A user has used Microsoft Outlook for Windows for years to manage their emails. But, as per the requirements, the company has decided to switch to Linux. They chose Thunderbird as the new email client because of its reliability and flexibility. Therefore, the user has exported all their important emails in a .msg format. But he is now finding solutions to integrate these emails into Thunderbird. So, how will he be able to import MSG to Thunderbird to ensure business continuity? He can do so either manually or by using a specialized MSG Converter Tool for a quicker, more accurate, and reliable solution.
A MSG file is a binary file that stores a single email message, including body, attachments, formatting, etc. Mozilla Thunderbird (EML) is a desktop email application that enables users to handle multiple email accounts on Windows, macOS, etc.
Comparison between MSG and EML
Both MSG and EML store individual email messages, yet they do differ. Given below are some of the major differences between the two:
| Basis | MSG | EML |
| Stands for | MS Outlook Message File | Standard Email Message File |
| Software Used | MS Outlook and Exchange | Thunderbird, Apple Mail, Outlook Express, etc. |
| Format Type | Binary | Plain-Text |
| Cross-Platform Compatibility | Limited Compatibility | Highly Compatible |
| Readability | Not Human-readable | Human-readable |
| File Size | Larger | Smaller |
Why Open MSG File with Thunderbird?
Companies import MSG Files into Thunderbird because Thunderbird can manage multiple email accounts. Here are some more benefits of this conversion:
- Importing MSG to Thunderbird is necessary for users who are switching from MS Outlook to Thunderbird.
- Thunderbird is a free, open-source email client and is highly compatible across platforms.
- Companies switching to Linux are using Thunderbird as their first choice due to its security and cost-saving features.
- Converting .msg files to .eml file format makes their email archives accessible to various platforms.
How to Import MSG to Thunderbird?
Now that we have clearly understood the need to import MSG into Thunderbird, the next step is to explore solutions. There is a manual method and a specialized method to do this conversion. Let’s understand both one-by-one.
Manually Convert MSG to Thunderbird
This method allows users to view the content of the MSG file in the Thunderbird application. In this procedure, we save the .msg file as an .eml file extension.
The following are the steps to begin the conversion process:
- Locate the MSG file that you want to import into Thunderbird.
- Right-click on it, select Open with > Outlook.
- Now, in Outlook, go to File > Save As, choose Text Only as the file type.
- After that, open the saved text file, and press Shift+S to save the file again.
- In the Save As type, select All Files and name it with a .eml extension.
- Once the file is saved, right-click on the saved EML file, choose Open with > Thunderbird.
Limitations: It does not convert a .msg file to an .eml file. With this method, we can only read the content of the .msg file in Thunderbird. We cannot modify it. It does not act as a functional email message. Also, there is a loss of metadata in this method.
Specialized Tool to Import MSG to Thunderbird
The MSG Converter Tool is a reliable solution to import MSG into Thunderbird without losing data or folder structure. It supports bulk transfers and can also migrate emails to Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook, etc. The tool also converts MSG files into multiple formats like PDF, EML, PST, MBOX, etc. In addition to this, it removes duplicate emails during the migration and is compatible with all Windows versions.
Quick steps to open MSG file in Thunderbird:
- Download, install, and open the converter tool.
- Either choose Select Files or Select Folder, and add the MSG File. Then, click on Next.
- Expand the tree structure, select the folders, and preview them. Click on Next to continue.
- Choose File Formats and select EML from the drop-down list.
- Choose the additional features if necessary.
- Select the Path to Save your resultant file.
- Lastly, click on Convert.
Conclusion
If you need an efficient way to import MSG to Thunderbird, this blog provides a reliable solution. In this blog, we have explored both a manual way and a specialized MSG Converter Tool, which automates the process. It imports the MSG files safely while ensuring data integrity, making it suitable for businesses. A trial version is also available to explore its features.
Related Post: Import MSG to Apple Mail.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q- How do I import .msg files into Thunderbird?
Ans- First, open the MSG file with an email client like Outlook. Then, save it as text only file and name it with a .eml file extension. Then, right-click on it and open this file in the Thunderbird application.
Q- What is the process to bulk import MSG files into Thunderbird?Ans- Start the MSG Converter Tool and upload the desired MSG File. Once it get uploaded, select the folder that you want to import to Thunderbird. After that, select Thunderbird as the file format and apply the additional features if required. Choose a path to save the resultant file and convert it.
