Convert Thunderbird Emails to EML: Step-by-Step Guide
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Written By
Aradhya Jain -
Approved By
Shivam Rathore -
Updated on
March 13th, 2026 - Read Time
7 minutes
User Query: I use Mozilla Thunderbird for managing my emails, but now I need to transfer some important messages to another email program. I noticed that many email clients support EML files. Is there a simple way to convert Thunderbird emails to EML format without losing attachments or email details?
Introduction: Many users rely on Mozilla Thunderbird because it is a free and reliable email client. Over time, Thunderbird stores thousands of emails inside mailbox folders. However, when users switch to another email application or want to share individual messages, they often need those emails in EML format. The EML format is widely supported by email programs such as Microsoft Outlook, Windows Mail, Apple Mail, and several other platforms. In this blog, we will explain the manual method and the professional DRS Softech Thunderbird Backup Tool. Each method gives you a quick, reliable, and hassle-free process.
What is EML Format and Why Does It Matter?
EML stands for Electronic Mail. Each EML file is basically one single email saved as an individual file on your computer. It stores everything that was inside that email, including the subject line, sender, and receiver details that came with it. The file follows a standard called MIME, which is why it opens correctly in so many different programs.
Here is why people tend to like EML format so much:
- Each email is its own separate file, which makes it easy to search, organize, and manage
- You can archive individual emails or large batches without any special software
- EML files can usually be opened with a simple double-click in most operating systems
- Also, all the original metadata stays intact, so nothing important gets stripped out
How Thunderbird Stores Your Emails Internally?
- Mozilla Thunderbird does not actually store emails as EML files by default. Instead, it uses something called MBOX format. In MBOX, all the emails from a single folder are packed together inside one file. So your inbox is one file, your sent folder is another file, and each custom folder you have created is its own file too.
- This works perfectly fine when you are working inside Thunderbird. But when you want to transfer your emails somewhere else or share them with another system, MBOX becomes a bit of a headache.
- Moreover, you cannot just drag and drop emails into another application. You need to extract them from those MBOX files and convert them into a format the other program actually understands.
- This is exactly what a dedicated conversion tool fills. It reads those MBOX files from Thunderbird and turns each individual email inside them into its own EML file, ready to be used anywhere.
Manual Method to Convert Thunderbird Emails to EML
Thunderbird itself allows users to export emails as EML files. This method works well when you only need to export a few messages. Steps to Export your Thunderbird Emails to EML
- Firstly, open Mozilla Thunderbird on your computer.
- Now, select the mailbox folder that contains the emails.
- Choose the email you want to export.
- After that, right-click the email message.
- Click Save As and choose the location on your computer.
- Thunderbird will save the email as an EML file.
Limitations: Manually Export Thunderbird to EML
- Exporting emails one by one takes a lot of time if you have many messages.
- Thunderbird does not provide an easy way to export entire folders as EML files at once.
- Manual selection may cause some emails to be skipped accidentally.
- Additionally, Organizations or users with thousands of emails may find this method difficult.
Professional Tool to Convert Thunderbird Emails to EML
If you have thousands of MBOX emails to convert, you can directly use the reliable DRS Softech Thunderbird Email Backup Tool. It allows users to import a small or large number of MBOX files at once. Preserves the original email data formatting, structure, and metadata during the entire process. This software offers several advanced features, like Preview, Remove Duplicate, Date Filter, and more. With this tool, you can export Thunderbird to PST and other formats. Furthermore, this tool is highly compatible with all Windows and Mac versions. A free version is available to understand its features and performance.
Step-by-Step Guide to Transfer Thunderbird Emails to EML with Attachments:
- Download and install the DRS Softech Thunderbird Backup Tool.
- Choose “Select Profiles” or “Select Files/Folder” to load your Thunderbird profiles or MBOX files. Click Next.
- Then, you can preview and select the MBOX emails to convert. Press Next.
- After that, pick EML as the Saving Format from the drop-down list.
- Lastly, apply advanced features and filters as per your needs. Click Convert.
What to Look for in a Good Thunderbird to EML Converter
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Batch Conversion Support Means the tool loads everything from your Thunderbird profile and works through it all together, which saves an enormous amount of time. |
Proper Attachment Handling A quality tool should carry over every attachment exactly as it was. Whether those attachments are PDF documents, images, ZIP files, or anything else. |
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Folder Structure Preservation If you have spent time organizing your Thunderbird emails into folders, the last thing you want is for that whole structure to disappear during conversion. |
Metadata Accuracy Email metadata covers things like the date and time the email was sent, who sent it, who it was addressed to, the subject line, and any CC or BCC information. |
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Date Filter Options Sometimes you do not need everything. A date range filter lets you be selective and skip the data you have no use for. |
No File Size Restrictions A good tool should handle your Thunderbird data regardless of how big those MBOX files are. |
Real-Life Scenario:
A small consulting firm used Mozilla Thunderbird for many years to manage client communication. When the company decided to transfer to a new email platform, they needed to transfer important client emails. Since the new email system supported EML files, the IT team converted Thunderbird emails into EML format. This allowed them to import messages easily while keeping attachments and message details intact.
Conclusion
Converting Thunderbird emails to EML is useful when you need to transfer messages to another email client or create a secure backup. In this blog, we explored the manual method and a professional tool to convert Thunderbird emails to EML. The manual method is used to convert a small number of MBOX emails. But it has several limitations. Thats why its best to use the professional tool. This tool supports bulk conversion with several advanced features. At the end, it is 100% safe and an accurate conversion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ans: You can convert Thunderbird emails to EML by opening Mozilla Thunderbird, selecting the email message, right-clicking it, and choosing Save As to store it as an EML file. However, this method works best for a small number of emails. For bulk conversion, many users prefer using a professional tool like the DRS Softech Thunderbird Backup Tool to export multiple emails at once.
Ans: IT administrators often convert Thunderbird emails to EML to make messages accessible across different email platforms. Since EML is widely supported by email clients such as Microsoft Outlook, Windows Mail, and Apple Mail, it helps organizations archive, transfer, or migrate emails without compatibility issues.
Ans: Yes, users can export multiple Thunderbird emails to EML using a professional conversion tool. This tool allows bulk export of entire mailbox folders while keeping the original email structure and metadata intact.
Ans: Yes, a reliable converter tool keeps all email components intact during the conversion process. Attachments, email headers, sender details, timestamps, and formatting remain unchanged after exporting Thunderbird emails to EML.
