Export Thunderbird to Text: Steps, Common Issues & Best Practices

Summary: In this professional blog, you will learn how to export Thunderbird to text on Windows and MacOS. For home users, professionals, and businesses to convert Thunderbird data to plain text format for easy access, better shareability, and long-term archival. Compare use cases where free manual methods are useful, and when a dedicated Thunderbird to TXT Converter is necessary to decide the best way for your needs.

Thunderbird has nearly 20 million active monthly users. Although Thunderbird is great for accessing email, it is not ideal for long-term storage for record keeping or portability to other devices, as the data is stored locally.

Which is why users look for ways to “Export Thunderbird to text file format (.txt).”

In this article,  data specialists at 4n6 with more than 13 years of experience have laid out multiple free, professional, and reliable solutions to help you convert Thunderbird to plain text format.

Understanding Thunderbird & TXT or Plain Text Format

Mozilla Thunderbird: It is a desktop email client to access multiple IMAP/POP-based email accounts under one application. It is available on both Windows and macOS.

TXT or Text File Format: .txt files can store a simple text format. They can be easily accessed via generic text editors like Notepad on PC and on mobile devices.

Important Note About Thunderbird to TXT Export:

• A TXT file can not store attachments, embedded images, or formatting.
• When exporting Thunderbird to text format, attachments are saved separately to avoid data loss.
• TXT is better for readability and archival, but cannot be imported into an email client or account.
• Ensure you have requires storage space on your PC for export.

Why Export Thunderbird to Text Format?

Converting and exporting Thunderbird email data in TXT file format can be beneficial is following scenarios:

• Easily share and access Thunderbird data on mobile devices.
• For legal compliance, record keeping, and e-discovery needs.
• For easy import into LLM, NLP Models, and Data forensics & analysis applications.
• Remove dependency on email clients to access email data.

How to Convert Thunderbird Emails to Plain Text/ TXT?

The 4n6 team has listed 3 easy ways to convert Thunderbird to TXT after rigorous testing.

• Method 1: Thunderbird Save As Option
• Method 2: Thunderbird ImportExportNG Add-On
• Method 3: Using a dedicated Thunderbird to TXT Converter

Each of these methods has its own use cases. Below are the exact steps you can follow to export Thunderbird email in TXT format.

Method 1: Thunderbird Save As To Convert Thunderbird to TXT

This is a free but manual way to export Thunderbird meassgaes in Plain Text(.txt) format.

Most suitable if you have limited emails that you want to extract. This method helps you export Thunderbird to text without an external add-on.

Follow the steps below: 

1. Navigate to the email inside Thunderbird that you need to export as TXT.
2. Right-click on the email.
3. Choose Save As.
   
   
4. Select the saving destination.
5. Choose Text Files under Save as Type.
   

Major Disadvantage of Thunderbird’s Save As Option

• Data Loss: Email attachments & embedded images are excluded.
• Manual: Only Export one Thunderbird email in a text file at a time.

Method 2: Export Thunderbird to Text Using ImportExportNG

ImportExportNG is a free add-on provided by Thunderbird that helps with bulk export of Thunderbird email data in Plain Text Format.

Use this method if you want to bulk export Thunderbird in Text format without cost. Using the add-on, you export multiple folders at once.

Here are the exact steps that you need to follow to export Thunderbird emails in TXT format:

1. Open Thunderbird.
2. Click on the hamburger menu on the top right.
3. Select the Add-On and Themes Option.
4. Add ImportExportNG to convert Thunderbird to TXT.
   
5. Once Installed restart Thunderbird.
6. Select the email folder that you want to export as a text file.
7. Right-click and choose ImportExportNG.
8. Choose All Messages in the Folder >> Plain Text Format.
   
9. Choose
   • Messages with HTML Index if you want to exclude attachments.
   • Choose Messages with attachments and Index to include attachments.
10. Choose the Destination and you have successfully converted Thunderbird to text format.

Disadvantages of ImportExportNG to Export Thunderbird to Text

• Fails when exporting files in bulk
• Loss of folder structure.
• Users have reported corrupted and missing data export.

Method 3: Using Thunderbird to TXT Converter

4n6 Thunderbird Converter Tool is an industry-grade utility to bulk export Thunderbird email messages to text file format. Expertly engineered with advanced algorithms to convert and export GBs of Thunderbird emails in TXT format.

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Get raw email text with – Email headers, Routing information, Security checks, and Encoded body info with this 100% secure Thunderbird to TXT File Converter.

Demo Version also available to convert Thunderbird to plain Text free of charge. – Limit to 10 email conversations only.

How to Convert Thunderbird Emails to Text? Steps to Use Tool

1. Download the Thunderbird to TXT converter.
2. Click open on the top-right. The tool will auto-fetch the configured accounts.
   
3. Preview the Thunderbird Folders that you need to convert to TXT.
4. Choose the Thunderbird Folders to Convert to Plain Text.
   
5. Click on Export and choose Text as the Saving Option.
   
6. Browse the destination to save Thunderbird as a TXT.
7. Click Save button on the top-right.
   

Advantages of Thunderbird to TXT/ Text Converter

• You get to preview Text files before conversion with the expert tool.
• Only get healthy data with the advanced option to skip Greyed-out folders.
• Thunderbird to Text Converter has an Option to skip empty folders.
• Automatically fetches all accounts configured in Thunderbird.
• Customised export; include or exclude header & attachments.
• Multiple file naming options for easy tracking after conversion.
• Auto-Generates log report after Thunderbird to TXT conversion.
• 100% Secure as it works offline and follows all data privacy guidelines.

Troubleshooting Steps: Export Thunderbird to TXT

When converting Thunderbird to Plain Text, users can run into fundamental errors like:

Gibberish Encoding Error: With manual methods, if the text encoding is not set to Unicode (UTF-8), strange characters may appear in the Text File. This issue can be avoided with the use of a dedicated user-centric Thunderbird to TXT converter.

Missing Attachments Issue: A .txt file can not store attachments. Hence, when converting Thunderbird to plain text, they are stored separately in the folders.

Expert Advice to Conclude

We hope that now you can easily export Thunderbird to Text format. Although manual and free ways work well with limited data, they are not 100% reliable for accurate exports. It is best suggested to use a dedicated Thunderbird to TXT Converter for professional, bulk conversion with security and 100% integrity.

If you still have any queries left, feel free to reach out to our 24/7 available Tech support team via Live Chat option on top-right to help you seamless convert Thunderbird to Plain Text Format.

FAQs: Export Thunderbird to Text

Q1: How do I view messages as plain text in Thunderbird?

To view Thunderbird Message in Plain Text, right-click on the message and save it as a Text File, and simply open it on your PC via Notepad or a Text reader.

Q2: How to convert Thunderbird messages to TXT format with attachments?

TXT is a plain text format and can not store attachments or images.
However, you can use the “Messages with attachments and Index” when exporting via ImportExportNG or use the Thunderbird to TXT converter to separately save attachments.

Q3: Can I restore TXT emails into an email client or account?

No. TXT is a plain text format, not an email saving format.