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How to Export Thunderbird Emails to MSG Files? Best Methods

Admin ~ February 13, 2025 ~ 5 Minutes Reading

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When a user manages emails, it often needs to transfer messages between different email clients. Mozilla Thunderbird is an open-source email client that can be freely used on any system. It’s one of the most famous email applications for both individual and professional users. However, many users are looking for the way to export Thunderbird emails to MSG files manually and Thunderbird Converter.

Let see user query:Thunderbird to MSG user query

MSG File is a proprietary file format used by Microsoft Outlook to store individual email messages. Each MSG file contains a single email along with metadata including sender and recipient details, subject line, message body, attachments and formatting. MSG file is widely used for storing and sharing emails individually to save and access messages independently.

Purpose to Export Mail from Thunderbird to MSG

  • It allows users to create organized backups. Each email is stored as a separate file, making it easier to navigate and restore specific messages when required.
  • Business users mostly require MSG files to maintain email records with maintained metadata such as timestamps, headers and attachments, which are important for compliance policy and legal investigations.
  • Unlike batch email stored in an MBOX file, MSG files allow users to save individual emails, making it easier to share or move specific messages without exporting the entire mailbox.

How to Export Emails from Thunderbird to MSG Manually?

If you have installed Outlook application then you need IMAP account as an intermediate account to perform it manually by following the instructions as we have stated below:

  1. First, you must “Enable IMAP” in your IMAP account.
  2. Then, “Generate app password” to configure email client.
  3. After that, open “Thunderbird” and click on “Setting”.Open Thunderbird and press on Setting
  4. Now, press on “Add Mail Account” then enter full name, email address and app password.Press on Add Mail Account
  5. After clicking Continue, select “IMAP”, and then click Done to complete the setup.
  6. Now, hold on the “Mailbox folder” and drop into the IMAP account.
  7. Configure “Same IMAP account in Outlook”.
  8. Transfer mailbox folder from “IMAP” account to MSG file.
  9. Now, drag and drop emails from Outlook to the desired folder will be saved in “MSG file”.

Drawbacks of Manual Methods

  • You need to export each MSG file separately.
  • Attachments may not be preserved with emails.
  • This manual approach is not suitable for batch email conversion.
  • Metadata and formatting will not be retained.

How to Export Mail from Thunderbird to MSG using Thunderbird to MSG Converter?

If you want to export emails from Thunderbird mailbox data in MSG files in bulk. So, we recommend you to opt Thunderbird to MSG Converter as it allows users to convert any individual or batch Thunderbird mailbox data without affecting any attributes. This software has been developed with advanced algorithms to get accurate results without losing any information.

Steps to Export Thunderbird Emails to MSG File

  1. Download and open “Thunderbird to MSG Converter” on your system.Open Thunderbird to MSG Converter
  2. Check on “Configure Thunderbird mailboxes” as you want to convert.Press on Convert Configured Thunderbird
  3. After clicking on the next button, choose the “Mailbox folder” as you want to convert.Select Mailbox folder
  4. Choose “MSG file” in the list of select saving options.Select MSG File
  5. Browse “File Naming Option” as you want to convert.Select file naming option
  6. Choose the destination path and press on “Advanced filter”.Select advanced filter
  7. Press Next to start “Export Thunderbird emails to MSG files”.Start Export Thunderbird emails to MSG files

Premier attributes of Thunderbird to MSG Converter

  • With this software, you can also migrate Thunderbird to Outlook, Gmail, Zimbra, Apple Mail and all IMAP Supported email platforms.
  • It offers dual mode to select thunderbird profile by files and folder. As we as it also auto detect Thunderbird profile without losing any information.
  • You can also use filter options to migrate Thunderbird mailbox data as per date range, from, to, subject, exclude folders, root folder, sender blank addresses, receiver blank address etc.
  • It is specially created with an easy to perform interface to easily perform by any corporate users or individual who may have technicalities or have basic technical skills.
  • This software can also convert Thunderbird to PDF, PST, EML, MBOX, TXT, HTML and 28+ select saving options.
Read here: Extract Phone Numbers from Thunderbird

Common Queries about Export Thunderbird Emails to MSG File

Will Thunderbird open MSG files?

No, Thunderbird doesn’t natively support MSG files because MSG is a proprietary format used by Microsoft Outlook. To open MSG files in Thunderbird, users need to opt Thunderbird Import Tool to export in MBOX format to easily open in Thunderbird.

Can Thunderbird send texts?

Thunderbird isn’t officially allowed to send texts. However, users can integrate services that allow sending SMS through email to text gateways. This requires an SMTP email setup with a mobile carrier’s SMS gateway address.

How are Thunderbird emails stored?

Thunderbird stores emails in MBOX format, where all messages from a folder are saved in a single file without individual separation. Each email account is stored in the Thunderbird profile folder.

Read more: Download All Attachments from Thunderbird

Final Verdict

In this tutorial, we will outline the effective approaches to export Thunderbird emails to MSG file by manually and using Thunderbird to MSG Converter. As manually it has lots of drawbacks and also metadata will not be maintained. So, according to professional users’ suggestions we recommend you to opt Thunderbird to MSG Converter as it offers fully effective migration without losing any information.