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Cannot import .mbox emails into Thunderbird

  • 2 replies
  • 0 have this problem
  • 36 views
  • Last reply by Smera Smith

sapfww
sapfww
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Hello. I have just downloaded Thunderbird because I want to use it as an offline archive for my gmail from several different email addresses because I am running out of storage.

I've found online that I should install the ImportExportTools NG, which I have done.

I didn't want to use Thunderbird for email but apparently the only way I can import a downloaded archive is to also set up an email? Which is stupid and annoying.

Anyway, when I go to the import, I see this option. As you can see, the "import from file" does NOT have the opption to import mail! Which is the one thing I downloaded Thunderbird for. How on earth are you supposed to import an .mbox file with emails in it?????????


Anyway, thank you for any help.

Hello. I have just downloaded Thunderbird because I want to use it as an offline archive for my gmail from several different email addresses because I am running out of storage. I've found online that I should install the ImportExportTools NG, which I have done. I didn't want to use Thunderbird for email but apparently the only way I can import a downloaded archive is to also set up an email? Which is stupid and annoying. Anyway, when I go to the import, I see this option. As you can see, the "import from file" does NOT have the opption to import mail! Which is the one thing I downloaded Thunderbird for. How on earth are you supposed to import an .mbox file with emails in it????????? Anyway, thank you for any help.
Attached screenshots

All Replies (2)

david
david
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Well, you admit you know nothing about Thunderbird, and then you comment that it is 'stupid and annoying' yet you are showing your ignorance because you are leaping to wrong conclusions. Thunderbird can run without accounts. And, although you state that you installed the importexport addon, you didn't use it, choosing instead to use the default import. Try using the importexport menu option under tools, and there happens to be a menu option called import mbox file. Since all you want is the ability to read the messages, there is a free mbox viewer at https://sourceforge.net/projects/mbox-viewer/ so you don't need Thunderbird.

sfhowes
sfhowes
  • Top 25 Contributor
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Your picture shows the built-in import function, not the one for ImportExportTools NG. However, it's sufficient to copy the mbox file (without an .mbox extension) into the Mail/Local Folders location of the profile folder, with TB closed. Help/More Troubleshooting, Profile Folder, Show in Finder, to open the profile. When TB is restarted, see the folder under Local Folders in the Folder Pane.