How to Export Contacts in Mozilla Thunderbird

Use your Thunderbird contacts in another email program

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Updated on May 15, 2022

What to Know

Select Address Book > from left pane, choose an address book. From Main Menu, select Tools > Export.
In the Save As box, enter name for book you're exporting > choose a format > Save.

This article explains how to export contacts in Mozilla Thunderbird, a secure, private, and full-featured email application used by individuals and businesses. These instructions work with the Thunderbird email client on a Windows, Mac, or Linux computer.

How to Export Thunderbird Contacts

Thunderbird's dedicated import and export tool helps you transfer your Address Book contacts easily. Here's how:

Select the Address Book button at the top of the Thunderbird screen.
From the left pane, select the address book you want to export.
Select Tools on the main menu and then choose Export.
The Export Address Book dialog box appears. In the Save As box, enter an identifying name for the Address Book you want to export.
Next to Format, choose a format for your exported Address book, such as CSV, TXT, VCF, or LDIF.

The file type you choose depends on what you want to do with it. LDIF is the easiest format if you're transferring your Thunderbird Address Book to Thunderbird on another computer. CSV format works well for importing into another email program, such as Outlook.
Select Save to export your address book.

What to Do With Your Exported File

If you plan to use your exported Thunderbird Address Book with Thunderbird on a new computer, copy the exported file using a USB drive or another portable media device. You can also email the file to your new computer as an attachment.

If you want to import your contacts to Gmail or another email client, follow that email client's instructions for importing contacts.

Consider backing up your entire Thunderbird profile to create an archive of all your Thunderbird data.

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