How to Export Thunderbird to EML? Free & Pro Ways (2026)

Published By Jamie Kaler

Approved By Rollins Duke

Published On July 10th, 2026

Reading Time 8 Min Read

Want to export Thunderbird to EML format? This blog contains reliable solutions for your requirements. Thunderbird stores emails primarily in MBOX format, but there are several users who want individual EML files to be accessed in Outlook, Apple Mail, forensic investigation of Thunderbird, or simply want to archive emails.

In this digital guide we have mentioned some tested Thunderbird to EML converters for a smooth export process. These processes include built-in options, ImportExportTools NG, and an automated solution to preserve all your attachments and metadata and folder hierarchy. Let us move forward and export Thunderbird to EML format with the best method while making sure that the entire Thunderbird data is preserved and safe.

Thunderbird Emails VS EML File Format

Thunderbird is an open-source & widely used email client on all Mac, Windows, and Linux devices. It generally stores email in MBOX files (all folder emails are stored in a single file).

The .eml file format was initially developed by Microsoft, and is now an open-source email format. It can be opened directly in a web browser or by multiple email clients. like Outlook, Apple Mail, IceWarp, eMClient, and many more. An EML file stores a single email – email body in UTF-8 charset and attachments in base64 encoding.

This guide offers a step-by-step tutorial to convert Thunderbird to EML without any loss.

Does Thunderbird Export Emails as EML?

Yes, Thunderbird can easily save individual emails as EML format using its built-in Save As feature. For exporting entire folders, users can use ImportExportTools NG add-on or a reliable and dedicated solution for bulk exporting your emails from Thunderbird with attachments.

Reasons to Export Thunderbird to EML

In general, users save Thunderbird emails as EML, as it is a more modern file format with versatile usage. Here are the key scenarios where users save multiple Thunderbird messages as EML files:

Platform Migration: The primary reason is to switch between email clients, such as migrating Thunderbird to Office 365, Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook, etc. Exporting Thunderbird to EML lets you access Thunderbird email on mobile. It’s an easy way that lets you move computers while preserving all email data.
Data Archival: To back up Thunderbird emails so that the user can access them easily and avoid the risk of bulk corruption (as with MBOX files).
Quick Sharing: Converting Thunderbird messages to EML format makes them portable as they can be sent as attachments while preserving all email properties, including formatting & media.
Data Forensics: Saving Thunderbird messages in EML format helps legal investigators meet the needs of in-depth Thunderbird email analysis.

Manual Solution to Convert Thunderbird to EML Format

Apart from the Thunderbird to EML Converter, there are several manual ways to export Thunderbird to EML file. However, they are less reliable, but still, to stay informed about them, read the multiple conventional ways mentioned below:

1. Thunderbird ImportExport Tools NG Export Folder as EML

The primary manual solution to export Thunderbird to EML format requires the installation of an Add-on, i.e., ImportExportTools NG. To download this extension and convert Thunderbird to EML, follow the steps mentioned below:

Firstly, run Thunderbird on your system and click on Menu (three lines on top-right).
Go to Themes & Add-Ons Section.
Search for ImportExportTools NG and click on the “Add” button.
Now, select the Add-Ons and Themes option.
Once done, right-click on the Thunderbird folder you want to convert.
Next, choose ImportExportTools NG and click on Export All Messages in Folder.
After this, click the EML Message Format, and further, select either of the EML export options.
Finally, navigate to the saving location and click on the given option to export Thunderbird to EML.

2. Convert Thunderbird to EML via the Drag & Drop Method

Begin by starting Thunderbird on your system.
Now, open the Thunderbird folder that you want to convert to EML.
Further, drag the desired email file and drop it on the device’s local location.
At last, cross-check the process of Thunderbird export to EML.

3. Thunderbird to EML Export Using the Save As

Run Thunderbird on the PC.
Right-click on the desired email.
Choose the Save As option.
Then select the EML format option.
Pick the saving location and hit Save.

Alert: The manual solution is quite simple, but it also has certain limitations that can’t be overlooked, as it fails to maintain the folder hierarchy and file structure. Also, you have to repeat the steps for all data folders that consume considerable time and effort. If you want to export Thunderbird to EML format effortlessly, then go with the automated solution. In the next section of the blog, we will explore the prime functionality of the Thunderbird to EML Converter toolkit.

Still Unable to Export Manually as per Your Preferences?

Sometimes, ImportExportTools NG, Drag & Drop and Save As option do not work due to their certain limitations mentioned above. This is when you want to export a large number of EML files at once. You must choose a reliable solution that does not impose any exporting limitations and works according to your requirements. It is very important to choose a good solution to complete this process. Let us move forward and discuss the next solution and analyze what it offers.

Best Tool to Export Thunderbird Emails to EML in Bulk

RecoveryTools Thunderbird Migration Tool for Mac & Windows lets you easily convert Thunderbird to EML format in 3-steps with its easy-to-use interface, high-speed algorithms, and offline operation. You can export all emails from the Thunderbird profile to EML with attachments without any mailbox size restrictions, ensuring that your original email structure remains intact.

Free Download Thunderbird to EML Converter software from the button mentioned below:

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Quick Steps to Use this Solution to Export EML from Thunderbird?

Install & run the Thunderbird to EML Converter.
Load Thunderbird Mailbox file manually using the Select Files or Select Folders option.
Now, from the folder preview, select all required items to export to EML.
Choose the EML option from the list of 25+ file-saving options to convert Thunderbird to EML.
Choose Destination location, or File Naming options available to manage resultant emails.
At last, click on the Convert button to analyze the live Thunderbird Export to EML process.
Once the conversion process finishes successfully, click on OK.
Access the resultant EML files as the software directly opens the destination folder.

Thunderbird to EML Converter – Major Features & Benefits

As we can see from above, the working of the software is very easy and simplified to save Thunderbird to EML files. One of the major advantages and benefits that are provided by this Thunderbird to EML Export Tool is listed below:

The utility allows users to export messages from the Configured Thunderbird Profile Path.
It preserves all the Thunderbird email properties and their components while transferring emails from Thunderbird Email to EML files.
The software maintains an on-disk System folder Hierarchy while exporting Thunderbird to EML files.
Thunderbird to EML Converter offers 10+ file naming options for better organization, easy access, and efficient management of EML files.
Supports 25+ file formats, such as converting Thunderbird to PDF, DOC, TXT, HTML, MBOX, MSG, or migrating Thunderbird to Gmail, Yahoo, Office 365, Outlook for Mac, etc.
Standalone tool that does not require Thunderbird installation to export Thunderbird to EML and works completely offline in a secure way.

Feature Comparison of Thunderbird to EML Software VS Free Ways

Factor	Using RecoveryTools Software	Free-Manual Way
Bulk Export	Limitless Export of Large Profiles	Limited & Suitable for Small Folders
Selective Date-Wise Export	Has Smart Filters	No Such Option Available
Preserves Attachments / Metadata / Formatting	Yes	Not Consistent
Preserves Folder Hierarchy	Yes	No
File Naming Option	10+ Options	Overlong & Unrecognizable File Names
Time Taken	Can Convert Over 100GB of Data in Hours	Fails and Can Be Extremely Time-Taking for Bulk Conversion

FAQs: Export Thunderbird to EML

Q1: Is there a way to export all messages in .eml format from multiple folders simultaneously?

Yes, you can use RecoveryTools Thunderbird to EML Converter Tool; it lets you select separate Thunderbird profiles or mailboxes simultaneously. There is no limit on mailbox size or the number of emails.

Q2: Can Thunderbird open EML files?

Yes, you can even open EML files in the Mozilla Thunderbird application. Right-click on the EML file, choose “Open With,” and select Thunderbird as the application.

Q3: How many emails can I save for free with the free version of Thunderbird to EML Tool?

You can convert 25 emails per folder for free with RecoveryTools Thunderbird to EML converter.

Final Thought

In this blog post, we have explained the best Thunderbird to EML converter to export Thunderbird to EML files. The solution allows users to import emails into many EML-supported clients. Also, the Thunderbird to EML converter tool comes out with a trial version. The demo edition allows you to convert the first 25 emails without requiring Thunderbird installation. Purchase the suitable license to convert Thunderbird to EML with safety. You can also contact us if you encounter any issues during the process.

Read Next: Expert Guide to Migrate Thunderbird Files to Outlook