How to Back Up and Restore Email in Thunderbird

Thunderbird can import emails, address books, feed subscriptions, settings and filters from other mail programs. This guide shows how to connect a mailbox, back it up and restore it, and move mail between Thunderbird and other clients.

Mail Server Settings

Use these settings to connect your mailbox in Thunderbird.

SSL/TLS settings (recommended)

• Username: your full mailbox address
• Password: the password of your mailbox
• Incoming mail server: mail.example.com
• IMAP port: 993
• POP3 port: 995
• Outgoing mail server: mail.example.com
• SMTP port: 465

STARTTLS settings

• Username: your full mailbox address
• Password: the password of your mailbox
• Incoming mail server: mail.example.com
• IMAP port: 143
• POP3 port: 110
• Outgoing mail server: mail.example.com
• SMTP port: 587

Back Up and Restore a Thunderbird Mailbox

Thunderbird keeps the mail of each account in a local folder inside your profile. To back up a mailbox, copy this folder. To restore it, put the copy back.

1. Right-click the account in the folder pane and choose Settings.
2. Open Server Settings and scroll down to Message Storage. The Local Directory field shows the folder with your mail, for example /Users/username/Library/Thunderbird/Profiles/xxxxxxxx.default-release/ImapMail/mail.example.com on macOS or C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\xxxxxxxx.default-release\ImapMail\mail.example.com on Windows.
3. Close Thunderbird and copy this folder to a safe place.
4. To restore the mailbox on another computer, set up the same account in Thunderbird, close the program and replace its folder with your copy. You can also point the Local Directory field to the folder with the backup.
5. Start Thunderbird again. If it asks to restart to apply the new location, confirm, and your mail will appear.

Import and Export Mail with ImportExportTools NG

ImportExportTools NG is a free add-on that imports and exports messages in EML, MBOX, HTML and other formats.

1. Open Tools > Add-ons and Themes.
2. Search for ImportExportTools NG, install it and restart Thunderbird.

Import EML Files

Many mail clients store messages as .eml files. For example, Windows Live Mail (discontinued in 2017) keeps them in a hidden folder: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Live Mail\<account name>. To see it, open File Explorer, go to the View tab and turn on Hidden items.

1. In Thunderbird, right-click the folder where you want to put the imported messages.
2. Choose ImportExportTools NG > Import all messages from a directory > just from the directory.
3. Select the folder with the .eml files and click OK. Thunderbird imports the messages.

Export a Mail Folder

1. Right-click the folder you want to back up, for example Inbox.
2. Choose ImportExportTools NG > Export all messages in the folder.
3. Pick a format: EML if you plan to import the backup into Thunderbird on another computer, or HTML (with attachments) if you want to read the messages in a browser with their original formatting.
4. Choose the destination folder. Thunderbird saves the backup there.

Import Mail from Apple Mail

1. Open Tools > Import.
2. Choose Import from Another Program, then select Apple Mail.
3. Follow the wizard and click Done when the import is finished.

The imported messages appear under Local Folders.

If you run your own mail server on a BlueVPS server and need help with the settings, contact our support team through the ticket system.