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How to import storage folders from Windows Live Mail into Thunderbird

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  • Last reply by macallason

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I am trying to import .eml files that I have in storage folders in WLM into Thunderbird. From the help section on Thunderbird:

Importing Windows Mail (.eml files) into Thunderbird is enabled by the third-party add-on ImportExport Tools. Download and install this add-on to transfer messages from Windows Live Mail to Thunderbird.

However, ImportExport Tools is an .xpi file and my computer (Windows 7) cannot open it. Although I found a program online that convert it into something readable, my virus software identified the program as malware. Does anyone know a way to safely convert an .xpi file into something Windows can recognize and execute?

Or, is there some other way to get this add-on to run?

I am trying to import .eml files that I have in storage folders in WLM into Thunderbird. From the help section on Thunderbird: Importing Windows Mail (.eml files) into Thunderbird is enabled by the third-party add-on ImportExport Tools. Download and install this add-on to transfer messages from Windows Live Mail to Thunderbird. However, ImportExport Tools is an .xpi file and my computer (Windows 7) cannot open it. Although I found a program online that convert it into something readable, my virus software identified the program as malware. Does anyone know a way to safely convert an .xpi file into something Windows can recognize and execute? Or, is there some other way to get this add-on to run?

Chosen solution

You should have a new tab under tools at the bottom that said "import/export -tools" You might look at add-ons / add-ons to see if importexporttools is installed and activated. The setup choise there is probably all right as it is.

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start your thunderbird and from add-ons youb select the tool-icon and select import from file and point it to the place ImportExportTools.xpi is

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Thank you for your prompt response. I'm new to Thunderbird, so here's how I interpreted your answer:

When I click on"tools" and "add on", it brings up a tab titled "Add ons Manager" (see screenshot "tpss1" attached). I clicked on the gear-like icon on the upper right hand side of the page and chose "install add on from file". I pointed to the file titled "importexporttools-3.1-tb+sm.xpi" in my downloads folder and clicked "open". This brings up another screen. (See screenshot 'tpss2" attached). Taking a deep breath (and hoping this isn't malware), I clicked on "install now". After that, nothing seems to happen. When I go to the "tools" and "import" menu in Thunderbird, my only options for importing mail are still Eudora, Outlook and Outlook Express. Once I have gone through the steps above, how do I import .eml files from Windows Live Mail?

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Chosen Solution

You should have a new tab under tools at the bottom that said "import/export -tools" You might look at add-ons / add-ons to see if importexporttools is installed and activated. The setup choise there is probably all right as it is.

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By the way did you restart Tbird after you installed? see green text on your first pic.

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Thanks again for your help! I did find the importexport tools under the add-on menu and used it to import 1 email from my WLM storage folders. Now, I just have to do the 40,000 others I have there!

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you know you can import ALL .eml-files that are in the same folder and subfolders at once. look at the options, good luck!

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Yes, I was just trying it out with that first email. But, actually, I don't see a way to import a folder, only "all messages from a directory" or "directory plus subdirectories". (See screenshot attached.) I'm not sure what the difference is between "folder" and "directory".

Here's my burning question. I'm using an IMAP server and if I put my 40,000+ old emails onto their server, they won't tolerate it for long (it's +/- 9.4 GB of data). WLM had storage folders in which these emails were stored which were not on my ISP's server. Does Thunderbird have something similar?

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Yes you can always make local folders. Or you can use exportfunction and store them outside Tbirds profile-directory I don't know how WLM store email, but if they are stored as separate .eml-files in directories, you can import all at once. Make a local folder mark it, right-click and use import/export-tools to import from a WML directory. (or folder)

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Thanks for the tips! Will give it a whirl and see!

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This worked like a charm! Thanks for your help!

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HI, Windows Live Mail and Thunderbird support different email format to save emails so Windows Live Mail to Thunderbird conversion is not easy and you have to go with solution - http://www.emltombox.org/

Firstly I had also try the Import Export tool wizard but I did not found exact result. after using the solution I got complete result. You can try it.