How to import old mail in thunderbird

Importing old mail into Thunderbird can be a bit of a process, but it's definitely doable. Here are the steps to follow:

Method 1: Importing from another email client

  1. Export your old emails: Go to your old email client (e.g., Outlook, Outlook Express, Windows Live Mail, etc.) and export your emails to a format that Thunderbird can import. The most common formats are:
    • EML (individual email files)
    • MBOX (a single file containing all emails)
    • PST (Outlook's proprietary format, but can be converted to MBOX)
  2. Create a new folder in Thunderbird: Create a new folder in Thunderbird where you want to import your old emails. You can do this by right-clicking on the "Local Folders" folder in the Thunderbird sidebar and selecting "New Folder".
  3. Import the emails: Go to the "File" menu in Thunderbird and select "Import..." (or press Ctrl+Shift+I). In the Import window, select the format you exported your emails in (e.g., EML, MBOX, etc.). Then, select the folder containing your exported emails and click "Open".
  4. Select the import options: In the Import window, you can choose to import all emails, or select specific folders or messages to import. You can also choose to import attachments, contacts, and other data.
  5. Start the import process: Click "Start" to begin the import process. Thunderbird will import your old emails into the new folder you created.

Method 2: Importing from a web-based email service

  1. Export your old emails: Go to your old web-based email service (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo Mail, etc.) and export your emails to a format that Thunderbird can import. The most common formats are:
    • EML (individual email files)
    • MBOX (a single file containing all emails)
  2. Download the exported emails: Download the exported emails to your computer.
  3. Create a new folder in Thunderbird: Create a new folder in Thunderbird where you want to import your old emails. You can do this by right-clicking on the "Local Folders" folder in the Thunderbird sidebar and selecting "New Folder".
  4. Import the emails: Go to the "File" menu in Thunderbird and select "Import..." (or press Ctrl+Shift+I). In the Import window, select the format you exported your emails in (e.g., EML, MBOX, etc.). Then, select the folder containing your downloaded emails and click "Open".
  5. Select the import options: In the Import window, you can choose to import all emails, or select specific folders or messages to import. You can also choose to import attachments, contacts, and other data.
  6. Start the import process: Click "Start" to begin the import process. Thunderbird will import your old emails into the new folder you created.

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