Switch from Microsoft Email to Thunderbird: can you import by folders?
June 15, 2017 2:43 PM Subscribe
My dad (the tech person in the household) is switching my mum from Microsoft Live Mail, to Thunderbird. He knows basically how to do it - but it seems the system exports all the emails in one 'catch-all' folder. Is there a way of transferring the data so the folders, and the emails sorted into the folders, can be transferred over? Basically, is there a way of exporting the structure as well as the data?
This is my first askme so apologies in advance if I phrase this badly! I have checked with google and previous askme items related to Thunderbird but none seem on point. Thanks!
This is my first askme so apologies in advance if I phrase this badly! I have checked with google and previous askme items related to Thunderbird but none seem on point. Thanks!
Best answer: As a point of clarification, you're referring to the Windows Live Mail client, not Microsoft Outlook, correct? I haven't tried to do this myself, but did you try following these instructions?
posted by Aleyn at 5:46 PM on June 16, 2017
posted by Aleyn at 5:46 PM on June 16, 2017
Best answer: Wow, I don't know how I missed that. Sorry!
Microsoft does have instructions on exporting from Windows Live Mail to Outlook, after which you can export the PST and import it into Thunderbird. Even though you have the intermediate Outlook step, it looks simpler than exporting the .eml way.
posted by rhizome at 6:29 PM on June 16, 2017
Microsoft does have instructions on exporting from Windows Live Mail to Outlook, after which you can export the PST and import it into Thunderbird. Even though you have the intermediate Outlook step, it looks simpler than exporting the .eml way.
posted by rhizome at 6:29 PM on June 16, 2017
Response by poster: Hi Rhizome and Aleyn - thanks so much for your suggestions. Dad tried the instructions Aleyn linked (not working ... yet). He does not have outlook on his computer so the easier option is not available (unless he buys it which is starting to look like a possibility.) We really appreciate the help!
posted by latnahc at 10:06 AM on June 17, 2017
posted by latnahc at 10:06 AM on June 17, 2017
Best answer: Does the basic export work? (scroll down to "To export email messages from Windows Live Mail")
That page doesn't say what the possible export formats are, but just to go through that process will get you halfway there, even if you have to go back and export in another format if the first one doesn't work.
Another page I can't find right now said you should be able to 1) export all folders at once; 2) import .eml exports into Thunderbird without any add-ons.
posted by rhizome at 10:18 AM on June 17, 2017
That page doesn't say what the possible export formats are, but just to go through that process will get you halfway there, even if you have to go back and export in another format if the first one doesn't work.
Another page I can't find right now said you should be able to 1) export all folders at once; 2) import .eml exports into Thunderbird without any add-ons.
posted by rhizome at 10:18 AM on June 17, 2017
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posted by rhizome at 2:59 PM on June 15, 2017