Export MSG Emails to Thunderbird Format – Complete Solution for All Users

Do you use Mozilla Thunderbird for email, but have a lot of MSG files? You can feel stuck. Microsoft Outlook makes MSG files. But Thunderbird doesn't support them right away. So, how do you read those MSG emails in Thunderbird?

Don't worry. You are not the only one. A lot of people have this problem. The good news is that you can solve this. Learn how to easily move MSG emails into Thunderbird with this step-by-step blog. You’ll learn both manual steps and an automated solution using a reliable tool.

Let’s get started.

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What are MSG files, and why do Thunderbird users need MBOX?

MSG files hold one email message generated by Microsoft Outlook. There is one email in each MSG file, together with all of its information, such as the sender, recipient, date, topic, and content. The attachments are kept in the same MSG file as the email.

On the other hand, Thunderbird saves emails in a format called MBOX. Many emails are saved in one file with this style.  Still, Thunderbird doesn't let you open an MSG file directly.

You need to convert MSG to MBOX for this reason. You can easily open or export MSG emails to Thunderbird format once they are in MBOX format.

How to Convert MSG to MBOX Manually

If you have Outlook, the manual technique will work. It takes some time, but it's helpful for a modest number of files. Let's go through it step by step

Step 1: Open Outlook and find MSG files

• On your computer, open Microsoft Outlook.
• Find the folder where you put the MSG files
• Drag and drop each MSG file into your Outlook inbox or any folder within Outlook.
• Now your MSG emails are in Outlook.

Step 2: Save Outlook Emails in MBOX Format
Outlook doesn't let you export directly to MBOX. You will need to put these emails into a format that Thunderbird can read. Do these things:

• If you don't want to utilize your main Gmail account, make a new one.
• Turn on IMAP access in your Gmail settings.
• Use IMAP to add this Gmail account to Outlook.
• Put the MSG emails you imported from Outlook into a folder in your Gmail account.
• Open Thunderbird and add the same Gmail account.
• Allow Thunderbird to sync the Gmail folders.

You can now view your MSG emails in Thunderbird format. You can save the folder to MBOX format by right-clicking it in Thunderbird and using the ImportExportTools NG add-on.

Advantages of the Manual Method: 

• It's free
• You don't have to install any third-party programs.

Disadvantages of the Manual Method:

• You need Outlook and a Gmail account.
• Takes a lot of time and is hard to do with a lot of files
• Needs to move back and forth between Outlook and Thunderbird all the time
• There is a chance that some data, including attachments or formatting, will be lost.

Best Way to Export MSG Emails to Thunderbird Format

You can utilize Softaken MSG to MBOX Converter to export MSG emails to Thunderbird format.  This application is meant to enable people to convert bulk emails from MSG to MBOX format without having to use Outlook. It is simple to use and has a neat layout.  Allows you to migrate large emails from MSG into MBOX at once.  Keeps the layout and attachments of emails during the conversion process.  You don't need Outlook or Gmail. The tool works with Windows OS and MS Outlook editions. It has a user-friendly GUI for all novice and professional users. Before buying a full license, users can test the free demo edition.

Let's check out how the tool works.

A Step-by-Step Guide:

• Download and install the Softaken MSG to MBOX Converter Tool on your computer.
• Click “Add File” to choose individual MSG files or “Add Folder” to import all MSG files from a folder.

• View the email content, including subject, sender, body, and attachments, before conversion.
• Choose MBOX as the format you want to convert your MSG files into.

• Click “Browse” to pick a location on your system to save the MBOX file.
• Hit the “Convert Now” button to begin the conversion process.

Benefits of Using the Tool

• Saves time: it can convert hundreds of MSG files in only a few minutes.
• Easy to Use: There is no learning curve, and the buttons and layout are basic.
• Keeps Everything Safe:  All attachments and formatting stay the same.
• No Outlook Needed: It works without Outlook from Microsoft
• Batch Conversion: Change a lot of files at once
• Safe to use: no chance of losing data or damaging files

Who Should Use This Tool?

• People who use Outlook at home and are switching to Thunderbird
• People who work in an office and have a lot of MSG files from an old system
• IT workers who need to deal with a lot of emails at once
• Anyone who wants a quick and easy way to get to their Outlook emails in Thunderbird

Final Thoughts

MSG files don’t open in Thunderbird by default. You can either do it the hard way or utilize a clever tool. If there is only one or two messages to convert, you can manage it manually. The Softaken MSG to MBOX Converter is the best choice if you have a lot of files or don't want to deal with the trouble.

It offers a quick and reliable way to convert files with zero confusion. You don't need Outlook. Gmail is not required for this process. Just install the application, let it change your files, and then you can easily get to your emails in Thunderbird.