How to transfer Thunderbird to Office 365: Complete Guide

To many people, it might be an impossible task to move emails from Thunderbird to Office, 365, but it is achievable with the right steps. Whether you like more hands on and manual or if you want something that is more automated, this guide will show you both but will ensure you get what is most suitable for you.

Why Migrate from Thunderbird to Office 365?

MBOX is a popular file format for storing emails, and one of the most used email clients that supports Mbox file format is Thunderbird. Office 365 on the other hand works on a cloud-based platform that is compatible with Microsoft applications. Moving to Office 365 could be an advantageous step since it unites the opportunities of collaboration and accessibility.

Manual Migration: Step-by-Step Guide

The manual migration process is a rather lengthy process that requires a lot of time and efforts to be spent, Here's how you can do it:

Step 1: Export Thunderbird Emails

1. Open Thunderbird: Open the Thunderbird and find the folder which contains the emails that have to be imported.

2. Save Emails: Right click the emails, then go to Save As to save the emails in your local system. Organize such emails in a particular way, which would be to assign a special folder for them.

Step 2: Import Emails into Outlook

1. Open MS Outlook: Launch Outlook and in a new folder of your preference, you want to import your emails.

2. Drag and Drop: Copy the saved email files from the local folder and paste it into the Outlook folder that you have created.

Step 3: Copy PST Files to Office 365

1. Prepare PST Files: If you have saved your emails in PST format, then you will have to import the PST files in Office 365 using Office 365 Import Service.

2. Install Azure Storage Tools: Go to the ‘Microsoft Azure Storage Tools’ and then download and install it.

3. Upload PST Files: It is recommended to use the azcopy.exe tool which can used to transfer PST files to Office 365. Follow the Microsoft instructions to create a mapping file and then upload it.

Drawbacks: This method may however take some time, especially when using the save and import each email option. Besides, configuring PST files for Office 365 is not that easy as it needs further steps to complete the process.

How to use the Thunderbird to Office 365 migration tool

1. Download and Install: The Thunderbird to Office 365 migration tool has to be downloaded and installed on your computer.

2. Select Thunderbird Data: Select the Thunderbird mailbox or certain files that you would like to transfer.

3. Choose Destination: Choose Office 365 as the location for the migration. When prompted, please enter your Office 365 login details.

4. Start Migration: Start the migration. The tool will migrate emails along with the attachments, contacts, and calendars to Office 365 account directly.

ALSO READ: How to Import Thunderbird MBOX Files to Zoho Mail

Benefits of Using the Automated Tool:

• Comprehensive Migration: It can perform bulk migration where in the tool can transfer all emails, their attachments and all other related data at once.

• Full Data Integrity: It guarantees that all the information such as, contact and calendar entries are well transferred without any loss.

• Cross-Platform Support: It is compatible with Windows and Mac OS, thus meeting the different user interfaces that are available.

• Secure and Efficient: It preserves data and is user-friendly; this helps in minimizing errors when performing migration.

Conclusion

It is not a difficult process to move from Thunderbird to Office 365. Whether you opt for the manual process, which involves several steps and may present some difficulties, or the automated method using the Mbox Converter Tool you have powerful methods.

If you care about speed and minimizing interference with your migration process, then you should opt for the Thunderbird to Office 365 migration tool or a Mbox Converter tool. The manual method can also achieve the desired result for those who prefer a hands-on approach and have the time.

Determine what is appropriate for you and choose the method that will be most suitable for your migration to Office 365.