Importing eml files into Thunderbird

Sep 25, 2026 Last reply: 8 hours ago 6 Replies

I'd be grateful for any thoughts on this:



I have a considerable number of email messages, saved as eml files, rescued from a now-defunct PC and now in a "Rescued emails" folder on my new desktop machine.



I'd like to add these messages to various folders in Thunderbird (v128.9.1) on my new PC, and I know that I can do this by simply dragging and dropping (or presumably cutting and pasting, though I haven't tried that yet).



Unfortunately the listed files all have names on the lines of



64361245-00000027.eml which means the only way I can identify them is by opening them one at a time and then moving them to their appropriate new homes. This is going to be a lengthy and laborious task.

I've looked for an offline eml reader which lists messages using the actual headings and maybe other details, but I haven't had any success. Does anyone know if such a utility exists?



Many thanks.



Bert



Might be worth looking at the TB add-on called: ImportExportTools NG That claims to import eml files.

Thanks for that. I'll have a proper search tomorrow but a quick look tonight didn't turn up a version that's compatible with my Thunderbird

128.9.1.

Is my installation startlingly out of date?

Bert

Yup...

Even the ESR version is up to 153.2.0

Thanks. My version offers the option to "update to 128.14 Oesr". Should I do that and then update again (and again, etc?) or can I get completely up to date in one swoop?

Bert

Are you on an old version of Windows (or MacOS or whatever)?

Theo

Shouldn't be ... only TB 115esr supports pre-Win10

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