“Thunderbird ImportExportTools NG is Not Working” Common Reasons and Fixes

Pooja Goswami | Email Backup Email Conversion email migration How to's mac os Software Technology Windows | 5 minutes read | Last updated on February 8th, 2023,

We all know Thunderbird is one of the most popular email platform among users. Like other email platforms, there are so many add-ons available for additional functionalities in Thunderbird. ImportExportTools NG is an add-on of Thunderbird that facilitate the import/export of mail items like email account, mailbox folders, and email messages to EML, HTML, Plain text format, single text file CSV, PDF, etc. The tool is mainly popular for taking backup of email files in MBOX format from the Thunderbird mail account.

For instance, if you want to import MBOX files of Opera Mail to the Thunderbird account then you can use Importexporttools NG. Similarly, users can view EML files in the Thunderbird interface.

However, many users claimed that ImportExportTools NG is not working properly. Due to this, they are not able to export or import MBOX files or view EML files in the Thunderbird environment.

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If you are facing similar trouble then don’t worry you have come to the right place. Here we will discuss how to use ImportExportTools NG and common ways to get rid of the issue of ImportExportTool not working.

Configure an Email Account

According to our study, users who have reported the issue of the “Import MBOX file” option being greyed out were trying to import MBOX files without configuring any email account. If any email account is not configured or added in Thunderbird then ImportExportTools NG does not allow users to perform import procedures.

To import/export files with ImportExportTools NG, you need to add a mailbox in the Mozilla Thunderbird. Once the mailboxes are added, the Import MBOX file option will be highlighted.

Steps to Import MBOX Files using ImportExportTools NG

• Run Thunderbird email client and select any mailbox folder such as inbox, sent items, outbox, or any customized folder.
• Then right-click on it and go with these options ImportExportTools NG>> Import MBOX Files.
• At last Import MBOX dialogue box opens and you will be able to import required MBOX data into the Thunderbird account.

Update ImportExportTools Add On

Many of us don’t know the fact that the add-on named ImportExportTools only supports the version till Thunderbird 60. If you are using the latest edition of Thunderbird or Thunderbird 68 then you should install a newly added version of Add-on i.e. ImportExportTools NG.

If you have updated the Thunderbird mail client recently then it is recommended to update Add-on also. If you have not updated the Thunderbird account and still facing trouble with ImportExportTools NG then still remove the old ImportExportTools Add and reinstall it again.

To reinstall the add-on in Thunderbird follow the instructions given below:

How to Uninstall ImportExportTools NG Extension?

• Run Thunderbird email client.
• Then go to the Tools option followed by Add-ons and Themes option.
• Find the ImportExportTools NG extension and click on the 3 dots. Click on the Remove button to uninstall the extension.
• Click on the Remove button again for confirmation.

How to Install ImportExportTools NG Extension?

• Go to the Tools option in the toolbar and select “Add-ons and Themes”.
• Then type ImportExportTools in the search tab.
• After finding the add-on, click on the “Add to Thunderbird” button.

Once the installation process is completed, restart the Thunderbird application and try using ImportExportTools NG for the export/import of mail items.

Alternative of ImportExportTools NG for Better Data Exchange

It is possible that the above-mentioned techniques will not work for you. Consequently, you will again be stuck with the issue of ImportExportTools NG is not working. In such a case, there is an alternative way, which is far better than the above-mentioned techniques. CubexSoft Thunderbird Converter is the best alternative solution for the export and backup of the Thunderbird profiles. The software is compatible with both the Mac and Windows operating systems. The software works better than free Thunderbird add-ons. All you need to do is download the software and start migrating the required Thunderbird database to numerous file formats, email platforms, and cloud servers.

How to Take Backup of Thunderbird Profile with Thunderbird Converter?

Step 1: Install and run Thunderbird Converter on your machine.

Step 2: Secondly, select the Type of Thunderbird data you want to export i.e. Emails, Contacts & Calendars. Also, choose the “Convert Default Configured Thunderbird Mailboxes” or “Let me select other Thunderbird Profiles/mailboxes saved separately” option.

Step 3: Next, enable File/Folder Mode and click on the Add Files option for browsing the Thunderbird database.

Step 4: On the next screen, you will see a list of Thunderbird mailboxes with checkboxes. Here you can check the preview and select the required mailbox. Click on the Next button to proceed.

Step 5: Now you will get multiple output options, in which you can import/export Thunderbird files. Choose the required output option and click on the Next button.

Step 6: At last, apply other sub-options for conversion and click on the Export button.

Conclusion

Thunderbird ImportExportTools NG import or export mail items from/to different file formats. However, many times users encounter issues while using ImportExportTools NG. In this article, we have discussed common reasons for ImportExportTools NG is not working properly. We have also mentioned ways to sort out this issue. Nevertheless, if you want to take a backup of the Thunderbird profile in 20+  file formats, email clients and cloud servers then utilize the Thunderbird Converter tool.