Mozilla Thunderbird is one of the most widely used email clients because it is free, fast, and works smoothly on both Windows and macOS. Whether you use Thunderbird for personal communication, student work, or professional email management, there may come a time when you need to convert your emails into PDF format. PDF is universal, secure, and ideal for printing, archiving, or sharing.

However, Thunderbird does not provide a direct Export to PDF option. Many users think the process is complicated, but in reality, the process to convert Thunderbird emails to PDF is simple, and can be done using both manual and automated methods. This blog explains everything you need to know including step-by-step instructions for Windows and Mac.

Why Convert Thunderbird Emails to PDF?

Users across Windows and Mac often convert Thunderbird emails to PDF for multiple reasons:

1. Permanent Storage

PDF is perfect for long-term backup because it does not change formatting and is supported everywhere.

2. Legal and Professional Use

Lawyers, auditors, HR teams, and corporate users often need PDF versions of emails for official documentation.

3. Easy Sharing

PDF files can be opened on any device without needing Thunderbird.

4. Secure Format

PDFs can be password-protected, printed, or digitally signed.

5. Universally Compatible

Windows, Mac, Linux, mobile PDF works everywhere without special software.

Because of these advantages, many users want a reliable method to convert Thunderbird emails to PDF.

Manual Method 1: Print to PDF (Works on Both Windows and Mac)

Although Thunderbird does not offer a direct PDF export feature, both Windows and macOS include a Print to PDF option. This is the simplest manual method, suitable for quick conversions.

Steps:

1. Open Mozilla Thunderbird

2. Click and open the email you want to convert

3. Go to File to Print

4. Under Printer options, select Microsoft Print to PDF

5. Click Print

6. Choose your save location

7. Enter a file name and click Save

Your selected email is now saved as a PDF.

Limitations of the Manual Printing Method

While the manual method is simple, it has some major limitations:

• Only one email at a time
• Not suitable for bulk email conversion
• Attachments are not exported inside the PDF
• Formatting may change in long or HTML emails
• No option to convert an entire Thunderbird folder
• Time-consuming for large mailboxes

If you need to export hundreds or thousands of emails, the manual method becomes extremely slow. This is why many users prefer an automated solution.

Manual Method 2: Save Email as HTML, Then Print to PDF

This is another simple technique that works on both Windows and Mac.

Steps:

1. Right-click the email

2. Select Save As

3. Save the email in HTML format

4. Open the saved HTML file in a browser

5. Choose Save as PDF

This method preserves layout better than direct printing but still does not support batch conversion or attachments.

Best Method: Using a Professional Tool to Convert Thunderbird Emails to PDF

For users who need to convert emails in bulk, preserve attachments, maintain formatting, or export complete mailbox folders, the CubexSoft Thunderbird to PDF Converter is the ideal solution. This tools support both Windows and macOS and offer features that manual methods cannot match.it also migrate to various other output formats like MBOX, PST, PDF, MSG, EML, etc. you can also explore the trial version and migrate 20 emails from the selected mailbox for free.

Benefits of Using the Thunderbird Converter

1. Bulk Conversion

Convert multiple emails or entire Thunderbird folders to PDF in one go.

2. Attachment Support

Tools preserve attachments inside the PDF or save them in a separate folder.

3. Maintain Formatting

HTML, embedded images, hyperlinks, signatures—all preserved.

4. Folder Structure Retained

Inbox, Sent, Drafts, custom folders all exported with the same hierarchy.

5. No Technical Skills Required

Even beginners can use the software easily.

6. Faster and More Reliable

Handles large mailboxes without freezing or crashing.

7. Supports Orphan Files

You can convert MBOX files even if Thunderbird is not installed.

Steps to Convert Thunderbird Emails to PDF:

Step 1: Run the software on your system by a quick installation.

Step 2: Add the files and folders that required to be converted.

Step 3: Preview them from the preview panel.

Step 4: Choose the output format for conversion which is PDF in this case.

Step 5: Add the destination path.

Step 6: At last click convert option.

Conclusion

Converting Thunderbird emails to PDF on both Windows and Mac is simple. If you only need to export a few emails, the manual Print to PDF method works well. It is fast, built-in, and requires no extra software. But if you need to convert bulk emails, attachments, or complete Thunderbird folders, the CubexSoft Thunderbird Converter is the most efficient and reliable solution.

By choosing the right method based on your needs, you can easily save, share, and archive your important Thunderbird emails in a stable and universally accessible PDF format.