How to Transfer Thunderbird emails to Gmail? Quick Solutions

Jamie Kaler ~ December 23, 2024 ~ 8 Minutes Reading

Thunderbird is the best email platform, and it has countless users all over the world. It allows them to access multiple email accounts on one platform. It is only required to install Thunderbird on your machine, and you can configure any number of email accounts, as there is no limit to configuring email accounts. However, it’s not always possible to carry a laptop or desktop just for email purposes. Therefore, most Thunderbird users want to transfer Thunderbird emails to Gmail using Thunderbird to Gmail Backup Tool.
Gmail offers web-based email services free of cost with 15 GB of free storage. It allows users to access their email accounts from any device, such as a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop. It has become the choice of millions of users as it offers robust security features, a simple interface, advanced email management, and auto-categorization with modern features.

Justifications for Import Emails from Thunderbird to Gmail

  • It allows consolidating Thunderbird emails in one place that makes it easier to manage and find emails from different sources in a single inbox.
  • Gmail’s powerful advanced features, including labels, filters, and keyword-based searches, can enhance your ability to organize and locate Thunderbird-imported emails quickly.
  • You can access your emails from any device with an internet connection. Unlike Thunderbird, which requires a local client, Gmail provides cloud-based storage, ensuring your emails are always accessible.
  • It also offers 15 GB of free storage to store user mailbox data such as emails, contacts, and calendars to easily manage it in one location.
  • With Gmail, you store all your mailbox data in the cloud if Thunderbird emails get corrupted or lost. You can recover all your emails from Gmail cloud storage.

How to Transfer Thunderbird emails to Gmail?

This method is divided into two parts. First, we explain how to export Thunderbird emails to MBOX format. Then, you can use the Thunderbird to Gmail Migration Tool, which allows you to directly migrate emails into a Gmail account without investing much time or manual effort.
Part 1. Export Thunderbird Emails as MBOX File
To export emails from Thunderbird helps you to centralize your email communication, making it easier to access all your emails in one place. Now go to the Thunderbird MBOX location to get it. If you export some specific emails or mailbox folders in Gmail, then you can follow the step-by-step guide as we have explained below:

  1. First, open “Thunderbird”, then select Tools.
  2. Choose Add-ons and Themes, search for “Import/Export NG Tools” and click on Add to Thunderbird.
  3. Choose an email or mailbox folder as you want to migrate.
  4. Right-click on it and choose “Import/Export NG Tools”.
  5. Select “Folder Export (mbox)” >> As MBOX file now provides destination.
  6. Click on the “Selected folder” to export the MBOX file to your specific location.

Part 2. Import Mozilla Thunderbird MBOX Files to Gmail Account Quickly
Now, Jagware launched MBOX Converter as it allows users to directly import any individual or batch MBOX files into a Gmail account. It has been specially created to address the challenges faced by both beginner and professional users.
Steps to Transfer Thunderbird Emails to Gmail

  1. Download and run “Thunderbird to Gmail Migration Tool” on your machine.Launch Thunderbird to Gmail Migration Tool
  2. Click on the “select file or folder” and then choose the MBOX file as you want to import in Gmail.Select Thunderbird MBOX file
  3. In the select saving options, scroll and select “Gmail” in the list.Choose Gmail
  4. Enter “Google Mail email address and password” to login your email account.Enter Gmail credentials
  5. Press “Convert” button to begin Transfer Thunderbird emails to Gmail.Press Convert to start Transfer Thunderbird emails to Gmail

Top-notch elements of Thunderbird to Gmail Migration Tool

  • It allows users to migrate any individual or multiple MBOX files without facing any limitations.
  • This software is specially designed with simple infrastructure to easily perform by any expert without depending on any individuals.
  • You can also migrate Thunderbird emails to all IMAP Supported email platforms.
  • It offers users the ability to convert Thunderbird emails to PDF, PST, TXT, MBOX, and 30+ export features.
  • With this wizard, you can also use advanced settings for filters to migrate as per date range, subject, sender, receiver, client submit time, and many more.

Method 2. How to Move Messages to Your Gmail Folders from Thunderbird?

If you want to connect Thunderbird to Gmail, then you need to use Gmail import features as we have explained below:

  1. First, open your web browser and visit “Gmail”.
  2. Enter your “Google Mail email address and password” to log in to your email account.
  3. Find “Gear” in the right upper corner and click on “See All Settings”.
  4. Choose the “Account and Import section” and click on “Import Mail and contacts”.
  5. Click on “Import emails from other accounts” and then hit on Add a Mail account.
  6. Enter “Thunderbird email address, username and password” then fill POP3 details:
  7. Incoming Mail Server(POP3): pop.domain.com Port: 995 Encryption: SSL
  8. Click on “Start import” to begin importing emails from Thunderbird to Gmail.

Lacks of Gmail Fetcher to connect Thunderbird to Gmail

  • It will take a significant amount of time depending on the size of Thunderbird mailbox data needed to be imported.
  • Google fetched some email attachments that are not imported, as Gmail only allows you to store max 25 MB size attachments.
  • It only allows importing Thunderbird inbox emails; other folders such as sent, draft, or other custom folder will not be imported.

Method 3. How to Configure Thunderbird for Gmail?

In this approach, you need to add your Gmail account to Thunderbird to easily use Thunderbird with Gmail. Now, perform the instructions as we have explained below:

  1. First, launch “Thunderbird” and click on the “Gear option” as found in the left menu.
  2. Click on “Account settings” then press on Account Actions.
  3. Press on “Add a Mail account” then enter full name, email address and password.
  4. Here, Hit on continue and it will automatically detect your IMAP/POP details:
  5. Choose “IMAP” and verify “Google Mail IMAP Configuration” details:
  6. Incoming Mail Server(IMAP): imap.gmail.com Encryption: SSL/TLS
  7. Outgoing Mail Server(SMTP): smtp.gmail.com Encryption: SSL/TLS
  8. Enter “Google login credentials” to authorize an account with Mozilla Thunderbird.
  9. Relaunch your “Mozilla Thunderbird” and go to mailbox folder as needed to migrate.
  10. Select “email” as you wish to migrate and after selecting it, right click on it and choose “Copy to or Move to” then choose the “Gmail” account as you have configured recently.

Method 4. How to Automatically Forward Email from Thunderbird to Gmail?

If you want to redirect all your incoming emails from Thunderbird to your Gmail account, Then, you need to enable forwarding by performing the instructions as we have stated below:

  1. First, run “Mozilla Thunderbird” and click on the Tools icon, which appears in the upper right corner.
  2. Search for “Filters” and add it to your Thunderbird.
  3. Go to Filters and click on the “New” option.
  4. Filter rules will appear on your screen; select “Apply filters when needed.”
  5. Select “Match any of the following” as required and click on “Perform these actions.”
  6. Choose “Redirect to” and enter the Gmail email address where you want to automatically forward emails from Thunderbird to Gmail.

Recurring Questions about Transfer Thunderbird emails to Gmail

Can you sync Thunderbird with Gmail?
Yes, you can sync Thunderbird with Gmail by enabling IMAP in your Gmail account and configuring Thunderbird with Gmail settings. Enter your Gmail credentials, and Thunderbird will sync your emails, allowing you to access, send, and receive Gmail emails directly in Thunderbird.
How do I download all emails from Thunderbird locally?
To download all emails locally, set up Thunderbird to store messages offline. Go to Account Settings > Synchronization & Storage, enable “Keep messages for this account on this computer,” and select all folders to sync. Thunderbird will then download and save your emails on your local drive.
How do I import folders from Thunderbird to Gmail?
To import folders, set up both Thunderbird and Gmail with IMAP. Drag and drop Thunderbird folders into Gmail’s IMAP folders in Thunderbird. This will sync the content to your Gmail account. Ensure sufficient Gmail storage and internet connectivity for a seamless transfer.

Resolution

In this post, we have shared a basic overview about Thunderbird and Gmail. We have also explained five effective methods to transfer Thunderbird emails to Gmail. After comparing all of them, we recommend opting for Thunderbird to Gmail Migration Tool as it simplifies the process and offers direct migration, making it faster and easier compared to other solutions.