How to Backup Thunderbird Emails to External Hard Drive

Losing important emails can be frustrating — especially if they include work files, receipts, or personal conversations. Imagine one morning you open Thunderbird and your messages are gone due to a system crash, virus, or accidental deletion. That’s why it’s essential to backup Thunderbird emails regularly.

Creating a backup on your local storage or external hard drive ensures your data stays safe even if your computer fails. In this guide, we’ll show you how to backup your Thunderbird mailbox manually and automatically.

Why You Should Backup Thunderbird Emails?

Before we start, let’s understand why backing up your emails is important:

• Prevents data loss from system crashes or corruption.
• Keeps copies of important emails for business or personal records.
• Frees up space in your inbox by archiving old data.
• Makes it easier to transfer emails to another PC or Outlook account.

Now, let’s see how you can backup Thunderbird emails safely.

How to Save Thunderbird Emails to Hard Drive? (Free Way)

Thunderbird doesn’t have a built-in backup feature, but you can use a free add-on called ImportExportTools NG to save your emails. This method is ideal for users who want to back up a few folders or small mailboxes.

1. Open the Thunderbird application on your system.

2. Press the Alt button and choose Tools >> Themes & Add-ons.

3. Search for ImportExportTools NG and add it to your application.

4. Now right-click on the email folder you want to export.

5. Select ImportExportTools NG >> Export Messages ina Folder >> Select File formats.

 

6. Alternatively, You can also choose Export Folder (mbox) >> select option.

7. Moreover, right-click on your email ID and export your complete profile.

That’s it! Your Thunderbird emails will be save process may take some time depending on your mailbox size.

Limitations of the Manual Method

Works best only for a few folders, not large mailboxes.

• Requires manual effort and time.
• Backup files (MBOX) cannot be opened directly in Windows without Thunderbird.
• No option for automatic or scheduled backups.

If you need to back up your entire Thunderbird profile or multiple accounts, a more automated solution will save time and prevent errors.

Steps to Backup Thunderbird Mailbox to Hard Drive

1. Run the software and select your Thunderbird profile.

2. Choose the email folders you want to backup.

3. Select the saving option from the given list.

4. Select your Hard Drive as target location and click Next button.

The software will start saving your emails from Thunderbird to External Drive automatically.

After that, it will show a successful pop-up message once done.

Watch How to Save Thunderbird Emails to External Hard Drive

Download Thunderbird Backup Tool and explore its amazing features right away.

Tips for Safe Thunderbird Email Backup

• Store your backup on two different locations (e.g., external hard drive + cloud).
• Check your backup periodically to ensure it’s accessible.
• Use meaningful folder names and date tags to manage versions.
• If using Windows 10 or 11, ensure the external drive has enough space.

Conclusion

Backing up Thunderbird emails is a smart way to protect your important data from unexpected loss. Whether you choose the manual ImportExportTools NG method or an automated backup utility, the key is to make it a regular habit.

Your emails hold valuable information — don’t wait for an accident to happen before creating a backup. Keep them safe on your local storage or external hard drive and ensure peace of mind.