Mozilla Thunderbird and Microsoft Outlook are two big names when it comes to best desktop-based email clients. Both of the programs include several handy features but, most of the professionals choose Outlook over Thunderbird because of its advanced features and simple GUI. However, converting Thunderbird MBOX to Outlook PST seems tough and requires specialized technical assistance as both email clients use different file formats to store data. In order to make such data migration tasks easy for users, we have come up with this write up. Here we will disclose some simple and actually working techniques to export emails from Thunderbird to Outlook PST along with the reasons.
Pro Tip: Try the most reliable solution to convert MBOX files to Outlook PST for free.
Why Users Opt Outlook Over Thunderbird?
Because Outlook is better than Thunderbird. Now, you might be wondering Really? Well, the answer is YES and we have some strong reasons also. Check the list given below:
| Features | Mozilla Thunderbird | Microsoft Outlook |
| Security Level |
High |
Low |
| MAPI (Microsoft Exchange server protocol) | Not Supported | Supported |
| Email Scheduling | Not Supported | Supported |
| Email tracking read receipt collated in sent email | Not Supported | Supported |
| Support for Mobile | Not Supported | Android and Windows smartphones supported |
| Email voting | Not Supported | Supported |
| View more than one calendar | Not Supported | Supported |
| Attachments in contacts | Not Supported | Supported |
| Rich text editing in notes | Not Supported | Supported |
Top 3 Methods to Migrate Emails from Thunderbird to Outlook PST for Free
The section describes all manual approaches to fix how to convert MBOX to PST Outlook 2010 via which users can move single or multiple email files to Outlook mailbox.
Method 1. Convert Thunderbird Emails to Outlook Using IMAP
- For converting Thunderbird MBOX to Outlook PST, first configure your Gmail account in Thunderbird using IMAP. Below are the steps for this:
- Log in to your Gmail account
- Click Settings
- Choose Forwarding POP/IMAP tab
- Enable IMAP server
- Next, open Account Settings in Thunderbird, and in Create a new account section, click on email to convert Thunderbird to Outlook PST. Highlight skip this and configure with existing email
- Now, the Mail Account Setup wizard will be displayed to enter all the valid details. Click Continue for converting Thunderbird MBOX to Outlook PST
- In the new pop-up window, enable IMAP Server. Click Done. Doing this will configure your Gmail account in Thunderbird
- Next, create a new folder in Gmail and move your emails from Thunderbird to Gmail. After this, check if all emails are migrated or not.
- If all desired emails are exported successfully then, configure this Gmail account in MS Outlook and download all emails from Gmail. How to convert MBOX to PST Outlook 2010/ 2007 resolved.
Shortcomings
- This is a simple method yet, not reliable to migrate emails in original format
- Time-consuming and lengthy process. Complex for non-technical users
Method 2. Export Emails From Thunderbird to Outlook PST via Drag-and-Drop Method
For Thunderbird convert to Outlook PST process, first we need to export Thunderbird emails in EML file format and then, we can import them into Microsoft Outlook.
- To export Thunderbird emails in EML format, create a new folder on the desktop
- Open emails in Thunderbird, drag the required emails and drop them into that newly created folder
- Now, to import these EML files in Outlook:
- Launch Microsoft Outlook application on your system
- Again use drag-and-drop method to move the emails into Outlook folder to finish Thunderbird to Outlook PST conversion
Shortcomings
- This method is applicable only for Outlook 2016, 2013, and 2010
- Not an appropriate solution to migrate large emails or folders
Alternate Way is Indeed Better
SysTools Thunderbird to Outlook Converter is one of the best-suited approaches to export Thunderbird mail to Outlook PST. Converted PST can be accessed from Outlook 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007, and 2003 without any risk of data loss. It is completely an independent and secure software that executes email migration in a couple of clicks. It has the ability to export multiple emails from Thunderbird to Outlook PST PST file in bulk. The software is designed in such manner that it is compatible with Windows 10/ 8.1/ 8/ 7 and all below versions.
Observational Verdict
Migrating emails from Thunderbird to Outlook PST is possible with both manual and automated approach. As manual techniques to export Thunderbird mail to Outlook PST comprise some serious issues with them that will make users think twice before executing them. Hence, an automatic approach to export emails from Thunderbird to Outlook PST is also discussed here.
