How to Import EMLX to Thunderbird – Step-by-Step Simple Guide

  • Written By  

  • Updated on October 17th, 2025

Summary: Email communication is an essential part of our daily work, and many users will swap between email clients for improved accessibility or more advanced features. A common example of this is if a user wants to import EMLX to Thunderbird. This is often used by retirees who are switching to Thunderbird from Apple Mail. If you would like to know how to effortlessly carry out the migration of your data, you are in the right place. This is a simple guide for you to follow that gives you step-by-step guidance on Aryson EMLX Converter.

What is an EMLX File?

Before we start, you must understand exactly what an EMLX file is.

EMLX files are used by Apple Mail, and they store each email message in plain text. An EMLX file stores the body of each email message, in addition to headers and attachments. EMLX files cannot be opened or imported into Thunderbird because they are not a supported file type. The files will need to be converted to a Thunderbird-supported file type or imported in some manner. 

Why Import EMLX Files to Thunderbird?

There are many reasons someone might have for migrating or transferring EMLX files into Thunderbird, including:

  • Changing from macOS to Windows or Linux
  • Someone is accessing Apple Mail from a different operating system
  • Creating a backup or archiving of old Apple Mail messages
  • Using a free, open-source email client like Thunderbird
  • Methods to Import EMLX to Thunderbird

Let’s explore the best ways to import EMLX files to Thunderbird step by step.

Method 1: Convert EMLX to Thunderbird With Thunderbird 

Since Thunderbird accepts the .eml file type but not .emlx, the easiest method is to change your EMLX files into EML files first.

Step 1: Find Your EMLX files

  1. On your Mac, find the following path: ~/Library/Mail/
  2. You will find your EMLX files in multiple subfolders of your Apple Mail Account.

Step 2: Change EMLX into EML Files

  1. You can rename the files from .emlx to .eml.

Step 3: Import EML Files Into Thunderbird

  1. On your system, open Mozilla Thunderbird.
  2. Create a new folder where you want to import your emails.
  3. Then drag the EML files into the new folder.
  4. That is it! The emails you downloaded from EMLX (now EML) will be imported into Thunderbird very quickly.

Note: This method is best for small email imports. For large data and bulk migration it takes a long time and attachments can be lost or formatting can be incorrect.

Method 2: Use the “ImportExportTools NG” to Transfer EMLX files into Thunderbird

If you don’t want to manually rename or convert files, Thunderbird provides an extension that simplifies importing external messages.

Step 1: Install ImportExportTools NG 

  1. Firstly, Open Thunderbird. 
  2. Select Menu > Add-ons and Themes. 
  3. Look for ImportExportTools NG. 
  4. Press the button labeled Add to Thunderbird > Install Now. 

Step 2: Prepare your EMLX or EML files

  1. To begin, make sure all of your Apple Mail EMLX files exist in a single folder.
  2. Preferably, you should convert them to EML format to ease the import process. 

Step 3: Import your files into Thunderbird

  1. As a next step, you will need to right-click on the
  2. Select ImportExportTools NG > Import All Messages from a Directory > Also from Its Subdirectories. 
  3. Select the folder that has your email files. 
  4. All of your emails will import at once into Thunderbird while preserving folder hierarchy and metadata.

Method 3: Import EMLX to Thunderbird For Bulk Migration

The Aryson EMLX Converter Tool is a user-friendly software that helps you easily import your EMLX files into Thunderbird. It guarantees no data loss, supports bulk migration, and keeps the original folder hierarchy intact. This tool can also convert EMLX files into several other formats, including PST, MBOX, PDF, EML, and more. It makes the product an option for businesses with a substantial amount of email data or users with little technological expertise. Along with Office 365, it can also import EMLX Files into Gmail and other file formats.

Follow these Simple Steps to Transfer EMLX files to Office 365:

  1. Firstly, download and install the EMLX Converter Tool on your Windows system.

    download and install the EMLX Converter Tool

  2. Simply click on Select File or Select Folder to load your .emlx files.

    Select Folder to load your .emlx files

  3. Once loaded, it will display a preview of your selected data to recheck.

    display a preview

  4. From the File Formats Options, select Thunderbird as the saving option.

     File Formats Options, select Thunderbird

  5. Apply optional filters such as date range, folder selection, or duplicate removal.

    Apply optional filters

  6. Finally, click the Convert button to Export EMLX to Office 365.

    Convert button to Migrate EMLX files to Thunderbird

Key Features

  • Convert EMLX files in batch to Thunderbird or MBOX.
  • Preserve all email content and the key elements of your email.
  • Avoid losing data or compromising email integrity.
  • Work on a technical level that requires minimal knowledge.
  • This approach applies primarily to more enterprise-level or bulk migrations. Where uninterrupted email services without any downtime or data loss are preferable or required.

Conclusion

When a user tries to import EMLX to Thunderbird, it may appear complex, but it is simple if you follow the right steps. You can either do a manual conversion, import EMLX using the Thunderbird ImportExportTools NG extension, or select an automated utility to move EMLX to Thunderbird without losing any of your important emails. By following the steps above, you can transition smoothly, safely, and efficiently, and you should not need any specialized technology knowledge, as shown.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q.1 Can I import EMLX files directly into Thunderbird?

Ans: No, Thunderbird doesn’t support direct EMLX import. You can use Aryson EMLX Converter to easily import them without data loss.

Q.2 What is the best way to import EMLX files to Thunderbird?

Ans: The best way is using Aryson EMLX Converter, which ensures quick, secure, and bulk import of EMLX files into Thunderbird.

Q.3 What are the steps to transfer emails from Apple Mail to Thunderbird?

Ans: Export Apple Mail emails in EMLX format and import them into Thunderbird using the Aryson EMLX Converter Tool.

Q.4 Is it possible to batch import EMLX files to Thunderbird?

Ans: Yes, Aryson EMLX Converter supports batch import, allowing you to move multiple EMLX files into Thunderbird at once.

Rate this post

About The Author:

As a lead technical writer, I know the technical problems faced by office and professional users. So, I decided to share all my technical knowledge through this blog. I love helping you with tough challenges when dealing with technical issues.

© Copyrights 2014-2025 is an affiliate partner of Aryson Technologies. - All Rights Reserved