Import MBOX files to Thunderbird & Microsoft Outlook

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In this growing era, email clients are gaining popularity for providing easy communication facilities. The most used email clients are Thunderbird and Outlook. Both the email clients serve the same purpose of sharing information within the organization or with others. However, if you want to use MBOX files of other email clients in them, you need to import MBOX file in Thunderbird and Outlook. It is easy to import MBOX file in Thunderbird as it supports the file format, but importing MBOX file to Outlook is challenging as it supports PST format. This blog post will guide you about how you can import MBOX to Thunderbird and Outlook with easy-to-follow steps.

What is the need to import MBOX to Thunderbird and Outlook?

If you are using an MBOX email client which is obsolete or not in use now, in that scenario, you need to import MBOX file in Thunderbird and Outlook. Thunderbird email client as well as Outlook offers a wide range of outstanding features. Here are some of the reasons why users must import MBOX to Thunderbird and Outlook.

• For better accessibility than the Apple Mail MBOX email client.
• MS Outlook and Thunderbird are widely accepted.
• More enhanced features in Thunderbird and Outlook such as email management, calendar integration, task tracking, etc.

To open MBOX file in Thunderbird and Outlook, we first need to figure out the file location on your system. So, where to find the MBOX file?

Where MBOX file is located?

MBOX refers to Mailbox file, which consists of email messages and other data of users. You can easily find MBOX file location on your system whether it’s Mac or Windows. Location of MBOX file can depend upon the devices and their versions. Additionally, Thunderbird email client can be accessed on all operating systems, due to which everyone should know where these files are located.

Methods to import MBOX to Thunderbird

1. On Windows

Mozilla Thunderbird requires the installation of an add-on, using which you can proceed with the import process. Here are the steps to add ImportExportTools NG in Thunderbird:

1. Launch Thunderbird email client and click on three bars located at top right side of the interface, then select Add-ons and Themes option.
2. Click on Recommendations, then click Find more add-ons option.
3. Tap on the Most Popular option, then ImportExportTools NG.
4. Moving ahead, click on the Add to Thunderbird button to add it.
5. Now, click the Add button.
6. Once added, click on OK.

After installing the ImportExportTools NG add-on in Thunderbird, you can proceed with these steps to open MBOX file in Thunderbird.

The steps to import MBOX file in Thunderbird are as follows:

1. Open Thunderbird, click on Tools, select ImportExportTools, and click Import MBOX file.
2. In the pop-up, the option Import directly one or more MBOX files is set by default; click Ok.
3. Browse for the MBOX file in the specific location.
4. Below, you can see all your mailbox items after the import.

2. On Mac

The importing steps would be slightly different if you’re a Mac user. Follow the steps below to open MBOX file in Thunderbird while working on a Mac system:

1. Open Thunderbird for Mac, click on the Tools tab and click the Import option.
2. In the pop-up window, select the Mail option; click Next.
3. Select Apple Mail in the dialog box and click Next.
4. Upon completing the import process, a folder named Apple Mail will be listed in Thunderbird, and you can see all the mailbox items on the left-hand side of the email client on Mac.

Import MBOX files into MS Outlook

Importing MBOX files or migrating Thunderbird emails to Outlook is a common requirement for many Outlook users. Migration using manual methods may sound handy and fuss-free, but it doesn’t guarantee a complete migration.

You should not consider manual methods unless you are ready to face the consequences that come with them. You can import only a single MBOX file at once. The exact process will be repeated if you migrate multiple MBOX files. The most common occurrence of this approach is loss of data, which permanently impacts work. Moving MBOX files to Office 365 is another desired action that the users want to perform. But the lack of support for the platforms reduces the chances of any such manual attempt.

But Kernel for MBOX to PST Converter tool helps you to sideline all these drawbacks. The tool offers various features like file repair, data recovery, cross-platform migration, filtered migration, etc. Multiple file migration in a single go, live preview, Apple Mail & Thunderbird support, etc., are some additional salient features of this MBOX to PST tool.

Conclusion

If you try to import MBOX file to Outlook and Thunderbird without a proper understanding of the steps, you may get stuck somewhere in the middle and possibly risk the integrity of your MBOX file; then, the chances of file corruption also increase up to an extent. So, it is recommended to use a specialized MBOX file to PST conversion tool to import MBOX to Thunderbird and Outlook.

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