How to Import PST to Thunderbird Without Outlook? Solution!

How to import PST to Thunderbird without Outlook has become a major issue among users. The reason for this is the increasing demand for Thunderbird email applications. It has now become a very well-known platform for data storage and for the instant email function for its users.

The main reason for using the Thunderbird email client is that it is a free desktop-based email client application. But Thunderbird supports MBOX format to store mailbox data, not PST format.

“Hello, I am using Microsoft Outlook 2010 on my old computer. On that computer, I was facing many issues. So, I bought a new Windows 10 computer. On this computer, I have installed the Thunderbird email client. I have already exported PST from the old account. But the problem is how to import PST to Thunderbird without Outlook. Does anyone know how to import the entire data? Please help me to resolve this issue.”

If you are one of those who want to import PST to Thunderbird, then continue with the next section and read the complete article.

How to Import PST to Thunderbird without Outlook?

• Step 1: Run the tool on PC.
• Step 2: Select PST files with dual options.
• Step 3: Choose the required folders/subfolder.
• Step 4: Select Thunderbird as saving option.
• Step 5: Apply the filters & select path.
• Step 6: Get the resultant exported PST files.

To know more about these steps, you can directly go to the automatic solution paragraph and read all the information about it.

Can Thunderbird Open PST Files?

No, Thunderbird can’t import PST files directly, for that you have to change the PST format into any Thunderbird-supported format like .mbox. You may also need the help of a third-party email service, like Gmail, which supports both PST and Thunderbird.

#1: How to Import PST to Thunderbird?

Thunderbird has an in-built feature to connect with an installed Outlook account. By following given steps:

1. Open Thunderbird email client.
2. Click on the Tools >> Import… option.
3. Choose Import from Outlook from the list.
4. Enter the required details (if asked).

Your account will connect in Thunderbird and now you can move emails from the connected Outlook account using the Move To key.

If this method does not work for you, follow the second method to import PST to Thunderbird without Outlook. All the steps are explained below in detail.

#2: Convert PST to Thunderbird using Gmail

Here we will use third-party email service: Gmail, because it supports both Outlook PST and Thunderbird email client. Before starting the process, read the all details carefully:

Step 1: Connect Gmail Account

Important Note:If your have installed Outlook and have uploaded PST file in it, then follow these methods.

1. Open an Outlook account.
2. Click on the File >> Add Account tab.

   

3. Enter the login details of your Gmail account.

   

4. Lastly, hit on the Finish button.

Now move your emails from your Outlook account to your connected Gmail by drag and drop process to import PST to Thunderbird.

Or, if you have an orphan PST file, and you don’t want to install Outlook client. Then follow these steps:

What is GWMMO Tool: It’s a tool which allow users to upload Outlook profile or PST file to Gmail account for free. Remember this tool will not work with damaged files.

1. Download and install the GWMMO tool.
2. Login with your Gmail account.

   

3. Grant all required permissions.

   

4. Upload your PST data file.

   

5. Select between Migrate All Data or New Data options.

   

6. Next icon and check the needed boxes.

   

7. Click on the Migrate button and the live process will start.

   

8. After the complete migration, a pop will appear and hit the OK icon.

   

9. Lastly, you can check what the resultant data will look like.

   

After importing PST file to Gmail account, now we will move to the next steps to open PST in Thunderbird account.

Step 2: Export Outlook PST from Gmail as MBOX

We can migrate Gmail data to Thunderbird in two ways, first is by using Google Takeout service and second is by connecting accounts. Both ways are given below one by one, follow them carefully:

1. Open a Google Takeout account.
2. Hit on the Deselect All option.

   

3. Select the required data i.e., Mail, and click on the Next icon.

   

4. Choose the File Size and type, Frequency, Destination, etc.

   

5. Click on the Create Export button to start the process.

   

Now you will get a pop-up on the selected location for downloading backup. And after downloading it, you will get a .zip file >> unzip it and a .mbox will see in the folders.

Important Note: If this way is taking too much time to download data, then you can checkout the connection method in step 2.1 after step 3. There is no need to save emails, you can import PST to Thunderbird by connecting accounts.

Step 3: Import PST to Thunderbird as MBOX

Important Note: ImportExportTools NG must be added to the Thunderbird account.

1. Open a Thunderbird account.
2. Click on the Tools >> ImportExportTools NG >> Import MBOX Files option.

   

3. Choose Import One or More MBOX Files option.

   

4. Browse the exported MBOX file and import it in Thunderbird.

   

And your process – Open PST in Thunderbird account has been done. But manual methods have some limits, which all are mentioned here.

Step 2.1: Connect Gmail to Thunderbird Directly

1. Open your Thunderbird account.
2. Head to the Tools >> Account Settings option.

   

3. Click on the Account Actions >> Add Mail Account.

   

4. Provide all the login credentials i.e., email address and app password.

   

5. Also, provide IMAP server details of Gmail.

   

6. Lastly, click on the Finish button.

   

Find the uploaded PST folder, right-click on it, choose Move To, and then select the Thunderbird accounts profile.

Drawbacks of Manual Methods

• Thunderbird must be installed on your system.
• Users have to follow multiple steps to accomplish the process.
• Also, multiple errors will appear, while connecting the accounts.
• Multiple steps make the manual process clumsy and technical.

Complete Steps to Open PST File in Thunderbird Account

1. Firstly, you need to run the software and read all the instructions.

   

2. After that, the software gives dual mode to choose PST files/folders directly from the system.

   

3. Thereafter, choose the required email folders from the list and click on the Next button.

   

4. After that, select the Thunderbird option in the list of file-saving options.

   

5. Apply the advanced filter option from the Filter Options tab to convert selective emails.

   

6. Enter the destination location where you want to store your data and choose the needed options.

   

7. Thereafter, click on the Convert button to import PST to Thunderbird without Outlook.

   

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can I open a PST file without Outlook?

  Yes, you can open your PST file without installing Outlook by using the RecoveryTools PST Viewer tool.

• Why can’t I import PST files?

  It mostly happens, when you have a corrupt PST file to import. So first you have to repair your file using the RecoveryTools PST Repair tool. for complete information, follow the given solution page.

• How do I extract Outlook PST files?
  1. Open your Outlook email client.
  2. Select the File >> Open & Export >> Import/Export.
  3. Choose the Export to a File option.
  4. After that, select the Outlook Data File (.pst) option.
  5. Check the folders, which you want to export.
  6. Browse the location to save the resultant data.
  7. Apply the filters and click on the Finish icon.
• Where is my Outlook PST file located?

  Here you can follow this location to locate your PST files in different Windows:

  • Windows 10 drive:\Users\<username>\Documents\Outlook Files
  • Windows 11 drive:\Users\<username>\Documents\Outlook Files
  • Older versions of Windows drive:\Documents and Settings\\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook
• What is the size limit for Outlook PST files?

  50 GB is the size limit for Outlook PST files.

Conclusion

Hope you understand the complete process to import the data. In this article, we have explained the complete process to import PST to Thunderbird without Outlook. The above-mentioned solutions are easy to use and do not require much technical knowledge.

Moreover, among all other solutions present on the Internet, users can easily continue with this solution and carry out the needed results. You can also use the demo version of this PST to Thunderbird Converter to import the first 25 emails from each folder at once.