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I exported emails and folders from Thunderbird. How can I re-import them into Thunderbird?

  • 3 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 6 views
  • Last reply by christ1

Tejinderj
Tejinderj
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I needed to rest my laptop. To save the emails and folders, I used the Export Tool and saved the emails, folders and rules in separate files. I have reinstalled Thunderbird and need to get the exported material back.

When I try the Import tool, it only shows Eudora, Outlook and Outlook express as the source applications. How to get me emails and folders back?

The issue basically is how to import exported material back into Thunderbird.

I needed to rest my laptop. To save the emails and folders, I used the Export Tool and saved the emails, folders and rules in separate files. I have reinstalled Thunderbird and need to get the exported material back. When I try the Import tool, it only shows Eudora, Outlook and Outlook express as the source applications. How to get me emails and folders back? The issue basically is how to import exported material back into Thunderbird.

All Replies (3)

Zenos
Zenos
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What format did you export to?

You probably need to be using the same ImportExportTools add-on to retrieve them. Your description makes it sound like you're using the regular built-in import tool. Right-click might be your friend here.

BTW saving a copy of your profile might be a more effective way to protect your data.

Modified by Zenos

Tejinderj
Tejinderj Question owner
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Hi Zenos,

Yes, I did use the built-in Tools. I was able to get the address book back.

I do not know what format Thunderbird exported the mails to. It created a folder containing the mail folder tree and a file with the emails.

I presume it should be simple enough to import the saved information back into Thunderbird. But seems I cannot! When I try the Import tool, it asks me for the program to import from and the list does NOT include THUNDERBIRD!

Please let me know how to get the emails back. Thank you.

christ1
christ1
  • Top 25 Contributor
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I did use the built-in Tools.

Except for exporting contacts from an address book, and events from a calendar, I'm not aware of a Thunderbird built-in mail export function.

Did you install an add-on for that? Please explain in more detail how you did export your mail.

Exported address books and calendars can easily be imported again.

What always beats me is why people think exporting stuff from Thunderbird is needed and useful for switching to a new computer. That's as simple as backing up the Thunderbird profile on the old computer and restore it on the new computer.