How to Transfer emails from Thunderbird to Microsoft 365?

There are lots of Thunderbird users who want to transfer emails from Thunderbird to Microsoft 365 due to its cloud based storage with advanced features. So, we have shared the effective solutions to migrate Thunderbird emails to Microsoft 365 by manually and using automated solutions.

Thunderbird is an open source desktop email client and it allows for sending and receiving emails for communications. It supports email protocols such as IMAP, POP, and SMTP protocols. It allows you to manage emails, contacts, calendars, notes, tasks, etc.

Microsoft 365 is a monthly subscription based cloud platform it specially creates for individual and enterprise users. It provides more features and apps to organize your professional or personal work easily. It allows users to send/receive emails and as well as manage other data such as contacts, calendars, notes, tasks, etc.

Purpose to Migrate Thunderbird Emails to Microsoft 365

• Microsoft 365 offers secure, scalable and cloud-based storage that contains emails, contacts and calendars from any device without having connectivity.
• Unlike Thunderbird, Microsoft 365 offers collaboration tools such as Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive making teamwork more efficient and seamless.
• It offers advanced features such as focused inbox, integration with Microsoft Suite and superior spam filtering, enhanced productivity and email management.
• With Microsoft 365, organizations can centralize your email administration, user accounts and security settings through the Microsoft Admin Center is not available in Thunderbird.
• It offers enterprise grade security features such as data encryption, multi-factor authentication and compliance with global regulations ensuring email data is secure.

How to Transfer Emails from Thunderbird to Microsoft 365 Manually?

Manually transferring emails from Thunderbird to Microsoft 365 you need to use an intermediate IMAP email account to bridge the operation process. Follow the detailed steps below to complete the process:

Part1. Setup IMAP Account in Thunderbird

1. Open “Thunderbird” and click on the “Account Settings”.
2. Press on the “Account Actions” and click on “Add Mail Account”.
3. Enter “IMAP email credentials” such as email address, password, and username.
4. Choose “IMAP” as email server and click on Next to “configure IMAP account with Thunderbird”.
   

Part2. Copy Emails to the IMAP Account in Thunderbird

1. In Thunderbird, select the “Emails or folder” as you want to transfer.
2. Right-click on the “chosen Emails” and click on the “Copy to or Move To” option.
3. Select the folder under the “IMAP account” where you want to copy to move emails.
4. Wait for the emails to upload to the “IMAP Server”.

Part3. Configure IMAP Account in Microsoft Outlook

1. Launch “Outlook” and configure “Microsoft 365 email account”.
2. Then, go to “File” and press on “Add Account”.
3. Enter your “IMAP email address” and press “Connect”.
4. Now, choose “Manual Server setups” and click on “POP or IMAP”.
5. After clicking on the next button, Enter “IMAP username”, email address, and password.
6. Fill “IMAP Configuration” details and press on the finish button.

Part4. Transfer IMAP Emails to Microsoft 365

1. Select the “IMAP Folder” as you have transferred from Thunderbird.
2. “Drag and drop emails” from IMAP folder to Microsoft 365 folder.
3. Wait to synchronize “Thunderbird emails in Microsoft 365 account”.

Challenges of Manual Migration

• This manual process is time consuming and complicated to transfer large mailbox data.
• It requires multiple IMAP Configuration and needed technicalities to handle this approach.
• Errors during the transfer may lead to incomplete or lost emails.
• Required intermediate IMAP account, adding complexity to the migration.
• Some attachments or email properties may not transfer accurately.

How to Migrate Thunderbird Emails to Microsoft 365 using Thunderbird to Microsoft 365 Migration Tool?

As we have seen, that manual approach is very lengthy and also not a good choice to migrate large size mailbox data. So, we recommend you to opt Thunderbird Converter as its utmost utility as it allows you to migrate selectively or whole Thunderbird mailbox data without losing any single information.

Steps to Transfer Emails from Thunderbird to Microsoft 365

1. Download “Thunderbird to Microsoft 365 Migration Tool” then run it.
2. Click on “configured Thunderbird mailboxes data” and press the next button.
3. Preview to select the “Thunderbird mailbox folder” as you want to migrate.
4. Choose “Office 365” in the list of select saving options.
5. Enter “Microsoft 365 email address” and password to login your email account.
6. Click on Next to start “transferring emails from Thunderbird to Microsoft 365”.

Notable Attributes of Thunderbird to Microsoft 365 Migration Tool

• This application can also convert Thunderbird to DOC, PST, PDF, EML and 28+ export options.
• It offers dual upload to select Thunderbird files or folders as you need to migrate.
• You can also migrate Thunderbird to Gmail, Outlook, Windows Live Mail and all IMAP Supported email platforms.
• With this software, you can also convert specific Thunderbird mailbox data as per date range, subject, sender blank address, receiver blank address, exclude folders, root folders etc.
• It offers a simple initiative interface to easily perform by any corporate or individual users.

FAQS about Transfer Emails from Thunderbird to Microsoft 365

Does Thunderbird work with Microsoft Exchange?

Thunderbird doesn’t officially support Microsoft Exchange as it lacks built-in compatibility with Exchange Web Services(EWS). However, it can connect using IMAP As IMAP offers basic email functionality using IMAP.

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Can Thunderbird connect to 365?

Yes, you can connect Thunderbird to Microsoft 365 using IMAP by entering IMAP email address, username and app password. Fill IMAP Configuration details to connect Thunderbird account to 365.

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Why Thunderbird Cannot connect to Office 365?

Thunderbird may fail to connect due to server settings, IMAP disabled, or authentication failures. It often required app password to configure Thunderbird with other third party apps.

Ending Remarks

In this technical guide, we have shared the most effective solutions to transfer emails from Thunderbird to Microsoft 365, both manually and using the Thunderbird to Microsoft 365 Migration Tool. Manually, it involves a lot of configuration and is also not a reliable choice for migrating large-sized mailbox data. Therefore, we recommend you opt for Thunderbird to Office 365 Migration Software to complete the migration without any hassle.