Import data from Outlook into Thunderbird on Windows


Importing data from Outlook into Thunderbird allows you to create a local copy of your content within Thunderbird. Once messages are saved locally, they can be deleted from the server.  

The following is included in this article: 

  1. Import all Outlook data
  2. Import a Calendar data file
  3. Import Mail Only from Outlook 

Before you begin 

Please note that this method of importing data will only import whatever is in the Outlook application at the time this process is done. This means that you will have to have your account already in Outlook, and have the content you would like transferred downloaded in the Outlook app.  

To add your UTMail+ account to the Outlook app on Windows, please follow the appropriate instructions: 

To change your synchronization settings in Outlook, please refer to the following article: KB0015192 

Import all Outlook data

  1. Open Thunderbird. Click on the three vertical lines, then select Tools, then Import.

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  2. Select the import source from Outlook and click on the Continue button.

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  3. Choose the items you wish to import and click the Continue button.



  4. In the final confirmation step, you’ll see a summary of your choices. Click the Start Import button to finalize the import, or the Back button to perform changes.

Import Outlook Calendar into Thunderbird

There is no direct way to synchronize calendars between Outlook and other applications. You need to export your Outlook calendar before importing it to other software, such as Thunderbird. Here's how to do this:

1. Log into your Outlook account.
2. Click the gear icon in the upper right corner and select Calendar > Shared Calendars.

 

3. Under Publish a Calendar, select your calendar and choose to publish it. This will generate two links - an HTML link, and an ICS link.  Here you can also select the level of detail for the calendar once it's imported into Thunderbird. Select Can View All Details if you want all your calendar details to be visible.

4. Download the ICS link by right-clicking on it.

5. Go back to the Thunderbird app, select Tools and then select Import. Then choose Import from a File and select Continue.  In the Import from a File section, choose the Import Calendars option and select Continue.

6. Your computer's file browser window will automatically pop up. Select the Outlook ICS calendar file you downloaded and select Open.

7. You'll be taken to the Import Calendar file section, where you can manually filter certain items from your calendar from a scrolling menu, or you can choose to "Select All" to import all items from the Calendar data.

8. In the next screen, select "Import Calendar File" and click Continue. 

9. Click the Start Import button to finalize the import. Click Finish. You may need to restart Thunderbird to see the full calendar import. 

 

Import Mail Only from Outlook

  1. Click on the three vertical lines, then select Tools, then Import.
  2. Select the import source from Outlook and click on the Continue button.
  3. Choose Mail Messages and click the Continue button. 

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  4. Click the Start Import button to finalize the import. Click Finish.