3 Ways to Back Up Emails in Mozilla Thunderbird

2025 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2025-01-24 13:28

This article explains how to create a backup folder for your Mozilla Thunderbird emails.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Install ImportExportTools

Back Up Email Files in Mozilla Thunderbird Step 1

Step 1. Open Thunderbird

Click on the Thunderbird app icon, depicting a blue bird flying over a white envelope.

Back Up Email Files in Mozilla Thunderbird Step 2

Step 2. Click on ☰

You will see this button in the upper right corner of the window. Press it and a drop-down menu will appear.

Back Up Email Files in Mozilla Thunderbird Step 3

Step 3. Select Add-ons

You will see this item in the menu you just opened. Click on it and another menu will appear.

Back Up Email Files in Mozilla Thunderbird Step 4

Step 4. Click on Add-ons in the newly appeared menu

The "Manage Add-ons" tab will open.

Back Up Email Files in Mozilla Thunderbird Step 5

Step 5. Look for the ImportExportTools component

Click on the search bar, in the upper right part of the window, then type importexporttools and press Enter.

Back Up Email Files in Mozilla Thunderbird Step 6

Step 6. Click Add to Thunderbird

It is located to the right of the "ImportExportTools" header.

Back Up Email Files in Mozilla Thunderbird Step 7

Step 7. Click Install Now when prompted

This will start the installation of ImportExportTools on Thunderbird.

Back Up Email Files in Mozilla Thunderbird Step 8

Step 8. Click Restart Now when prompted

It is located at the top of the window. Thunderbird will close and reopen; at this point, you can proceed with exporting your messages.

If Thunderbird restarts in Safe Mode, click Go out when prompted and open the program again before continuing.

Method 2 of 3: Export the Emails

Back Up Email Files in Mozilla Thunderbird Step 9

Step 1. Find the mailbox you want to use

In the upper left of the Thunderbird window, find the email address you want to use, then the "Inbox" folder under the address.

Back Up Email Files in Mozilla Thunderbird Step 10

Step 2. Right click on the inbox

A menu will open.

On Mac, hold Control while clicking on your inbox

Back Up Email Files in Mozilla Thunderbird Step 11

Step 3. Select ImportExportTools in the newly appeared menu

A window will open with another menu.

Back Up Email Files in Mozilla Thunderbird Step 12

Step 4. Select Export all messages to folder

This item is one of the first on the menu. Press it and a list of possible export formats will appear.

Back Up Email Files in Mozilla Thunderbird Step 13

Step 5. Select a file type

Click on the file type you want to use to backup emails. Based on your intentions, you will probably be interested in one of the following solutions:

If you want to import your Thunderbird backup to another computer, select the EML format.
If you want to read the emails with the original format and attachments, click on HTML format (with attachments), then click on OK when asked.

Back Up Email Files in Mozilla Thunderbird Step 14

Step 6. Select a folder for saving

Click on the folder where you want to save the backup.

For example, to save the backup folder on the desktop, click Desktop in the left part of this window.
On Mac, click "Where" if necessary before selecting a folder.

Back Up Email Files in Mozilla Thunderbird Step 15

Step 7. Click Select Folder in the lower right part of the window

In this way, you confirm the folder you have chosen and create the backup of your e-mails in that path. At the end of the operation, you will be able to view the messages by opening the main folder, then the backup folder and double clicking on the email you are interested in.

On Mac, click on Select.

Method 3 of 3: Back Up a Profile

Back Up Email Files in Mozilla Thunderbird Step 16

Step 1. Learn what profile backup is for

Your Thunderbird profile (i.e. the email account you use) stores your account settings, inbox index and other information. If you want to be able to restore your profile in the event of a Thunderbird error, you need to backup your profile folder.

Back Up Email Files in Mozilla Thunderbird Step 17

Step 2. Open Thunderbird

Click on the Thunderbird app icon, depicting a blue bird flying over a white envelope.

Back Up Email Files in Mozilla Thunderbird Step 18

Step 3. Click ☰ in the upper right corner of the Thunderbird window

A menu will appear.

Back Up Email Files in Mozilla Thunderbird Step 19

Step 4. Select Help

You will see this item in the newly appeared menu. Select it and a window will open with another menu.

Back Up Email Files in Mozilla Thunderbird Step 20

Step 5. Click on Troubleshoot in the menu

A new tab will open.

Back Up Email Files in Mozilla Thunderbird Step 21

Step 6. Click Open Folder

You will see this button to the right of "Profile folder".

Back Up Email Files in Mozilla Thunderbird Step 22

Step 7. Click on the Profiles folder

You will find it among the first in the File Explorer window that has just opened.

Skip this step on Mac; the "Profiles" folder should already be open on the left side of Finder

Back Up Email Files in Mozilla Thunderbird Step 23

Step 8. Copy your profile

Click once on the folder you want to copy, then press Ctrl + C (Windows) or ⌘ Command + C (Mac).

If you see multiple folders, click one, press Ctrl + A (Windows) or ⌘ Command + A (Mac), then copy them all

Back Up Email Files in Mozilla Thunderbird Step 24

Step 9. Close Thunderbird

The program must be closed, otherwise you will not be able to copy the files.

Back Up Email Files in Mozilla Thunderbird Step 25

Step 10. Paste the folder you copied

Navigate to the path where you want to save the profile backup (for example an external disk), click on an empty space in the window and press Ctrl + V or ⌘ Command + V to paste the folder.

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