How to Export or Import Gmail to Thunderbird with Attachments

Summary:- Gmail is a popular email service by Google, while Thunderbird is an open-source email client. Nowadays, users are converting their Gmail emails to Thunderbird, which allows them to manage their emails offline, customize their email experience, and have more control over their data and privacy. If you are the one who also wants to import Gmail to Thunderbird, then read this entire blog to learn the quick methods. To accomplish this, we will use both the expert Gmail Converter tool and the manual approach. Moreover, in this blog, we will explore the reasons why Gmail emails are converted to Thunderbird. Let’s get started with the discussion of the user query.

 

User Query: ”I recently switched my email client from Gmail to Thunderbird, and now I’m facing a bit of a challenge. I have a ton of important emails in Gmail, and I want to make sure I transfer them to Thunderbird seamlessly, along with all the attachments.

I’ve tried a few things, but it seems a bit tricky, especially with keeping all the attachments intact. I want a reliable method that can easily move data from Gmail to Thunderbird. Can you guide me through the steps to export my Gmail emails to Thunderbird while making sure all the attachments are safely transferred as well? I’m not a tech whiz, so a simple, step-by-step solution would be greatly appreciated.”

I recently viewed the above query and found the best methods. Let’s start by discussing why exporting Gmail to Thunderbird is such a good move. Once we’ve covered that, I’ll walk you through the most effective way to complete this task.

Reasons to Import Gmail to Thunderbird

There are several reasons or benefits to importing Gmail to Thunderbird. Here, we will discuss the five main reasons why you should transfer Gmail emails to Thunderbird.

BenefitsDescription
Offline accessEmail access is possible even when there is no internet connection.
Local storageIt allows you to store emails on your computer for more control.
CustomizationThunderbird can be tailored to your specific needs.
Multiple accountsIt can manage emails from different providers.
PrivacyYou can keep email data out of the hands of large tech companies.
Advanced featuresIt utilizes a number of features that are not available in Gmail.

Once you have viewed the above points, learn the methods to export Gmail emails to Thunderbird with attachments.

4 Best Ways to Import Gmail to Thunderbird

In this section, we will discuss four different ways to convert Gmail data to Thunderbird. Finally, let us review each technique in detail.

Method 1: How to Convert Gmail Emails to Thunderbird?

In this method, we will discuss how to transfer Gmail data to Thunderbird by enabling IMAP in Gmail and configuring Thunderbird. To make it easier, we divided this method into two steps. Let’s learn the proper process in detail.

Step 1: Enable IMAP in Gmail

  1. First, go to your Gmail settings.
  2. Click on the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab.
  3. Then, select Enable IMAP and save the changes.

Step 2: Configure Thunderbird

  1. Now, open Thunderbird and go to Account Setup >>Add Account.
  2. Then, choose Emails, and then enter your Gmail address and password.
  3. Select IMAP as the account type and server.
  4. After all, enter the IMAP server address (imap.gmail.com) and port (993).
  5. In the end, Thunderbird will automatically configure the rest of the settings.

Method 2: How to Import Gmail to Thunderbird?

This section will explain how to use Thunderbird’s Import option (MBOX files) to import Gmail. Proceed to the steps now.

Step 1: Export your Gmail emails as MBOX files

  1. First, go to your Gmail settings.
  2. Then, click on Advanced, then Download MBOX.
  3. Choose the folders you want to export.
  4. Now, hit Download MBOX.

Step 2: Import MBOX files into Thunderbird

  1. Now, open Thunderbird and click on File, then Import.
  2. After that, select Mail and choose your MBOX files.
  3. Lastly, Thunderbird will import your emails and folders.

Method 3: How to Export Gmail Mailbox to Thunderbird?

We will transfer all Gmail emails to Thunderbird (POP3) in this section. It takes two easy steps to complete this method. Let us talk about it in more detail.

Step 1: Enable POP3 in Gmail

  1. First, Gogo to your Gmail settings.
  2. Then, tap on the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tabs.
  3. Now, enable POP3 and choose the folders you want to forward.
  4. Here, enter the POP3 server address (pop.gmail.com) and port (995).
  5. Leave a copy of the message on the server if you want to keep a backup in Gmail.

Step 2: Configure Thunderbird

  1. Now, open Thunderbird and click on Account Setup>>Add Account.
  2. Next, choose Email and enter your Gmail ID and password.
  3. Select POP3 as the account type and server.
  4. Then, enter the POP3 server address and port.
  5. Finally, Thunderbird will automatically configure the rest of the settings.

Some Limitations of the Manual Method

The previous method is an effective and working method to import Gmail into Thunderbird, but it can’t work sometimes because of some problems that can be faced by users who use manual ways to import Gmail to Thunderbird. Now, go view the below-listed points.

  • These methods require technical experience to be used properly.
  • If you are a novice user and make mistakes, then you can corrupt and lose your data.
  • These methods do not provide a facility to remove duplicate emails, date filters, free up server space, etc.
  • Manual methods can’t convert Gmail emails with attachments in bulk properly, and they can also convert limited data at the same time.
  • These methods are a time-consuming and lengthy process when you have a large amount of data to export from Gmail to Thunderbird.

If you have a large amount of data in your Gmail account and want to import Gmail to Thunderbird in bulk in a minute, Then, you can opt for the below quick automated method to resolve your problem. Let’s learn the professional method to move Gmail to Thunderbird.

Method 4: Direct Method to Transfer Gmail to Thunderbird in Bulk

Here, we are going to use the Gmail Backup tool to convert Gmail mailboxes into MBOX format. The MBOX file format is the format of the Thunderbird email client. Similarly, it has a friendly user interface that allows you to convert Gmail emails to Thunderbird. Whether you are tech-savvy or a novice, you can use this software easily. Moreover, this software has various features, including the ability to skip duplicate emails, a date filter, free up server space, etc. Now, we are going to discuss a step-by-step guide to importing Gmail to Thunderbird with attachments in bulk.

Steps to Convert Gmail into Thunderbird

  1. Firstly, download and launch the Gmail backup tool on your device.
  2. Then, enter your Gmail ID & App password, and then click the Sign-In button.
  3. This tool will now capture all the mailboxes of your selective Gmail account. Choose the folders into which you need to import Thunderbird, and then click the Next button.
  4. After that, go to the Save in File Format option and then choose the MBOX format from the drop-down menu.
  5. Afterward, select the options you need, such as skipping duplicate emails, using a date filter, and freeing up server space, etc.
  6. Now, click the Next button to move forward, and choose the saving location by clicking the Save Path button.
  7. In the end, click on the Download button to save the Gmail emails into MBOX files.

Conclusion

This blog explained four simple and effective methods to import Gmail to Thunderbird with attachments. So, by using the manual and professional methods, you can export Gmail to Thunderbird. The manual methods are a free but technical way to migrate Gmail to Thunderbird, and they also have some drawbacks, so before using the manual methods, go over their limitations first. On the other hand, if you are a beginner and want to migrate Gmail to Thunderbird within a minute, use the professional method to do this task easily. This method is a risk-free solution that has no restrictions on transferring data from Gmail to Thunderbird. Now, it is up to you to choose the right method that suits you better.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Is it possible to save Gmail data to Thunderbird on Windows 11?

Ans- Absolutely, you can save Gmail data to Thunderbird on Windows 11 by using the Gmail backup tool. It supports all versions of Windows.

Q. Can I delete duplicate Gmail emails while importing to Thunderbird?

Ans- Yes, you can delete duplicate Gmail emails while importing them to Thunderbird using the professional tool. This software provides various options, including the ability to remove duplicates, filter dates, backup without attachments, etc.

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About The Author:

As a Technical expert, I love to write blogs on email migration, data recovery, and cloud migration. In my free time, I like to research new things related to technology.

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