This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

How to import email sub-folder contents from another email provider into Thunderbird?

more options

Seeking knowledge if possible, on how to import email sub-folder contents from another email provider (in this case, 'The Messaging Company') into Thunderbird. The "Import Tool" in Thunderbird appears limited to only a few sources that it can import from, however I'm unsure if there is another way. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Seeking knowledge if possible, on how to import email sub-folder contents from another email provider (in this case, 'The Messaging Company') into Thunderbird. The "Import Tool" in Thunderbird appears limited to only a few sources that it can import from, however I'm unsure if there is another way. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

All Replies (9)

more options

This article on the messaging company website gives details on using Thunderbird to access your account. Is that the information you're seeking? Or is it something else? https://support.themessaging.co/hc/en-au/articles/21783456884761-Set-up-email-on-Thunderbird

Helpful?

more options

Thanks for your prompt response David. No - I've already set up my Thunderbird email account successfully, however the sub-folders from the old email platform (LHS panel) are not migrating over to Thunderbird. Cheers.

Helpful?

more options

Ok, I have no idea what is LHS panel. Maybe others here do.

Helpful?

more options

If you are trying to transfer local mail from Local Folders or another POP account, to an IMAP folder on another account, be aware that it can be done by drag and drop, but only with small batches of messages at a time, typically less than a few hundred.

Helpful?

more options

Thanks for the intel sfhowes. Drag & drop doesn't work between the two email providers I'm dealing with, but I'll keep that advice in mind for future reference. Cheers.

Helpful?

more options

Providing more information on what is the email platform LHS panel. Is that an account already in Thunderbird and you want to move messages? It is unclear what you are wanting to do.

Helpful?

more options

Hi David, "LHS" = Left hand Side, in reference to the panel on the left where the sub-folders reside. I'm trying to extract the sub-folder contents (saved emails) from a) The Messaging Company - into b) Thunderbird.

Helpful?

more options

Ok, I think you're saying you want to extract messages from an email account and store the messages in Local Folders? Is the account IMAP? I will assume that until you give some lacking details. Assuming you want to export IMAP, these steps should work:

  1. check in synchronization&storage under account settings to be sure the folders can be downloaded. Also check that you are sync'ing all messages regardless of age
  2. now, click file>offline>download to ensure you capture all content and headers
  3. at this point, all messages are on your PC, but still affiliated with the account. To get them to Local Folders, there are two ways:
    • one way is to exit thunderbird, and in windows file explorer, locate the message folder in the profile under imapmail\<accountname> and copy to Mail\Local Folders. Unless you're comfortable with windows file explorer, I wouldn't do this.
    • the other approach is to
      1. install the importexporttools addon,
      2. highlight each downloaded message folder,
      3. rightclick, select importexport option to extract mbox to a windows folder
      4. then click to Local Folders, rightclick, and select the importexport option to import mbox and select the previously saved message folder. NOTE: Ignore any files ending in .msf. that two-step process safely copies the message folder to Local Folders and the account can be deleted, if desired, after verifying that the messages are there.

Modified by david

Helpful?

more options

Thanks for the extensive details David. I am using POP account by necessity. I've been attempting to utilise ImportExportTools addon without success thus far. The outgoing email program (The Messaging Company) is so useless and unaccommodating; probably part of the reason this is so difficult. I'll get back to you once I've fully explored all your suggested steps.

Helpful?

Uliza swali

You must log in to your account to reply to posts. Please start a new question, if you do not have an account yet.