Windows 10 reached EOS (end of support) on October 14, 2025. If you are on Windows 10, see this article.

Avatar for Username

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Migrating from Outlook Classic to IMAP Server, but unable to reconfigure to IMAP server, with emails and folders already saved from Outlook Classic

  • 3 antwoorde
  • 0 hierdie probleem
  • Laaste antwoord deur david
  • Open

TomT
TomT

Hi All,

I have been working with a new service provider to move my domain and Email service for the past week. The domain move wasn’t an issue, but migrating Email has been a major pain. The new service technical staff had numerous issues just accessing the Outlook account, so copying the inbox and folders turned into a nightmare. Then I installed Office 365, just to access Outlook, and create PST files, which I provided to the new service tech staff, to synchronize all folders, but most of the PST files didn’t end up in the new server.

So, in Thunderbird I created an account for the Outlook service, and that synchronized everything, and was ecstatic! I then attempted to change the correctly synchronized Outlook account on Thunderbird, to the new IMAP server, but I can’t figure out how to change from the Microsoft Exchange Mail Server, to the new IMAP server. Since the Email Addresses on both servers will be the same, and only change with the DNS update to point to the new server, I am unable to create an IMAP account on Thunderbird, along side the Outlook account.

I am at a loss as to what I can do at this point. Can anyone help?

Hi All, I have been working with a new service provider to move my domain and Email service for the past week. The domain move wasn’t an issue, but migrating Email has been a major pain. The new service technical staff had numerous issues just accessing the Outlook account, so copying the inbox and folders turned into a nightmare. Then I installed Office 365, just to access Outlook, and create PST files, which I provided to the new service tech staff, to synchronize all folders, but most of the PST files didn’t end up in the new server. So, in Thunderbird I created an account for the Outlook service, and that synchronized everything, and was ecstatic! I then attempted to change the correctly synchronized Outlook account on Thunderbird, to the new IMAP server, but I can’t figure out how to change from the Microsoft Exchange Mail Server, to the new IMAP server. Since the Email Addresses on both servers will be the same, and only change with the DNS update to point to the new server, I am unable to create an IMAP account on Thunderbird, along side the Outlook account. I am at a loss as to what I can do at this point. Can anyone help?

All Replies (3)

david
david
  • Top 10 Contributor

I am not familiar with Exchange, but my suggestion is not to change the account setup, but to create an additional account alongside it. On the setup screen, just enter name and email address, not password. wait for prompt.

TomT
TomT Vraag-eienaar

Thanks for the reply. I have done just that, and have been able to migrate some folders from the outlook account to the new account, but some just refuse to work. I have done some direct copies of folders, but I believe that they are just pointers to the Outlook folder. I have been keeping an eye on the actual files in the Thunderbird profile disk directories, and found only some or no data in the directories created with the copies. Currently, the directories are kind-of a mess. I will be cleaning them up as necessary.

I have also been able to export files of some folders to MBOX with success, and import them into the web based new account, which then shows up properly on Thunderbird. However some folders refuse to export to MBOX

I made PST files over the weekend, and although they are old, they have been stagnant since then, and should be complete. I am in the process of finding a good PST-to_MBOX converter, in order to import them into the web based account. Any suggestions here would be of great help.

david
david
  • Top 10 Contributor

This is the only free pst-to-thunderbird of which I am aware: https://www.mailstore.com/en/products/mailstore-home/ it is a two-step process. First to convert PST and then to export as MBOX.

Vra 'n vraag

You must log in to your account to reply to posts. Please start a new question, if you do not have an account yet.