A Complete Guide to Export MBOX File to Mozilla Thunderbird

Do you want to export MBOX in Thunderbird? In this post, you will get all the details of importing files to Thunderbird from various sources. Here are some of these sources:

If you have exported various file formats into MBOX which should be imported to Thunderbird application.
You have old MBOX files saved in hard drive or any other external drive and you would like to add MBOX to Thunderbird profile.
You need to use Gmail in Thunderbird.
You might also want to import MBOX file into Thunderbird from different application but same format.

Note – If you have just installed Thunderbird on your system, you need add-on to import or export file on your local machine.

Before we go ahead to the discussion and add MBOX to Thunderbox, let get to the brief file format of Thunderbird and MBOX is usually located on the local system.

What is Mozilla Thunderbird?

Mozilla Thunderbird is an open source, cross platforms and is absolutely free email platform. It has a range of options for PC so you can integrate several mailboxes with POP or SMTP protocols. Thunderbird is responsive, lightweight information which works well. It stores all your contacts, emails and other files in mailbox, which is widely known as MBOX. It might be important to import MBOX file in Thunderbird as it is among the most popular and widely used email platforms.

Location of Thunderbird MBOX files

On Windows Vista, 7, 8.1 and 10

Type in %APPDATA% in Search Box on Windows Start menu.
Click “Roaming” item which appears on menu.
Now go to Thunderbird > Profiles. In this folder, each folder is a profile on the PC.

You can also go to your profile folder directly at this path – C:\Users\<Windows user name>\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\<Profile name>\

Along with Mozilla Thunderbird, some of the most popular email clients supporting MBOX formats are Apple Mail, Netscape etc. MBOX format is widely used by pro users for business. Here is the complete manual method to import MBOX into Thunderbird client –

Import MBOX Files into Thunderbird (in Mac/Windows)

Here are the ways to add MBOX to Thunderbird. You may need to follow these methods because of different needs.

Import MBOX in Thunderbird (Windows)

First of all, users have to install ‘ImportExportTools’ add on to import MBOX to Mozilla Thunderbird. It is important to ensure that backup of MBOX file is created to avoid any chance of data loss if import process gets interrupted or fails.

Go to Tools > ImportExportTools > Import MBOX file on Thunderbird. Import one or more MBOX files directly in the dialogue box appeared. You can also change the option selected according to your needs and click OK.
Choose the MBOX file and click “Open”. The MBOX file is imported to Thunderbird.

Import Apple Mail MBOX file for Mac in Thunderbird

If you would like to switch to Thunderbird for Mac OS with manual process, go through this step-by-step process below –

Open Thunderbird on local system on Mac to start the process.
Go to Tools > Import option.
Now, it’s time to choose the Mail option from several options displayed in the existing wizard and click Next.
Now it will show up a screen. Choose the option Apple Mail and click “Next” to proceed.
You can see Apple Mail folder in LHS of Mozilla Thunderbird after the import process. It will have all your mail data.

Import Gmail MBOX to Thunderbird

Here are the detailed steps covered in the import process of Gmail MBOX data to Thunderbird client. In case of using Thunderbird in Windows operating system –

You have to configure Gmail account in Thunderbird client after the Launch Thunderbird on the System.
Now restart Thunderbird client and right click on the account and select settings from the list.
Go to local directory and copy the path of the location by clicking on Server settings.
Paste the copied path on Windows Explorer address bar and click Enter.
It will show up some files under the given location.
Now move MBOX file to the folder that has been opened.
Now restart the Thunderbird email client again and check left side to see content of Gmail under Local Folders in Thunderbird.

In Thunderbird for Mac, you can easily import MBOX file of Gmail into Mac Thunderbird by choosing File and proceed to import Mailboxes. Then, select the MBOX file and access the contents without any problem in Thunderbird account.

Verdict

I have used the above methods almost to import MBOX into Thunderbird. Well, I need to focus some lights on the cons of adding MBOX files or importing them to your Thunderbird manually.

It doesn’t allow importing the files in batches.
Thunderbird has no tool inbuilt to import MBOX file as detailed above.
There is always a risk of data loss.
Manual method is vulnerable to file corruption most of the times.

So, I personally recommend you to import files carefully. You can use Regain MBOX to PST Converter to convert mbox file in just few clicks. No Technical skill is require to access this application.

How to Convert Windows Live Mail EML files into Outlook PST for free?

Microsoft offers huge range of email applications like Microsoft Outlook, Outlook Express, and Windows Live mail which are used across the world according to users’ convenience. These email applications use various file formats for data storage. Windows Live Mail supports EML files and MS Outlook stores data in PST file.

The data is stored in body and header part of EML files. Windows Live Mail saves data with MIME RC 822 standard. In header format, EML files store ASCII characters and body part has hyperlinks, text, and attachments.

For migrating from Windows Live mail to Outlook, it is important to convert EML into PST file format. Hardware issues, file errors, synchronization and other errors are some of the problems in Windows Live mail. Here are the steps to convert EML into PST files manually.

Steps for EML to Outlook PST file conversion

Open Windows Live Mail and MS Outlook
Click on File under Windows Live Mail
Select Microsoft Exchange under Export > Email Messages
Windows Live Mail Export box will be opened by clicking on Next
You need to choose from Microsoft Windows Live Mail and Microsoft Exchange where you want to export email and click Next.
It will show up a dialog box “This will export messages from Windows Live Mail to Outlook”, click Ok
Now choose mail folders you want to export. You can select from either “Selected folders” or “All Folders” option.
Click “Finish”

After that, a message will show up that messages are exported successfully.

Step-by-Step Guide to Convert Lotus Notes (.NSF) to Outlook PST File

MS Outlook and IBM Lotus Notes are some of the most widely used and most anticipated email clients. These email clients have ruled the market for a while now. IBM Lotus Notes have been used widely since 1989, and along with being email client, it offers a lot of features like calendaring, scheduling, and programming.

On the other side, MS Outlook offers all the feature bundles to its users in an easy to use and simple UI. But IBM Lotus Notes is not that easy to use, it is still a great encryption on the edge. Various users and organizations naturally started migrating and moving from Lotus Notes to Outlook.

Why to Convert NSF to PST?

IBM Lotus Notes has been widely used as an email client for several organizations for a long time. It offers unmatched security features with encryption. Since it has stopped support for earlier versions, it is not easy to maintain this email client. To reduce cost because of high maintenance requirements and to improve productivity, a lot of organizations are moving to another email client.

Problems with IBM Lotus Notes

As support for IBM Lotus Notes has been ended in earlier versions, a lot of organizations and users are moving to other email clients to reduce maintenance costs.
Despite being famous for great security, IBM Lotus Notes has lost its accessibility to a great extent. It doesn’t allow any plug-in support or synchronization with third-party email clients.
IBM Lotus Notes has a lot of learning curve. Only users with great technical knowledge can use it. So, beginners don’t have to use this client. So, IBM Lotus Notes is much useless.
When it comes to support, IBM Lotus Notes doesn’t support any tablet or smartphone. So, you cannot access this client remotely.
In addition, it limits its users to access only one account at a time. You have to log out of existing account to access another account with details.

Why Switch to MS Outlook?

Main reason people switch to MS Outlook is low cost of maintenance. Outlook comes under MS Office suite. So, there is no need to buy it individually.
It provides unmatched accessibility. You can open it from Mac, PC and even mobile devices.
It supports a lot of plug-ins. You can use multiple accounts and connect with several apps at the same time, such as OneDrive, Skype, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
As compared to IBM Lotus Notes, MS Outlook is very user-friendly as it comes with automatic email organization for filtering and sorting, and Search Feature.
You can use and access various accounts on Outlook at the same time without entering credentials every time.
MS Outlook has been designed by considering various needs of beginners and vast expert demographics.

MS Outlook is among the widely used email clients. For IBM Lotus Notes to Outlook migration, you need to perform NSF to PST file conversion. We will discuss two different methods in this article to migrate Lotus Notes to MS Outlook.

Method 1 – NSF to PST Conversion Manually

As you know, you cannot access NSF file using MS Outlook. So, we will first discuss how to do it manually. Even though it doesn’t assure complete migration of database in original format, you can still go with this option if you want to access only a handful of data.

This manual method needs you to extract data from NSF and save the data in PST format that you can also access through MS Outlook and import the same to Outlook client. In this method, this file in which data is saved would be CSV. There are two steps in manual process –

Exporting data from Lotus Notes and saving in another file.
Importing data from separate file in MS Outlook.

Exporting data from Lotus Notes and saving in another file

1. Open IBM Lotus Notes Client

nsf to pst converter software

2. Select NSF file where you have to export data

NSF to PST Converter

3. Once you select and open file on Lotus Notes, click File on the menu bar and click Export on the drop down menu.

NSF to PST Migration tool

4. Enter file name, location of file, and file type as CSV on Export Wizard.

Export NSF to Outlook PST file

5. It will show up CSV Export dialog box and you can select important options.

NSF to PST file conversion tool

Importing data from separate file in MS Outlook

1. Open MS Outlook

Lotus NOtes to Outlook PST Migration

2. Click on File and click Open and Import from drop down menu

Lotus Notes to Outlook PST Migration - Free Guide

3. Once you click Import, it will show up Import and Export Wizard and it will show up different options. Select “Import from another file or program” and “Next”.

Manual NSF to PST File Converter tool

4. Choose file type as “Comma Separated Values” and click Next.

Free helping guide for nsf to pst converter

5. Click Browse and find CSV file created with Export Wizard in Lotus Notes. Select from the options provided on whether you want to create duplicate entries or not and click Next.

nsf to pst converter manually

6. Now choose Outlook folder where you want to import data and click Finish.

step by step guide to convert nsf to pst file

7. Data saved in CSV file will be imported in MS Outlook.

Sucessfully save nsf to pst converter manually

Problems in Manual Conversation

Manual conversation allows you to import email header and not the whole body content
It is a very tedious process and is complex enough and is surely not good for basic users.
Since manual process takes a lot of time, it is not good to migrate the whole databases in those situations.
Migrating with manual process is very difficult and it should be done with care as incorrect technique might cause corruption of files.
CSV format is used as mediator by manual conversation. Due to this reason, files are imported in raw format. It might not transfer data in original formatting or to maintain folders and files hierarchy.
Manual technique just allows NSF file for conversion at a time which can make whole process boring and stressful.
You cannot perform selective data transfer in this process. You need to transfer whole file.

Method 2 – By Using Regain NSF to PST Converter

You need a Regain NSF to PST Converter to migrate from IBM Lotus Notes to MS Outlook. But data is stored in IBM Notes in NSF format and MS Outlook uses PST format in doing the same. So, you can use Regain NSF to PST converter to convert NSF file to Outlook PST format so you can convert database of whole NSF into PST format smoothly and easily.

The tool uses effective algorithm for NSF to PST file conversion even though NSF file is encrypted. Regain NSF to PST converter doesn’t need any specific technical skill to use and it is best for all businesses. You can download this software from here:

Here’s the step-by step process for NSF to PST file conversion –

1. Open Regain NSF to PST converter.

Regain NSF to PST Converter - Home Screen

2. Choose NSF file to perform conversion and start the process of scanning.

Select Lotus Notes NSF file for Conversion

3. Scanning Process start to retrieve Lotus Notes Mailboxes

Scanning process for Lotus Notes NSF file

4. After Complete the Scanning, Show the preview of Lotus Notes Mailboxes before Saving to another format.

Show preview of all convertible Lotus notes mailboxes

Saved Desire file format to Save NSF file.

Support multiple format to save nsf file to pst, mbox, eml, emlx and msg file format

Conversion process complete.

Sucessfully save nsf file to pst file

Conclusion

When it comes to migrate the whole databases, it is not wise to use manual method. It makes the whole process very difficult and complex. Regain NSF to PST converter is a complete tool which caters to all specifications of NSF to PST conversion. It keeps the NSF intact for conversion of NSF to PST file format. It is the best tool to perform bulk file conversion and convert data like calendar, emails, journals, contacts, etc. with precision.

How to Fix OST File Synchronization Error?

OST File is created in Microsoft Outlook when Microsoft Exchange account is created. Also known as Offline Storage Table, this file enables users to work when Outlook is not connected to the server. Once the connection is available, you can synchronize all the work in MS Outlook offline with Exchange Server. Indeed, it makes Exchange mailbox in the form of OST file.

Why OST File Synchronization Error Occurs?

More often than not, you may encounter several synchronization errors when connecting OST to Exchange mailbox. There are different reasons why synchronization is stopped with Exchange in Outlook 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016 and 2019.

Network connection – The main cause of synchronization issue
MS Exchange Server also goes down more often due to which Outlook cannot synchronize
Problems in local machine are another common issue when Outlook is malfunctioning
Sudden system shutdown, large OST file size, and virus attack are some of the common reasons

How to Fix OST Synchronization Issue?

There are different steps you can take to resolve the OST synchronization problem, such as verifying user profile, cached exchange mode etc. Here are some of the important steps to get rid of this problem –

Step 1 – Verify Synchronization of OST files

Consider the following steps to check synchronization of Offline Storage files in proper way –

Right Click on the folder you want to check and click “Properties”
Switch to “Synchronization” tab
Select “Statistics” of this folder and check these attributes –
- Server folder contains – Items
- Last synchronized on – Date
- Offline folder contains – items

If you don’t have any OST File Sync problem, attribute value of the folder of Server as well as offline folder contents are the same. If you couldn’t find these value same, there must be a conflict in syncing both databases. In that case, you have to follow these processes to verify profile settings.

In Outlook 2007

Click on “Tools” then “Account Settings”
Click “Data File” and set “Mailbox account name as default”
In Email tab, go to “Mailbox – account name” and Settings.
Check the option “Use cached Exchange Mode” and click OK.

Step 2 – OST File Synchronization

You have to do two important things to sync offline folders – Automatic and Manual, to fix OST file synchronization issues.

For Manual Synchronization

Go to “Folder List” pane, choose “Folder should be synchronized”
Go to “Tools” menu, click “Send/Receive”, then Microsoft Exchange Server, if you have specific folder
In Tools menu, go to “Send/Receive All” for all folders

For Automatic Synchronization

With this method, you can sync OST file with Exchange Server all the time when you go online.

Choose “Tools” and “Options”
In Mail Setup, select “Send Immediately when connected”
In Send/Receive, select “Send/Receive groups” and check “Perform automatic send/receive when exiting”.

Step 3 – Create New OST File and Synchronize

If the above methods cannot fix the OST file synchronization issue and you are not getting it synced, there are chances that OST file is corrupt or damaged. In that case, you have to recreate and resynchronize the OST file.

How to Rebuild New OST?

Type *.ost in search box to look for OST file
Rename the old file with different extension. For example, replace .OST with .OLD extension.
After renaming the file, a new file will be created
In Outlook, go to “Tools” and “Send/Receive”

Summary

If the OST file is oversized and is not accessible, an OST crop tool can split the file into smaller parts. If you still cannot resolve the OST synchronization issue, you may try scanost.exe or scanpst.exe tools from Microsoft. These are the default repair tools to fix OST/PST file issues. You may try these tools to fix them. If these tools can’t work and you cannot access the OST file data, then use Regain OST to PST Converter to import and access the OST file through Outlook.

Regain OST to PST Converter tool is very reliable and professional as it can easily fix OST files that are severely corrupt or damaged and cannot be fixed by default repair tools. If the above methods are not longer helpful, use this tool to resolve data file problems and recover them with few easy steps.