Best Simple Way—Migrate Office 365 to Thunderbird

Summary: Many professionals use Microsoft 365 for its secure cloud features and real-time collaboration. Accessing your emails offline is challenging with Microsoft 365. For this, users migrate Office 365 to Thunderbird. But how do they make this migration possible? In this blog, we will go through different methods, both manual and automated. Also, we will introduce the Aryson Office 365 Backup Tool, which simplifies the migration and ensures data integrity throughout the process.

Why Move from Office 365 to Thunderbird?

There are a few reasons why someone might prefer Thunderbird over Office 365:

  • Thunderbird is free and open-source, whereas Office 365 is a paid service.
  • Moreover, Thunderbird allows users to access their mail without internet connection.
  • When you store emails locally, it enhances security and privacy.
  • Some users find Thunderbird simple and smooth than Outlook 365.

How to Migrate Office 365 to Thunderbird

For users who are dealing with the difficulty of migrating from Office 365 to Thunderbird. They can totally rely on either the manual method or on using a professional tool. Here you can go through easy solutions to move from Office 365 to Thunderbird as follows:

Method 01: Manual Method to Import Outlook 365 to Thunderbird

To manually import your Outlook 365 mailbox into Thunderbird. This method requires using intermediate tools since Outlook 365 and Thunderbird use different file formats and protocols. Here’s how you can do it:

  1. Install and run Thunderbird.
  2. Click on Account Actions in the menu.
  3. Then choose Add Mail Account.
  4. Enter your credentials and click continue.
  5. Click Done to configure an Office 365 account in Thunderbird. 
  6. Therefore, instead of clicking Done directly, select the Manual Config option.
  7. The new mail setup window will pop up. Enter the following details:

Incoming Server: IMAP; outlook.office365.com; 993 ; Autodetect

Outgoing Server: SMTP; outlook.office365.com; 587; Autodetect


  1. When configured, click the Re-test button and then click on Done.
  2. Now all the emails and folders from Office 365 will synchronize with Thunderbird.
  3. Then, drag and drop the data from the Office 365 folders to the Thunderbird profile.
  4. Repeat the dragging process until all emails are transferred.

Note: if you want to delete the Office 365 account by navigating to: 

Go to Tools >> click on Account Settings >> then Account Actions >> and select Remove Account.

Limitations of the Manual Method 

  • The installation of Thunderbird is mandatory to perform the manual process.
  • In Thunderbird and Office 365, Technicalities might be the issue. 
  • Drag and drop might take time if large data are transferred.

Method 02: Easy Solutions to Migrate Office 365 to Thunderbird

When you have to migrate from Office 365 to Thunderbird or want a more accurate and time-efficient method, using the Aryson Office 365 Backup Tool is a better choice. This software easily migrates Office 365 to Thunderbird without data loss or formatting issues. It also supports bulk migration, ensuring all your emails are transferred quickly and securely. Also, you can pick the advanced feature of the software according to your requirements. It provides accuracy and ease to the users to accomplish the task. 

Simple Steps to Migrate Office 365 to Thunderbird

  1. Download & install the Aryson Office 365 Backup Tool and click on Backup.

    Download & install the Aryson Office 365 Backup Tool

  2. Log in with your Office 365 email and app password.

    Log in

  3. Select the source mailbox or folders, then click Next.

    Select

  4. Click on Preview to view your emails before exporting.

    Preview

  5. Now, select the saving format as MBOX.

    Now, select the saving format as MBOX.

  6. You can add Advanced Filters according to your needs (remove duplicates, date filter).

    Advanced Filters

  7. Click Backup to export your emails.

    Click Backup

Note: Now, follow the steps below to learn how to import a MBOX file into Thunderbird:

In Thunderbird, click on Menu > Add-ons and Themes > Search and install ImportExportTools NG>> right-click on Local Folders, choose ImportExportTools N G >> Import mbox file. Locate and load your .mbox file.

Additional Tip: Also, you can export Office 365 to PDF for legal or documentation purposes with the help of the same utility.

Conclusion

Migrating Office 365 to Thunderbird can seem complex, but with the right method, it becomes simple. In this blog, we have seen a manual that lets you access Office 365 emails in Thunderbird. On the other hand, a professional tool offers ease, speed, and control over data to migrate Office 365 to Thunderbird.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q.1. Can I use Thunderbird to access my Office 365 email?

Ans: Yes, Thunderbird supports Office 365 using the IMAP protocol. Just configure your account using the correct server settings and credentials.

Q.2. How to transfer Office 365 to Thunderbird?

Ans: Here’s how you can convert Office 365 to Thunderbird
Download & install Aryson Office 365 Backup Tool and click on Backup.
Log in with your Office 365 email and app password.
Select the Source and click Next.
Select the mail and click Next.
Select the backup format to be MBOX and apply advanced filters.
Click Backup to export your emails.

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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.

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