How to Quickly Convert Thunderbird Email to PDF Format – 6 Key Steps

Business communication often requires archiving or sharing key email threads for record-keeping, compliance, etc. A user needs to share an important email thread with someone who prefers it in a widely accepted document format. Therefore, instead of forwarding the emails, he decided to convert Thunderbird email to PDF. PDFs are universally acceptable and accessible across all devices. They preserve the formatting, attachments, and timestamps. So, how will he do this conversion? There are multiple manual ways and an automated Thunderbird Backup Tool that does the job in no time. Read this article till the end to find out about the need to make this conversion and how one can do it.

Thunderbird is an open-source, customizable email client that allows users to manage multiple accounts in one place. It supports the MBOX format for email storage. PDF (Portable Document Format) is a standardized format that preserves texts, fonts, images, etc. They are non-editable and printable on any platform.

Why Export Thunderbird Emails to PDF?

Companies need to archive emails in a secure and widely accepted format for legal or compliance purposes. The following are some of the advantages of doing this:

• Converting Thunderbird emails to PDF means that they are archived in a standardized format. It also ensures that they are easily accessible and ideal for long-term storage.
• In legal or compliance matters, converting emails into PDF ensures that they are maintained in a non-editable format.
• PDFs are a more secure option as they can be encrypted, digitally signed, and password-protected.
• PDFs are accessible on different platforms and can be opened with free readers. This makes them ideal for document sharing.
• Saving Thunderbird emails as PDF allows for offline access and easy offline storage.
• Sharing a PDF ensures that the content is the same as intended, including the images, links, etc.

How Do I Convert Thunderbird Email to PDF?

After reviewing the benefits of converting Thunderbird emails to PDF, the next step is to execute the process. You have the option to perform the process manually or use a converter tool that automates the task effectively. Let’s examine both methods in detail.

Manual Method 1: Using Print to PDF 

It is a simple way to convert emails without installing any third-party software or add-ons. It preserves the email content as intended and formatting, etc. It is ideal for those who need to convert only a few emails.

These are the steps to convert emails to PDF:

1. Open Mozilla Thunderbird on your desktop.
2. Browse and select the emails that you want to export.
3. Right-click on the selected emails and press Print.
4. Then, go to File > Print. 
5. In the Printer Selection, choose Print to PDF or Save as PDF. 
6. Choose a destination folder to save Thunderbird emails as PDF document. Click on Save.

Limitations: This method does not support bulk conversion. It supports selecting the emails, but converts them one by one at a time.

Manual Method 2: Using ImportExportTools NG for Converting Multiple Emails at Once

This is the most reliable method to convert multiple emails at once. Users also have the option of how to handle attachments. It also preserves the layout and formatting of the email content. 

Use these steps to export Thunderbird emails to PDF format:

1. Open the Thunderbird application.
2. Go to Menu > Add-ons and Themes > Add-ons Manager. 
3. Search ImportExportTools NG, install it, and click Add to Thunderbird.
4. Now, locate and select the emails that you want to export.
5. Right-click on the selected folder or the emails and choose ImportExportTools NG.
6. After that, choose Export to all messages in the folder.
7. Select the PDF format and choose the destination path.
8. Finally, click on Ok and then hit the Save button.

Limitations: It may not handle very large volumes of emails with very large email attachments. 

An Automated Tool to Convert Thunderbird Email to PDF Format

The Thunderbird to PDF Converter is a reliable and efficient solution for migrating and archiving emails. It allows users to backup emails in multiple file formats such as PDF, PST, MBOX, etc. The tool can also filter and export local folders and attachments based on date. It also offers functionality to split large PST Files, convert attachments to PDF, and migrate directly to other email clients. It is a highly effective solution for teams managing large email data.

The following are the steps to export Thunderbird emails to PDF:

1. Download and run the converter tool.
2. Choose the Thunderbird account profile.
3. Tick the mailbox from the mail list and click Next to proceed further.
4. Under Saves/Backup/Migrate As, choose PDF as the saving file format. 
5. Customize the process by opting for additional features if needed.
6. Finally, click on the Convert button to begin the conversion process.

Conclusion

We’ve detailed the three best methods to convert Thunderbird email to PDF, each with its benefits and limitations. While the manual methods work well, they become inefficient in a business environment. Therefore, business professionals are recommended to use an automated Thunderbird to PDF Converter for better efficiency. The Converter tool easily exports to emails to PDF, with attachments and email attributes. 

Related Guide: Export Thunderbird to PST Format.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q- How to convert Thunderbird emails to PDF?

Ans- Open Thunderbird, select the emails, right-click on them, and hit Print. Go to File > Print > Print to PDF > Save. If you want to batch convert the emails to PDF, then use the ImportExportTools NG method or Thunderbird to PST Converter.

Q- Is there a way to mass convert emails to PDF?

Ans- Yes, you can. There is a manual approach by installing ImportExportTools NG in Thunderbird. But, it may not export very large volumes of emails with large attachments. Therefore, we recommend using an automated Thunderbird to PDF Converter, which is capable of handling large volumes of emails.