How to Convert Thunderbird emails to Plain Text files? Verified Ways

Thunderbird is an open-source and completely free desktop email client. It can configure email accounts using IMAP, SMTP, or POP servers. Mozilla Thunderbird can manage multiple email accounts on a single platform. However, sometimes users want to convert Thunderbird emails to Plain Text files to access them easily without depending on any specific application.

TXT is a plain text format without formatting, embedded links and scripts ensuring a lightweight, readable, and secure way to contain emails. It is useful for archiving, documentation, email analysis and improved compatibility with other applications. Let’s read the reasons to save Thunderbird emails to TXT files.

Why Export Thunderbird Emails to TXT Files?

• Text files can be easily opened on any device without depending on a specific email client.
• Plain Text files take less storage as compared to other formats.
• TXT files offer a clean, unformatted view of email content.
• Users can save important emails as TXT files for long term storage.
• It makes it easier to extract and use email content in other applications.

How to Convert Thunderbird Emails to Plain Text Files Manually?

There are various ways to convert Thunderbird emails to Plain Text files, but they are only reliable for exporting a few emails from Thunderbird. If you need to export a batch of Thunderbird emails, entire profiles, or multiple profiles, then you can skip the manual approach and proceed with the professional choice automated approach, as we have discussed after the solution.

Method1. How to Export Thunderbird Email to TXT Files?

1. Open “Mozilla Thunderbird” and choose email as you want to convert.
2. Right-click on it and press on “Save As” option.
3. Browse “Plain Text format” as file type and select destination directory.
4. Press “Save” to export Thunderbird email as TXT file.

Method2. How to Save Thunderbird Emails to TXT Files Using Import/Export NG Tools?

1. Open “Mozilla Thunderbird” and click on the Menu.
2. Press on “Add-ons and Themes” and search for Import/Export NG Tools.
3. Relaunch “Thunderbird” and right click on the desired folder to convert.
4. Select “Export Messages” and choose as Plain Text format.
5. Choose a folder to “Save” the exported emails in TXT format.

Method3. How to Convert Thunderbird Emails to Plain Text Files by Copy and Paste?

1. Start “Thunderbird” and open email as you want to convert.
2. Select the “Content” and press CTRL+C or CMD+C on Mac.
3. Open “Notepad” and paste it by pressing CTRL+V or CMD+V.
4. Press on file then click on “Save as” option and enter file name then press Save.

Challenges of Manual Methods

• Manual methods required exporting emails one by one making them inefficient for bulk conversion.
• The built-in Save As option doesn’t export multiple emails at once.
• Email attachments will not be saved and must be downloaded manually.
• If export settings are incorrect, emails might not save in the intended format.
• Users must install Import/Export NG Tools or other add-ons which may not be compatible with all versions of Thunderbird.

Instructions to Save Thunderbird Emails to Plain Text files

1. Download and launch “Thunderbird to TXT Converter” on your pc.
2. Click on “Convert configured Thunderbird mailbox” data as needed.
3. Browse “Thunderbird mailbox folders” as you need to convert.
4. Choose TXT in the available “Select Saving Options”.
5. Select “File Naming Options” to maintained in specific order.
6. Browse “Destination path” to select the converted output file location.
7. Select “Advanced filters” as per user comfort.
8. Press Next to begin “Converting Thunderbird emails to Plain Text files”.

Paramount Traits of Thunderbird to CSV Converter

• It allows you to auto-configure Thunderbird profile or you can also select any specific files or folder as needed to convert.
• This software also offers to migrate Thunderbird to Gmail, Office 365, Rediffmail and all IMAP Supported email platforms.
• With this software, you can also use advanced filters to convert selective data as per date range, subject, sender, recipients, sender blank address, receiver blank address as needed.
• You can also convert Thunderbird to PDF, PST, EML, MBOX, and 28+ select saving options.
• This software has been specially developed with an easy to perform interface to easily perform by any users without depending on any technical guide.

Help Questions about Convert Thunderbird emails to Plain Text files

How do I view emails as plain text in Thunderbird?

To view emails as plain text in Thunderbird you need to open email and click on More actions and now select Message body as and here select Plain Text. This will remove all the formatting, displaying only the raw content of the email.

How do I make Thunderbird default to plain text?

To set up Thunderbird to display all emails in plain text by default, go to Settings and click on General and now check plain text messages to make Thunderbird default to plain text.

How do I send an email as plain text in Thunderbird?

To send an email as plain Text open Thunderbird and click on Settings and now click on Composition and here choose sending format as only plain Text format.

Closing Remarks

In this well researched tutorial, we have shared all tried and tested solutions to convert Thunderbird emails to plain Text files by both manually and automated approach. If you are required to convert a few emails from Thunderbird then you can follow the manual approach. Otherwise, opt businesses first choose Thunderbird to TXT Converter as it converts any number of emails or accounts at one shot without facing any limitations.