Join the AMA (Ask Me Anything) with the Firefox leadership team to celebrate Firefox 20th anniversary and discuss Firefox’s future on Mozilla Connect. Mark your calendar on Thursday, November 14, 18:00 - 20:00 UTC!

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

Lolu chungechunge lwabekwa kunqolobane. Uyacelwa ubuze umbuzo omusha uma udinga usizo.

Can't seem to import local storage folders from Windows Live Mail

  • 7 uphendule
  • 6 zinale nkinga
  • 15 views
  • Igcine ukuphendulwa ngu Bibb

more options

I have just today installed Thunderbird Email program and adding 2 of my email accounts. After installing the Import Export Tool 3.2.4.1 I followed the instructions to locate and import my local folders from Windows Live Mail under the special account Local Folders. Everything goes well right down to where I select the folder, Storage Folders, that contains all the local folders I want to capture. Each sub folder of Storage Folders contains two sub folders Sent and In. When I select open nothing happens. I have also tried selecting one sub folder of Storage Folders and this works somewhat. It imports the 2 sub folders of the folder selected but does not import the parent folder. As I understood the instructions on the web site I would be able to import all the storage folders at once. It now appears that I will have to create all of the parent folders first in Thunderbird and then import their sub folders. This will be time consuming and not what I expected from a sophisticated product from Mozilla.

How do I get around this?

I have just today installed Thunderbird Email program and adding 2 of my email accounts. After installing the Import Export Tool 3.2.4.1 I followed the instructions to locate and import my local folders from Windows Live Mail under the special account Local Folders. Everything goes well right down to where I select the folder, Storage Folders, that contains all the local folders I want to capture. Each sub folder of Storage Folders contains two sub folders Sent and In. When I select open nothing happens. I have also tried selecting one sub folder of Storage Folders and this works somewhat. It imports the 2 sub folders of the folder selected but does not import the parent folder. As I understood the instructions on the web site I would be able to import all the storage folders at once. It now appears that I will have to create all of the parent folders first in Thunderbird and then import their sub folders. This will be time consuming and not what I expected from a sophisticated product from Mozilla. How do I get around this?

Isisombululo esikhethiwe

If you have them saved as .eml files in the folders. Create a new folder in Thunderbird Local Folders account. right click on folder select: ImportExportTools select: Import all messages from a directory choose one the next options to import just directory or to include sub directory select the folder and clickon 'Select folder'

Funda le mpendulo ngokuhambisana nalesi sihloko 👍 1

All Replies (7)

more options

Did you do this: right click on 'Local Folders' mail account select : ImportExporttools select : Import mbox file select: import one or more mbox files, with it's/their subdirectory click on OK locate 'Storage Folders' which I'm assuming is an mbox file at the top level. click on Open.

more options

Isisombululo Esikhethiwe

If you have them saved as .eml files in the folders. Create a new folder in Thunderbird Local Folders account. right click on folder select: ImportExportTools select: Import all messages from a directory choose one the next options to import just directory or to include sub directory select the folder and clickon 'Select folder'

more options

Hi Toad-Hall, I tried your first solution but it did not get me what I wanted. I finally just created the folders under the local folders account and then imported them individually. A long process but it worked. which is what your second suggestion was. Thanks for taking the time to respons.

more options

KuchleiT said

I have just today installed Thunderbird Email program and adding 2 of my email accounts. After installing the Import Export Tool 3.2.4.1 I followed the instructions to locate and import my local folders from Windows Live Mail under the special account Local Folders. Everything goes well right down to where I select the folder, Storage Folders, that contains all the local folders I want to capture. Each sub folder of Storage Folders contains two sub folders Sent and In. When I select open nothing happens. I have also tried selecting one sub folder of Storage Folders and this works somewhat. It imports the 2 sub folders of the folder selected but does not import the parent folder. As I understood the instructions on the web site I would be able to import all the storage folders at once. It now appears that I will have to create all of the parent folders first in Thunderbird and then import their sub folders. This will be time consuming and not what I expected from a sophisticated product from Mozilla. How do I get around this?
more options

When I create a new folder in Local Folders and right click on either Local Folders or the new subfolder I just created the is no: select: ImportExportTools in the list on either one. I don't know where I can see that ImportExportTools!

more options

Bibb re:I don't know where I can see that ImportExportTools! Have you installed the 'ImportExportTools' addon extension?

more options

No I had not and I didn't know I had to install that extension! Thanks for your help.