Can Outlook Import from Thunderbird? How?

This article explains the solution to the most frequently asked issue – Can Outlook import from Thunderbird?

There are numerous scenarios in which users want to access the Thunderbird mailbox in Microsoft Outlook application. But, when they try to import the MBOX file (Thunderbird mailbox file) directly into Outlook, they get an error message. Let’s take a look at a scenario that a corporation is facing and the potential solutions.

User Scenario:

“Previously, for corporate email communication, we utilized the Thunderbird email application. However, we are now using MS Outlook 2019 for business purposes. The issue now is that we need to migrate all of our old T-Bird emails to the new mail client. But, no matter how hard we looked for a way to get those files in Outlook, we couldn’t find one. Finally, I’d like to know if Outlook 2019 can import from Thunderbird? If that’s the case, please recommend a migration plan.”

It is clear from the previous example that migrating Thunderbird files to an email application such as Microsoft Outlook appears to be straightforward, but it is not. People sometimes assume that because Thunderbird uses MBOX (most commonly used mailbox file format), every major email application must support it. However, this is not the case with Microsoft Outlook. To make the conversion process easier, we’ll go over how exactly Outlook can import MBOX files in this article. And also the technicalities of this situation.

Can Outlook import from Thunderbird? If it’s possible, how should it be done?

No, there are no official means to directly let Outlook import from Thunderbird.

One of the first things an Outlook user should know is that the PST (Personal Storage Table) file type is supported by Outlook for data storage. It doesn’t matter what file you’re uploading; it has to be in an Outlook-compatible format. As a result, Outlook is unable to import a Thunderbird MBOX file directly.

Wait! There’s more to the story.

There is a means to obtain the desired objectives, despite the fact that there is no official procedure for doing so. MBOX files can be read by Outlook by converting the MBOX data to a readable format. Additionally, because Outlook supports the PST file format, conversion to this file type is required.

Because email conversion is such a complicated task, it necessitates the use of specialized software. A Trusted MBOX to PST Converter is useful in this situation. A handy program that converts Thunderbird files to PST format, allowing Outlook to open them. All of this in a matter of minutes. After the files are successfully converted to PST, you can import them into Outlook and read the emails as needed.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Getting the Conversion

To import from Thunderbird to Outlook, follow these steps:

1. Run the MBOX software.
2. Click Add File button on the home screen.
3. Select the Thunderbird option from the list and click Next.
4. If Thunderbird is already installed, the software will auto-fetch its data.
5. Else, add the Thunderbird MBOX files manually.
6. After you’ve loaded all of the files, use the preview window to double-check the email data.
7. To convert Thunderbird emails to a readable Outlook file, select PST.
8. Select an output PST file location and click the Export button.

Instructions Through Video:

Note: Thunderbird allows multiple profiles. If the software is unable to fetch certain accounts, make sure the required profile is open in Thunderbird.

II. Now, you have a PST file on your computer – Import in Outlook 2019, 2016, 2013

You may easily obtain an Outlook-compatible file using the preceding technique. However, in order for Outlook to import Thunderbird files, we must first import their PST equivalents into Microsoft Outlook.

Go ahead and follow the steps outlined below to get your PST files in Outlook:

1. Open Outlook and go to File.
2. To open the wizard, select Open & Export, then Import/Export.
3. Select Import from another program or file in the Import and Export Wizard.
4. Press the Next button.
5. Then, select the Outlook Data File (.pst). Then, to continue the procedure, click Next.
6. To upload a PST file, click Browse.
7. Select the radio button for Import things into the current folder and then click Finish.
8. Depending on the size of the file, importing PST into Outlook takes a few minutes.

What are the Benefits of Using Conversion Software?

Can Outlook import from Thunderbird? No, but converting them to PST format and then importing them into Outlook is a valid solution. However, it’s crucial to understand how the aforementioned program aids the user in preserving MBOX data.

Using this conversion tool not only avoids any of these problems from occurring but also speeds up the conversion process.

Furthermore, the best aspect of the tool is that it is not limited to Windows Outlook only. The conversion may be done without problem on the Mac platform as well. In these instances, the Mac software variant can be used.

Ready to Import from Thunderbird?

With this blog, you now know the answer to the question – “Can Outlook import from Thunderbird?”. So, whenever you run into this problem, simply use the preceding workaround to import all Thunderbird emails into Outlook.