Written by Jennifer Walsh. Reviewed for technical accuracy by Shubham Dixit, Independent Expert in Email Forensics and Data File Conversion. Updated 18 September 2026.
Shubham is an independent external reviewer and not an employee of PCDOTS.
Quick answer. Exporting Gmail to Thunderbird is free, you add your Gmail account in Thunderbird as IMAP. It signs in with Google, then syncs every email down with the labels as folders and the full headers and dates, so the metadata stays intact. For an offline copy, Google Takeout gives an MBOX you import. Contacts come across through a separate CardDAV link.
On this page
- How does Gmail move into Thunderbird?
- How do you add your Gmail account to Thunderbird?
- Does the import keep all the metadata?
- How do you import Gmail contacts into Thunderbird?
- How do you make an offline copy with Google Takeout?
- How do you move Thunderbird mail back to Gmail?
- When does a backup tool help?
- Frequently asked questions
How does Gmail move into Thunderbird?
Gmail is Google’s webmail, and Thunderbird is a free desktop mail client. You move Gmail into Thunderbird by adding your Gmail account there as an IMAP account. Thunderbird then syncs every email down from the server.
The neat part is that Gmail’s labels become Thunderbird folders. So your Inbox, Sent and every label land as folders, with the full headers, dates and attachments. This is a free sync, no download or paid tool for the mail.
One thing to know up front. IMAP brings your email, but not your contacts or calendar. Those come across on their own, and the steps below cover the mail first, then contacts, then an offline copy.
Gmail syncs over IMAP, and its labels arrive as Thunderbird folders.
“People reach for software here, and for the mail they don’t need it. You add the Gmail account in Thunderbird and sign in with Google, and it syncs the lot. The detail that matters for anyone chasing complete metadata is that Gmail labels come in as folders, so the structure, the headers and the dates all survive. No app password either, Thunderbird uses Google’s OAuth sign-in now. Contacts are the exception, they ride a separate CardDAV link. A backup tool only earns its place when you want a scheduled export to MBOX or PST, not for the import itself.” Shubham Dixit, Email Migration reviewer (draft, pending approval)
How do you add your Gmail account to Thunderbird?
You add your Gmail account to Thunderbird in a minute, and it does the setup for you. Enter the address and sign in with Google, and the sync starts. No manual server settings, no app password.
Here are the five steps.
- Open the Thunderbird menu, choose Account Settings, then Add Mail Account.
- Enter your name and your Gmail address, then continue. Thunderbird auto-detects the IMAP settings, as Mozilla documents.
- Click Done, and a Google window opens. Sign in and allow access. This is the OAuth2 step.
- Thunderbird starts syncing. Your Gmail labels appear as folders in the sidebar.
- Wait for the download to finish. Large mailboxes take a while on the first sync.
When I add a Gmail account I let Thunderbird auto-detect the settings and just sign in with Google, no app password needed. If IMAP is off on an older account, turn it on in Gmail, under Settings then Forwarding and POP/IMAP. The auto-filled settings are imap.gmail.com on port 993 with SSL. A Google Workspace account connects the same way, though an admin controls whether IMAP is on.
Two tips for a large mailbox. On the first sync you can right-click the All Mail folder and Unsubscribe, which cuts the download and avoids duplicate copies. And remember an IMAP account is a live mirror, not a standalone backup, so for a copy that stays put, drag the folders into Local Folders or use Google Takeout below.
Add the address and sign in with Google, and the mail syncs down.
Does the import keep all the metadata?
Yes. An IMAP sync is a mirror of the server, so it keeps the complete metadata, not a stripped copy. This is what people mean by a bulk import with complete metadata.
What the IMAP sync brings
- Keeps. Every email with its From, To, subject and date, the attachments, the read and star flags and every label as a folder.
- Separate. Contacts, calendar and chat don’t ride IMAP, so bring contacts across with the step below.
How do you import Gmail contacts into Thunderbird?
You import Gmail contacts into Thunderbird with a CardDAV address book, which is built in since Thunderbird 102. Open the Address Book, choose File, New, then CardDAV Address Book, enter your Gmail address, and sign in. Your Google contacts sync into Thunderbird.
If you’d rather have a one-time copy, export your contacts from Google Contacts as a vCard, then import that file in Thunderbird’s Address Book under Tools, Import.
How do you make an offline copy with Google Takeout?
You make an offline copy of Gmail with Google Takeout, which exports your mail as an MBOX file you keep on disk. Then you import that MBOX into Thunderbird. This is the route for a permanent backup, or to save Gmail to a hard drive.
Here are the four steps.
- Open Google Takeout, deselect all, then select Mail.
- Create the export and download the MBOX file when it’s ready.
- In Thunderbird, add the free ImportExportTools NG add-on, then right-click a folder.
- Choose ImportExportTools NG, Import mbox file, then select the Takeout MBOX.
Takeout keeps the full mailbox, so there’s no data loss, though a large account can take a while to build the archive.
How do you move Thunderbird mail back to Gmail?
You move Thunderbird mail back to Gmail by copying it into the Gmail account inside Thunderbird. With the Gmail IMAP account added, drag or copy the messages into one of its folders, and they upload to Gmail as a label. That covers the export Thunderbird emails to Gmail question, with no extra tool.
When does a backup tool help?
A backup tool helps when you want a scheduled Gmail backup, or the same export across many accounts, without repeating the steps. For a one-off import into Thunderbird, the IMAP account above is all you need.
PCDOTS Gmail Converter backs up a Gmail account to Thunderbird, MBOX or PST on Windows, with filters by date, sender or folder. It signs in with an app password, and the free trial exports a sample first. Follow these four steps.
- Install and run PCDOTS Gmail Converter, then add your Gmail account.
- Let it load the mailbox, then select the folders you want.
- Open Export and select Thunderbird.
- Select a destination and save the output.
The tool route, for a scheduled Gmail backup to Thunderbird.
Here are the first steps with the screens.
Step 1. Install and run PCDOTS Gmail Converter.
Step 2. Add your Gmail account.
Step 3. Preview the mailbox, then choose Thunderbird as the export.
Related reading, our guides to import EML files to Thunderbird and import an MBOX into Thunderbird. To check a Takeout file first, the free MBOX viewer opens it without a client.
The three snags people hit with Gmail in Thunderbird, and the fix for each.
Which method should you use?
Use the IMAP account for the mail, Google Takeout for an offline copy and a tool for a scheduled backup.
| Method | Best for | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| IMAP account | Importing the mail | Free, labels as folders, live sync |
| Google Takeout | An offline copy | MBOX on disk, import with the add-on |
| Gmail Converter | A scheduled backup | Windows, many accounts, filters |
Key takeaways
- Add Gmail to Thunderbird as an IMAP account, and it syncs every email for free.
- Gmail labels become Thunderbird folders, so the metadata and structure stay intact.
- You sign in with Google’s OAuth, so no app password is needed for the import.
- Contacts come across through a CardDAV book, and Google Takeout makes an offline MBOX.
Frequently asked questions
How do I import Gmail to Thunderbird for free?
Add your Gmail account in Thunderbird as an IMAP account. Enter the address and sign in with Google, and Thunderbird syncs every email with the labels as folders.
Does the import keep the complete metadata?
Yes. An IMAP sync mirrors the server, so the headers, dates, attachments, flags and labels all come across. Labels arrive as folders in Thunderbird.
Do I need an app password for Gmail in Thunderbird?
No. Thunderbird signs in to Gmail with Google’s OAuth, so you just approve access in the browser. IMAP is on by default in Gmail for most accounts.
How do I import Gmail contacts into Thunderbird?
Add a CardDAV address book in Thunderbird with your Gmail address, or export your Google contacts as a vCard and import that file in the Address Book.
How do I import Google Takeout into Thunderbird?
Export Mail from Google Takeout as an MBOX, then import it with the ImportExportTools NG add-on, using Import mbox file.
How do I export Thunderbird emails back to Gmail?
With the Gmail IMAP account added in Thunderbird, drag the messages into one of its folders. They upload to Gmail as a label.
So how are you bringing Gmail into Thunderbird?
Bringing Gmail into Thunderbird is free once you add it as an IMAP account. Sign in with Google, and the mail syncs with the labels as folders and the metadata intact. Contacts come across on a CardDAV link, and Google Takeout gives you an MBOX to keep offline. A tool only earns its place for a scheduled backup across accounts. So how are you bringing Gmail into Thunderbird, a live IMAP sync, or an offline Takeout copy?
