Backing up emails
Backing up emails
I'm moving from one domain to another permanently. Do anyone know of a method to create a full backup or snapshot of an entire email inbox, including all subfolders? This would allow me to reopen it later to find older emails without having to transfer multiple folders from the old domain to the new one. I've tried using Outlook to create a PST file, but it always shows empty folders. I also attempted to make an MBOX with Thunderbird, but honestly, I couldn't figure it out.
Have you explored this method (created by Google AI mode/Gemini)?
To move your IMAP emails from Outlook to Thunderbird, begin by setting up the account in Thunderbird using IMAP options. Once configured, you can simply drag and drop your emails from the Outlook folders directly into Thunderbird’s local or temporary folders, then transfer them to your target locations. Before starting the process, confirm that your Outlook account is correctly set up for IMAP access.
1. Set Up Thunderbird
• Obtain and install the newest version of Mozilla Thunderbird from its official site.
• Link your Outlook account: follow the instructions to add a mail account in Thunderbird.
• Choose manual setup and input the IMAP and SMTP server information for your Outlook account, as detailed on the Microsoft Support page for Outlook.com access.
2. Move Emails
• Drag and Drop: When both accounts are open in Thunderbird, select emails or entire folders from the source (Outlook) and move them to the corresponding folders in the destination (Thunderbird). Press Ctrl while dragging to copy rather than relocate.
• Temporary Account Option: For bigger volumes or if the direct method doesn’t work, upload your Outlook emails to a free temporary IMAP account (such as Gmail), then add that account to Thunderbird.
• In Thunderbird, paste the emails from the temporary inbox into your local folders.
• Finally, transfer them to your permanent Thunderbird storage.
3. Confirm the Transfer
• Review Folders and Contents: After completion, verify all folders contain the imported emails and attachments.
• Adjust Settings: Ensure your Thunderbird account settings and folder synchronization are correctly configured.
Remember to focus on the local folders section when completing this process, as it ensures your moved messages remain accessible until you finalize the new email domain setup. Once that’s done, you can either keep them in those folders or switch to the new domain IMAP folders.
From your initial message, it seems you haven't tried or done anything specific, which is why I inquired.
I get it, migrating isn't the main issue here. Thanks for clarifying.
And just to confirm, I'm checking if you're using Classical Outlook or New Outlook.
New Outlook didn't like the way my contact lists were imported and had other issues too.
It wouldn't be surprising if PST files caused more trouble.
Even when PST creation fails, these local folders might still hold the old domain's messages.