You might have used Thunderbird or any MBOX-supported email application as your email client earlier and have MBOX files stored in your local device. And now, you want to import MBOX to Gmail so that you can use them on your cloud and access them from anywhere at any time.
Emails have now become an important part of our daily lives and we should have access to them whenever we need. For that, storing your emails on the cloud is the best option as it can be accessed using any device with just an active internet connection.
However, there are still a lot of people who have their emails either stored on their local device or desktop email clients. Today, we will understand the simple techniques to import MBOX to Gmail with or without Thunderbird if you just have a backup of these files.
If you directly want to transfer the files from your Thunderbird account, you can do that as well with the help of Zitta MBOX to Gmail Import Tool. The tool is a professional’s suggestion and does not have any complicated steps.
We will also learn about the manual methods available step-by-step, so keep up with the blog. Before jumping on to the methods, we will first understand what an MBOX file is.
Key Takeaways
- MBOX file also known as a Mailbox file is used to store email messages by multiple email clients.
- Even though you can download Gmail emails in MBOX format, directly importing MBOX to Gmail is not possible.
- Although you can transfer MBOX emails into a Gmail account via Thunderbird, it requires installing the Thunderbird application and account configuration.
- Many users find it difficult to import MBOX files to Gmail using Thunderbird. Thus, they look for other possible options.
- Using a professional and automated tool can ease the process to a greater extent.
Reasons Why Users Want to Import MBOX Files into Gmail
- Gmail being one of the most trusted web clients in the world permits users to access their emails through the web from anywhere at any time.
- The web-based Gmail offers a free 15 GB storage space to store emails as well as attachments.
- As cloud storage is considered a safe way to store your personal and crucial data, many users prefer importing MBOX files into a Gmail account.
- A user might be using a Gmail account and want to merge MBOX file emails with the Gmail account data.
- Gmail offers better spam tracking and various other security features to have a seamless email experience.
Let’s now understand how you can do so using different ways. First, we will understand the free manual method.
Steps to Import MBOX to Gmail Using Thunderbird for Free
In this free procedure, we will take the help of Thunderbird in order to transfer our MBOX emails into a Gmail account. For this, we first need to configure our Gmail account in Thunderbird via IMAP settings. After that, we will import MBOX files into the Gmail account via Thunderbird.
Step 1 – Configure Gmail Account in Thunderbird
You need to have Thunderbird installed on your desktop and follow the steps given:
- Launch Thunderbird and go to the Account Setup Wizard.
- Provide your details like Name, Email Address, & Password.
- Mark the Remember Password option and hit Continue.
- Choose the IMAP option and hit Done.
- You will be redirected to your Gmail login page.
- Verify your email address and hit Next.
- Provide the password and hit Next.
- Once your account is configured and hit Done.
- Your account will be added.
Now, let’s move to the next step.
Step 2 – Import MBOX Emails in Gmail
For that, go through these steps:
- Open your Thunderbird application and hit Menu. Choose the Add-ons option and click on Add-ons.
- The Add-ons Manager Wizard will appear. Select ImportExportTools NG from here and press Add to Thunderbird.
- Go to Thunderbird and right-click on the folders. Choose ImportExportTools NG from the menu and select Import MBOX file.
- Now, you have to choose the Enable the Import directly one or more MBOX files option in Choose Import Way and hit OK.
- Browse the files from your system and hit Open to complete.
Important Note: While import the MBOX file, ensure you are importing the file in Local Folders section first. As the extension doesn’t support importing data directly to IMAP account, you can first import data in Local Folders and then copy those emails into Gmail account’s folder.
Limitations of Manual Solution
- If you don’t have the Thunderbird application but just the files, you will not be able to import the files with the free method.
- The methods become very time-consuming and lengthy.
- There is a high risk of losing important data if the process is not followed correctly.
- In case you have large-sized files, folders, or attachments, this method will not be suitable for you.
Professional Solution to Import MBOX to Gmail Quickly
Considering the complexities and time consumption involved in the manual procedure, many experts and IT administrators avoid opting for the free steps. To have a hassle-free migration experience, users can go with this Zitta MBOX Converter Tool. This application is specially designed to move MBOX file data into various destination paths just like Gmail.
Along with ease, the tool brings so many advanced features to the table that make it the best solution to transfer MBOX emails to Gmail. Some of the best features of this tool are:
- Importing emails in bulk without any complications
- Filter emails to transfer selective data files only
- Pause the process if required and Resume it when needed
- There are no limitations to importing MBOX to Gmail without Thunderbird
- Keeps the folder structure and the data integrity maintained
- You can use the tool to import data securely in batches
Now, let’s check out the working steps of the software.
How MBOX to Gmail Converter Works?
The software has the following steps:
- Launch the tool and go to the Open section. Select Email Data Files from the menu and choose MBOX Files.
- Here, you will be able to preview the files. Choose the files that you want to import.
- Now, apply the Advanced Filters to import MBOX to Gmail selectively
- Click on the Export button and choose Gmail from the Email Services section.
- Enter the credentials for your Gmail account and hit the Save button.
The process will complete quickly and you will be able to access all your emails in the Gmail account. There are no limitations to the size of the data that you want to import in your account.
There You Have it!
Users have multiple accounts that they use for their emailing services as per their requirements. Some use webmail like Gmail and some use desktop applications like Thunderbird. However, a lot of them want to have access to their desktop emails as well. Thus, they need to import MBOX to Gmail to access them.
There are various methods that you can apply to access your data using Thunderbird or without Thunderbird. But the process can be very tiring and there are other complications as well. Therefore, using a professional solution is the best shot you have at importing your data quickly and in an effective manner.
Questions that Users Frequently Ask
Q. Is using this software to import MBOX files into a Gmail account safe?
A. Yes, you can rely on this application to import your MBOX emails easily. For more assurance, you can first try the demo version and ensure the working of this software.
Q. Can I only transfer my emails or attachments as well during the import process?
A. The software not only import emails but also attachments associated with those emails. Additionally, the integrity of data is also maintained during the process.
Q. Do these solutions import MBOX files generated from Thunderbird only or other supported email clients as well?
A. Yes, these solutions will help you import MBOX files from all MBOX compatible email applications.
Q. How many files can I migrate using the solution discussed in the above section?
A. There is no limitation on the number of files that you can migrate from MBOX to Gmail using the software. Furthermore, you can import even large sized MBOX files without any issue.