I would like to move my mac mail folders and subfolders to Thunderbird. Installed import/export tools but not sure how to proceed.
Hi I have ten years worth of email in folders and subfolders in MacMail, painstakingly transferred each time i get a new MacBook. But I want to switch to Thunderbird, because I like the option of Pop3. So I've set up my accounts, and they function and have downloaded the mail on the servers. But now I would like to import my folders and subfolders from macmail. I installed the import/export tools add on for Thunderbird. But my efforts to use them have not resulted in any normal looking folders and subfolders. It looks like it can be done, but I'm not sure how.
Chosen solution
Yeah, that is a side effect of the mac mail export.
Read this answer in context 👍 1All Replies (6)
The import export tools works with MBOX files. But you have to create them. As I understand it mac mail no longer uses the MBOX format internally to quote Export mailboxes
- Select one or more mailboxes, then choose Mailbox > Export Mailbox.
- Choose a folder or create a new folder, then click Choose.
Mail exports the mailboxes as .mbox packages. If you previously exported a mailbox, Mail doesn’t overwrite the existing .mbox file; it creates a new .mbox file, such as My Mailbox 3.mbox.
Matt, thanks so much for the reply. The mail folders I would like to import are from my OSX 10.8 MacBook Pro. (I was not able to keep the OS up to date because I had audio editing software on it that would not have been compatible.) So when you say "no longer uses MBOX" – do you think that would be true of Mac Mail from Mountain Lion OS?
I have no idea of OSX versions, but the link I gave you was for Yosemite
Further Googling indicates the change was between mav mail Version 1 and version 2.
I also stumbled upon perhaps a less time consuming method in mac mail
- Run Mac Mail and select the folder or folders that you want to export.
- Open the Mailbox menu and select the “Archive Mailbox” command.
- You will see a dialog box prompting you to specify the destination folder for your files.
- If you have subfolders in the selected folders, check the “Export all subfolders” box – this way, you will not have to do it manually.
- Select the destination folder and confirm your selection by clicking the “Choose” button.
- The program will compile MBOX archives from the contents of the folders you selected.
- The MBOX files can now be used for further data extraction
Thank you very much for checking that out. I will try this.
Thanks again Matt. The exporting worked to create files that Thunderbird can see. And that is great.
Downside: Thunderbird or the process stripped out all the nesting and the folder labels. So, I'm glad I can get my folders. But probably a total of 8 hours work in examining, relabeling and re-nesting.
Chosen Solution
Yeah, that is a side effect of the mac mail export.