Export Thunderbird Mail Store Files with Simple Procedure

Thunderbird is the desktop based email client. It is basically a free of cost open source platform developed for cross platform mailing, news, chatting procedure from Mozilla Foundation.

One can create a new Mozilla Thunderbird account by purchasing a username based on annual payment. Along with that configuration of both; POP3 as well as IMAP accounts is possible to be done under this client for desktop mailing.

Locating Thunderbird Store On Windows OS

  • Go to Start menu and open Run window.
  • Now type in the following without using quotation – “%appdata%”
  • Hit Enter.
  • Access Thunderbird folder from the window that opens now.
  • Go to Profiles named folder.
  • Finally, open the desired folder i.e. your Mozilla Thunderbird profile folder which will be available as "****.default" where; "****" stands for some random characters used for denoting your profile.

Here, in the profile folder of your Thunderbird client will be available as inaccessible .msf format files. In order to be able to have an accessible copy of your Thunderbird mails and folders, refer the next section.

Exporting Thunderbird Mails to Local Folder

NOTE: Before trying to download your mail files/folders from your Thunderbird client into local folders users will have to install a Thunderbird Add-On.

  • Browse to the folder where installed Add-on file is saved.
  • Open it and click on the file in the Add-on pop up window. Click on install to begin.
  • Once downloaded, Mozilla Thunderbird will prompt you immediately to restart the application.
  • Click on Restart Now.
  • When the client starts up again, go to Tools menu and at the end of the list you will be able to see the add-on installed as "ImportExportTools". As Shown Below)

  • Before performing export of any emails, go to Options of the add-on in order for specifying a directory to export mails. Click on Export Directories tab and choose whichever option you desire selecting. Suppose that you go for Export Folders As Single File. This will make the browse button available for the option. Click on the button to choose a folder for saving exported data. (As Shown Below).
  • Go back to Tools menu and follow the mentioned steps
  • Position the cursor over ImportExportTools
  • Choose Export All Messages in the Folder option.
  • Choose the desired format for storing exported messages as. For instance; EML files. (As Shown Below)

  • Once the desired option to export Thunderbird mails has been selected; a live progress of data being exported will be shown running at the bottom of Thunderbird client screen. (As Shown Below).

  • Exported mails can now be crosschecked from the directory chosen at the time of export. Each email message will be saved with the mail subject as its name. NOTE: In case, text file option is selected along with "With Attachments" option, then the mail gets saved in its respective format while a separate folder named "Attachments" will be created within the file consisting of attachments in its original format.