This topic

export bt mail data to another provider

geetee2 — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 12:16:52 GMT

How do I transfer bt mail folders and contacts to another provider

Re: export bt mail data to another provider

licquorice — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 13:57:56 GMT

Download and install a mail client, such as the free Thunderbird, configure it as IMAP. This will replicate the mail on the BT server. Create offline folders within Thunderbird and transfer the mail to those folders.

Configure your new providers details on a second account within Thunderbird and transfer the mails from the offline folders to the relevant folders of your new provider's account.

Job done

Edit: If you have access to both providers simultaneously, you can omit the intermediate step of transferring to offline folders and move the mails directly from one account to the other.

Re: export bt mail data to another provider

geetee2 — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 12:53:26 GMT

Thanks for that. I already have a linked client as outlook. How can I import from there?

I also tried to import to my Gmail account but for some reason it does not recognise my BT password. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.

Re: export bt mail data to another provider

licquorice — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 13:10:16 GMT

If you already have Outlook, the process is the same as described for Thunderbird.

I assume you mean MS Outlook mail client as opposed to outlook, the mail service accessed via a browser.

Re: export bt mail data to another provider

geetee2 — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 14:03:24 GMT

Thanks. Yes, it links to my BT account and shows all the same folders, but not contacts, so I can pull them up from the task bar. As you might imagine I am not that experienced with this type of activity, but I am about to switch from BT, and I am hoping to keep my email folders and contacts, before they cut me off.

Can you offer any ideas on why I am unable to import them to my Gmail account, because for some reason it does not recognise my BT password, which works perfectly well normally.

Re: export bt mail data to another provider

licquorice — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 15:07:57 GMT

I think it must be a restriction by Gmail, I've just tried and was unsuccessful too.

Re: export bt mail data to another provider

geetee2 — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 15:15:20 GMT

Thank you. I have downloaded Thunderbird and it is showing all my email folders, and contacts which MS Outlook doesn't do. Is that enough to save them after the switchover, or do I ned to do more?

Thank you for all your help so far, it is much appreciated.

Re: export bt mail data to another provider

Les-Gibson — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 15:32:42 GMT

@licquorice @geetee2

I was unsuccessful as well until I found this and it now works

https://support.google.com/mail/answer/7239777?hl=en-GB

Re: export bt mail data to another provider

licquorice — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 15:34:55 GMT

If you already have an email account with the new provider, add that account to Thunderbird and simply copy over the mails from the BT account to the other account.

Otherwise, create a set of local folders and transfer the mails to those in the interim.

You need to avoid the mails being deleted from the BT mail server and then Thunderbird syncing with empty folders and deleting them from Thunderbird.

It is usually some time before BT get around to deleting redundant email accounts but it is better to be safe than sorry.

Re: export bt mail data to another provider

geetee2 — Sat, 19 Nov 2022 10:47:04 GMT

Hi Les. Thanks for that. I did try it but it only seems to import messages, not folders and address book, which is what I need to do

Re: export bt mail data to another provider

geetee2 — Sat, 19 Nov 2022 10:50:18 GMT

Hi. I have BT and gmail set up on Thunderbird, and I have the BT email folders and address book there as well.

But i cannot see how to copy from BT to Gmail, or how to create local folders. Can you give a step by step help please.

Re: export bt mail data to another provider

licquorice — Sat, 19 Nov 2022 11:45:44 GMT

To copy from BT to Gmail, literally just drag and drop the emails in bulk. If you create a new folder in the Gmail account and name it, say, BT you might be able to drag and drop complete folders. I'm not at my PC at the moment to experiment.

If you have both accounts in Thunderbird, there is no need to use local folders. But for reference, there should be a heading of Local Folders in the left hand pane above the accounts, you can expand this and add new folders by right clicking on the heading.

Re: export bt mail data to another provider

Dode — Sat, 19 Nov 2022 13:00:12 GMT

The email client I’m using is Mac Mail on an iMac and I have two BT accounts, my wife’s BT account, a Yahoo account, an iCloud account and my wife’s Gmail account. Emails can happily be dragged between them all. I assume Thunderbird will be the same.

Re: export bt mail data to another provider

geetee2 — Sat, 19 Nov 2022 14:33:01 GMT

Hi. As usual, thanks . You are so helpful.

I have not managed to drop all BT folders together into Gmail. But I have managed to drop folders one by one. However, the Gmail section is so far down the folder list that I can't finish it because the Gmail section is too far down the list for me to drag to. Is there a way to set up two panes and drag across, or any other way of doing it. Also, I cannot seem to drag and drop the address book. Again, is there a way to copy it to Gmail?

Re: export bt mail data to another provider

geetee2 — Sat, 19 Nov 2022 14:34:39 GMT

Thanks. If you read the reply I have just sent Wise sage, you will see my problem. Any help would be welcome

Re: export bt mail data to another provider

geetee2 — Sat, 19 Nov 2022 14:36:23 GMT

Sorry, I meant Distinguished Sage

Re: export bt mail data to another provider

licquorice — Sat, 19 Nov 2022 15:23:54 GMT

If you pick up the folder just drag it to the top of the pane and the pane will scroll.

Alternatively, collapse the Gmail folders, it doesn't need to be expanded if you are dropping the folders into the root folder.

The address book is common to all accounts so no need to do anything with it if it is already in Thunderbird.

Re: export bt mail data to another provider

geetee2 — Sat, 19 Nov 2022 15:28:31 GMT

Thanks. Unfortunately, the Gmail section is at the bottom, and it doesn't seem to scroll when I get the folder to the bottom of the part pane shown. I tried to shift the Gmail but it does not pick up.

Re: export bt mail data to another provider

licquorice — Sat, 19 Nov 2022 15:34:30 GMT

Is any part of the Gmail structure visible? If it is, just drop the folders anywhere and move them again afterwards.

Re: export bt mail data to another provider

geetee2 — Sun, 20 Nov 2022 11:26:54 GMT

Thank you. I have managed to move my folders to gmail, although not easy. I don't know why because I can move and organise by drag and drop in MS.

You say don't worry about contacts because they are common to all, but they do not appear in my stand alone gmail, and I cannot see a way of moving them. Does this mean I can only access them in Thunderbird, and would need to email from there