’t not contacts and calendars. 
• Large mailboxes take significant time and have the risk of import failure.

So, what do if the manual method fails? Experts suggest using professional solutions to overcome such limitations. 

Method 4: Simplified Solution to Import Thunderbird Mail to Outlook

Aryson Thunderbird Backup Tool is the most demanded professional software that simplifies migrating Thunderbird emails. It enables users to convert Thunderbird emails to Outlook PST, which you can later import to Outlook. The software is secure and competent enough to overcome all limitations of the manual approach. Moreover, it involves no complex procedure and is time-efficient. All Windows users can run the software and get satisfactory results with ease. 

Follow the Steps to Importing Thunderbird Mail to Outlook:

1. Run the Thunderbird Backup Tool and choose a profile. (Thunderbird installation is mandatory).
2. Preview Thunderbird mailbox data in the preview panel.
3. Select folders to migrate and click Next to proceed. 
4. Next, opt for PST as the saving format and apply the needed filters.
5. Specify the saving folder for output PST and click on Convert. 

Later, import this PST file into Outlook using the Import/Export option. However, if you have MBOX files with emails to migrate, use Aryson MBOX Migrator to export to PST. 

Conclusion

The blog discusses various methods to help you import Thunderbird mail to Outlook. The manual process may seem a bit chaotic but it is free and ideal for small-scale migrations. On the other hand, Thunderbird backup tools are required when you have to migrate a large number of emails. Professional solutions are safe and reliable for all types of users, even new users. Try the demo version of the software to get a clear idea about its functionality and how it works before purchasing.

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