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How can I import a PST file (which contains data of several e-mail accounts) into Thunderbird

bernhard.zimmermann
bernhard.zimmermann
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I am preparing for a transit from MS and Outlook to Linux and Thunderbird. My outlook is set up in a way that all pop-3 accounts are in one PST file. I have almost no experience with Thunderbird, though I have set up Thunderbird on a test laptop and created one account as IMAP to test. this works nicely. I want to cancel my MS office subscription to not being forced into windows 11 in 2025! Office libre does the rest of the office app job.

BUT Outlook seems a different beast. Now, for the transition form Outlook to Thunderbird I will need to move over all PST files (the current one and all archives):

How can I import a PST file (which contains data of several e-mail accounts) into Thunderbird.

Does that work at all? If so, (I hope) how do I need to set up Thunderbird with all the accounts which are in the PST? What are the pitfalls? Should I use an automated (software solution) to be on the safe side or just not to not screw up?

Thanks a million for your tips and help

I am preparing for a transit from MS and Outlook to Linux and Thunderbird. My outlook is set up in a way that all pop-3 accounts are in one PST file. I have almost no experience with Thunderbird, though I have set up Thunderbird on a test laptop and created one account as IMAP to test. this works nicely. I want to cancel my MS office subscription to not being forced into windows 11 in 2025! Office libre does the rest of the office app job. BUT Outlook seems a different beast. Now, for the transition form Outlook to Thunderbird I will need to move over all PST files (the current one and all archives): How can I import a PST file (which contains data of several e-mail accounts) into Thunderbird. Does that work at all? If so, (I hope) how do I need to set up Thunderbird with all the accounts which are in the PST? What are the pitfalls? Should I use an automated (software solution) to be on the safe side or just not to not screw up? Thanks a million for your tips and help

All Replies (2)

Wayne Mery
Wayne Mery
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  • Top 10 Contributor
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You need to install Thunderbird on the machine A where Outlook is the default mail application. Then in Thunderbird do Tools > Import and pick outlook as the source.

Then copy the messages from Thunderbird machine A to Thunderbird machine B - https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/moving-thunderbird-data-to-a-new-computer

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bernhard.zimmermann
bernhard.zimmermann Question owner
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Thanks Wayne for the tip. I have installed Thunderbird on machine 'A' and followed your instructions.

In the first round I did not run Outlook whilst preforming the import. It started and showed almost immediately 33% progress (task manager showed initially high activity of TB) Then nothing for hours

I repeated the import with Outlook active. Same as before

Not sure whether I am missing something in the process. May be it takes a lot of time and I need to be more patient? My PST is 3,84GB .

What can I do to make it work?

Thanks again and have a good start into 2025

Modified by bernhard.zimmermann

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