How to Export Thunderbird Email as PDF Format? – Step-by-Step Guide

Jamie Kaler ~ September 18, 2024 ~ 5 Minutes Reading

We’ve recently received numerous queries on various forums about “How to Export Thunderbird Email as PDF Format?”, with no comprehensive solution available. So, we have decided to share some of the best and most well-researched methods to save Thunderbird emails as PDFs.

Thunderbird is the most used desktop email client around the globe. It offers an open-source email platform to send and receive emails for both professional and individual users. One of the best ways to access their mailbox data long-term is by exporting Thunderbird email as a PDF.

PDF files are widely used due to their universal compatibility, ease of sharing, and ability to maintain formatting across platforms. By converting Thunderbird emails to PDF, you not only safeguard your information but also keep secure, accessible archives of your correspondence.

Why Convert Thunderbird Email to PDF?

  • PDF files can be accessible on various devices, such as mobile phones, laptops, Macs, and many more. Unlike email formats, which require specific software, PDFs can be accessed and read easily across various devices without losing any formatting.
  • It helps to preserve the original formatting, including fonts, images, links, and attachments. This ensures that email structure remains intact even if viewed on various devices or shared with others.
  • It offers a high level of data security as compared to other file formats. You can also take password protection to keep protected from editing, copying, or printing, providing an additional layer of file protection.
  • For business and professional users who need to maintain records of important correspondence, saving emails as PDFs is a convenient way to store and manage emails for future reference. PDF files are widely accepted for legal and compliance purposes, making them
  • PDF files are lightweight and easy to share via email, cloud storage, or email messaging platforms. They maintain a consistent appearance, ensuring that the recipients view the document exactly as intended without facing any issues.

How to Manually Export Thunderbird Emails to PDF?

If you want to export a few specific emails from Thunderbird as PDF, then you can perform manually by following the guidelines as we have stated below:

  1. First, open the Thunderbird application on your computer.
  2. Now, open email as you want to save email as PDF.
  3. Then, click on More and choose the Print option.
  4. Choose Microsoft Print as PDF and press the save button.

Drawbacks of the Manual Method

  • Saving emails one-by-one can become a tedious task
  • It does not offer options to convert multiple emails simultaneously.
  • Attachments will not be exported manually.

Automated Method to Export Thunderbird Emails to PDF in Bulk

While free solutions exist, they come with limitations like restricted batch processing or incomplete attachment support.Therefore, we offer a reliable alternative to ensure your task is safe and secure. Based on expert recommendations, we suggest using Jagware MBOX to PDF Converter to easily export emails to PDF while maintaining the quality of the results.

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  1. Download and launch automated software on your computer.launch tool
  2. Select and add MBOX file C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\select MBOX file
  3. Now, choose the destination for the output file.choose output folder
  4. Now, select naming file convention to organize files professionally.select file naming convention
  5. Click on convert to get resultant PDF file quickly.Export Thunderbird email as PDF completed successfully

Superlative Performance Attributes of the Professional Approach

  • It offers to convert MBX and MBOX into PDF files with attachments.
  • You can easily convert single or batch MBOX files with this wizard into portable document file formats.
  • This software keeps the attachments embedded in their original formats.
  • The exported PDF file will be compatible with all the versions of Adobe Acrobat.
  • This software secured all details such as email, cc, bcc, to, from, dates, hyperlinks, and other data will remain formatting the same as before the conversion.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. How do I Export my Thunderbird Emails?
Steps to Export Thunderbird Emails

  • First, open the Thunderbird application on your machine.
  • Then, click on settings>>add-ons support.
  • Search Import/Export NG Tools and click on Add to Thunderbird.
  • Now, right-click on inbox and click on folder mbox and tap on as MBOX file.
  • Select destination for the directory and press on select folder to begin the process.

Q. Does Thunderbird use EML?
Yes, Thunderbird uses the EML format to store individual emails. You can export emails in EML format using the “Save As” option or via the ImportExportTools NG add-on.


Q. How to Keep Email Metadata Intact in PDF Format?
To keep email metadata intact when saving in PDF format, use professional software that supports PDF export with metadata retention, or print emails to PDF and include headers.


Let’s Wrap Up

In this technical guide, we have expressed both a manual and automated approach to export Thunderbird email as PDF. Manually, you can export Thunderbird emails individually, while the automated approach efficiently handles batch exports without data loss.