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Best Ways to Resolve Thunderbird Import Not Working Issue

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Published By Jamie Kaler 
Rollins Duke
Approved By Rollins Duke
Published On July 19th, 2025
Reading Time 5 Min Read

Are you also trying to import files in Thunderbird and have encountered that Thunderbird import not working? If yes, then this is the page that can help you understand the possible reasons behind this Thunderbird import MBOX not working issue, as well as the prominent manual and professional solutions to fix it reliably. 

Therefore, Thunderbird is a widely used and recommended utility, but sometimes, when a user tries to import their saved or received MBOX files, they get stuck in the process. This ultimately hits the user’s productivity and limits their work while also creating inconvenience for them. Hence, to fix the Thunderbird import not working problem, read this complete blog and explore the best solution that works for you. 

Reasons Behind Thunderbird Import Not Working Error

  • The primary cause can be using the outdated Thunderbird edition, which might have bugs or glitches related to Thunderbird import.
  • Also, any third-party internal plugin also disturbs the import process and leads to the Thunderbird import MBOX not working error. 
  • In addition to this, importing corrupt MBOX files or Thunderbird profiles also results in such inconveniences. 
  • Apart from this, if the user does not have enough storage space in his/her system, then Thunderbird also denies the import request. 
  • Lastly, if the files or folders that the user is trying to import do not have the required permissions, then such issues also take place. 

How to Fix Thunderbird Import MBOX Not Working Problem Manually?

There are multiple indirect ways in which users can try to resolve the Thunderbird import not working error. Thus, some of the most prominent and highly applicable solutions for such a data import issue are mentioned below. 

1. Use the Latest Thunderbird Version

  1. Start Thunderbird on your system. 
  2. Click on the menu icon. 
  3. Choose the Help button. 
  4. Select About Thunderbird. 
  5. From the new pop-up tab, download the latest Thunderbird edition. 
  6. Once done, restart Thunderbird and check if the Thunderbird import not working error is fixed. 

2. Run Thunderbird in Safe Mode

  1. Close the running Thunderbird. 
  2. Now, press the keys Windows + R. 
  3. Type “thunderbird.exe -safe-mode”.
  4. Hit the Enter button on the keyboard. 
  5. From the pop-up window, choose Continue in Safe Mode. 
  6. Then, in Thunderbird, click on Tools and select Import. 
  7. Now, select the files and check whether the Thunderbird import MBOX not working is fixed or not. 

3. Remove the MSF File 

  1. Close the running Thunderbird account. 
  2. Press the keys Windows + X.
  3. Select Windows PowerShell (Admin). 
  4. Write the command “Get-ChildItem -Path “$env:APPDATA\Thunderbird\Profiles” -Recurse -Filter *.msf | Remove-Item -Force”.
  5. Now, wait a while to complete the MSF file deletion. 
  6. Once done, restart Thunderbird and try to import MBOX files again. 
  7. With this, the Thunderbird import not working will be fixed. 

Pro Tips: Make sure to check that your internet connectivity is strong, as well as that you have enough storage space on your device. 

Why Are Manual Ways Not Considered Professional?

  • They are very time-consuming and complex. 
  • Users from non-tech backgrounds can get confused. 
  • There is no data security with these manual methods to fix Thunderbird import not working. 
  • They are prone to error and do not follow the folder hierarchy at all. 
  • There is no one solution that may work thus, the user has to try each one of them and find out which one works for their situation.

What do Professionals Suggest to Fix the Thunderbird Import Not Working Issue?

The conventional ways have lots of limitations, and that is why experts always use a tested and reliable automated tool such as RecoveryTools Thunderbird Import tool. This utility is not just easy to use but also works tremendously well to fix the Thunderbird import problem. Thus, it is easy, fast, and safe to perform any Thunderbird import drill. The quick steps to use this solution are as follows:

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  1. Install and run the solution on your system. 
  2. Select the MBOX files and folders using the given selection modes.
    select files
  3. Choose the saving location or import destination of the files.
    saving location
  4. Hit the Convert button to initiate the process.
    thunderbird import not working
  5. Finally, run Thunderbird to check whether the Thunderbird import issue is fixed or not. 

Benefits of the Automated Tool

  • It supports bulk action, which saves user time and other resources to overcome the Thunderbird import MBOX not working error. 
  • This solution ensures complete data authenticity, which means from attachments and metadata to folder hierarchy, it keeps everything the same. 
  • If there is any minor MBOX file corruption, this solution makes it healthier and effortless to import into Thunderbird. 
  • This is the best alternative to Thunderbird ImportExportTools NG, as it supports all the formats of the MBOX file.
  • The user can download the free edition of the tool, which allows them to test the solutions’ working and efficiency to overcome Thunderbird import not working.

Conclusion

In this blog post, we highlighted multiple solutions to fix the Thunderbird import MBOX not working error. However, the manual ways have some limitations, and that is why we recommend the automated solution, which is easy, quick, and professional. The best thing is that it runs on all versions of the Windows operating system, which boosts its compatibility. This tool has no such limitations, which contribute to boosting users’ productivity within no time.