Thunderbird is an open-source desktop email client that allows sending and receiving emails for both professional and individual communications. It supports IMAP, POP, or SMTP servers for configuring email accounts in Thunderbird. However, Thunderbird requires local storage to contain mailbox data, and when the storage is filled, it will not send or receive emails. This is a major issue; due to this, most users want to move their messages from their old Thunderbird account to their new IMAP account.
Why Import Thunderbird Emails to IMAP Server?
- IMAP allows you to access your mailbox data from different devices, keeping them synchronized in real time.
- Unlike Thunderbird local storage, IMAP stores emails on the server reducing the risk of data loss due to system crashes.
- Any changes made on IMAP such as editing, modifying, deleting are reflected to all over devices.
- Since emails are stored on the server, they are automatically backed up and protected from hardware failure.
- IMAP makes it simple to switch to another email client to set up an IMAP mail account then you shouldn’t need to import the messages from Thunderbird.
How to Migrate Thunderbird Emails to IMAP Server Using Thunderbird to IMAP Server Migration Tool?
If you want to migrate Thunderbird emails to IMAP accounts directly without investing manual effort or if you have a large-sized Thunderbird mailbox, we recommend using Thunderbird Converter. It can migrate multiple Thunderbird profiles and offers mailbox folder selection as required for migration. This software is a top utility for migrating Thunderbird mailbox data and is also a standalone application. Due to this, it doesn’t require Thunderbird installation, as it can proceed with the profile location and also auto-configures Thunderbird mailbox data, saving effort in finding the specific location of the Thunderbird profile.
Steps to Migrate Thunderbird Emails to IMAP Server
- Download and install “Thunderbird to IMAP Server Migration Tool” on your system.
- Click on “Auto-configured profile” and check on multiple users if required.
- Easily load “Thunderbird mailboxes” with attachments for migration into IMAP account and highlight all the emails you want to transfer.
- Choose “IMAP” in the list of select saving options.
- Enter “IMAP email address and password” to authorize account for migration.
- Press Next to start “Migrate Thunderbird emails to IMAP Server”.
Impressive Features of Thunderbird to IMAP Server Migration Tool
- You can also migrate Thunderbird to Outlook, Maildir, Zimbra, and many more.
- This software can easily migrate Thunderbird emails, contacts, calendars without leaving any data behind.
- It also offers filter options to convert specific mailbox data such as per date range, from, to, subject, exclude folders, sender blank address, receiver blank address etc.
- With this wizard, you can also convert Thunderbird to PDF, PST, TXT, HTML, CSV and 28+ select saving options.
- This tool has been specially created with an easy to perform interface to easily perform without depending on any technical guide.
How to Import Thunderbird Emails to IMAP Server Manually?
If you want to import Thunderbird emails to an IMAP server manually, we have provided various solutions below. However, before proceeding, it is important to note the limitations of manual methods, which we have explained after the solutions and also you must enable IMAP in your IMAP Server to perform it manually. Therefore, we do not recommend the manual approach. However, if you still wish to proceed despite its limitations, you can follow the instructions provided below.
Method1. How to Transfer Thunderbird Emails to IMAP Server?
- Open “Mozilla Thunderbird” and click on Menu.
- Now, press on “Account Settings” and click on “Account Actions”.
- Here, tap on “Add Mail Account” to Simply add the new account to the same Thunderbird profile and fill IMAP username, email address and password.
- Press Continue and choose “IMAP Server” for configuration.
- Tap on Next to just “Configure both e-mail accounts in Thunderbird”.
- Navigate to the “Thunderbird folder” and select as you want to migrate.
- Right-click on “Chosen emails” and move your messages from your old POP account to your new IMAP account.
Method2. How to Migrate Thunderbird Emails to IMAP Server?
- Click on the “Thunderbird menu” and press on “Add-ons and Themes”.
- Search “Import/Export NG Tools” and click on “Add to Thunderbird”.
- Restart “Thunderbird” and right click on the mailbox folder as you want to migrate.
- Select the “Export folder” and save it in the EML or MBOX format.
- Now, open your “IMAP account” in Thunderbird.
- Right-click on the “Mailbox folder” as you need to migrate.
- Choose “Import MBOX file” and choose as you have exported from Thunderbird to import it.
Method3. How to Import Thunderbird Emails to IMAP Server?
- First, open “Gmail” and click on the Setting option that appears as Gear icon.
- Now, press on “See All Settings” and then forwarding and POP/IMAP.
- Tap on “Enable IMAP”.
- Add the “Gmail account” as IMAP in Thunderbird.
- Move your “Thunderbird folders to Gmail account”.
- After that, you can easily “configure your Gmail account to another email services” such as Hotmail, Outlook.com to easily transfer to an IMAP account.
Boundaries of Manual Methods
- Manually transferring emails from Thunderbird to IMAP takes lots of time especially for thousands of emails.
- Email information, metadata, and folder structure will not be maintained as appears in Thunderbird.
- If the Thunderbird export process fails some emails may become corrupted or missing.
- This manual approach required selecting emails manually which isn’t beneficial for business or large scale organizations.
- Gmail IMAP Sync can be slow for large migrations, especially if transferring to Hotmail, Outlook.com or any other email service provider.
Resolution
Have you reached here? Then we hope you get the accurate solutions to migrate Thunderbird emails to IMAP Server by manually and using Thunderbird to IMAP Server Migration Tool. As manually it required lots of valuable time and also attributes will not be preserved. So, we recommend you to opt Thunderbird to IMAP Migration Tool as it makes the process hassle free and can migrate any size or any numbers of Thunderbird without facing any single limitations.
Typical Questions about Migrate Thunderbird Emails to IMAP Server
Does Thunderbird work with IMAP?
Yes, Thunderbird works with IMAP. It allows users to sync emails across multiple devices while keeping them stored on the mail server. To configure an IMAP account, users can go to Account settings and click on Add Mail account and fill their credentials such as username, email address and app password and choose IMAP as the server type.
What is the difference between IMAP and SMTP in Thunderbird?
IMAP is used for receiving and managing emails allowing synchronization across devices. SMTP is used for sending emails from Thunderbird to the recipient’s email server. While IMAP stores email on the server, SMTP only transmits outgoing messages ensuring reliable email delivery.
How do I Change my email settings in Thunderbird?
To change email settings in Thunderbird go to Menu and click on Account Settings and here choose your email account. Under Server settings, you can modify IMAP/POP settings, authentication methods, ports and inside security options. SMTP settings can be updated as Outgoing Mail Server(SMTP) to ensure proper email delivery.