How to Import Excel Contacts to Thunderbird in a Seamless Manner?
“I am having an Excel file containing a list of around 100 contacts with all details. Now, I want to move all these in my Thunderbird account. But, I don’t know how can I import a list of so many contacts in a single go. Therefore, I am looking for a solution that let me import Excel contacts to Thunderbird in a fast and quick way. If anybody know any solution for the same, please suggest.”
Mozilla Thunderbird is one of the widely used email clients among users as it is a free and open-source application. It is simple and reliable with all the required features to meet today’s user needs. As it is a desktop-based application, it let users store and access data locally on the system. Like any other email client, Thunderbird mailbox also contains emails, contacts, calendars, etc.
Now, in Thunderbird Address Book, a user is allowed to maintain the list of contacts with all respective details for easy access. However, a user is allowed to import and export contacts as per need also. To avail of this facility, a user sometimes tries to import contacts from Excel to Thunderbird to access the contact list in it. But, the problem is Thunderbird does not provide an option to import .xlsx or .xls files of Excel.
At this point in time, a user starts looking for solutions to import contacts. In order to know the method for the same, read the blog below and get your solution here.
Table of Contents
During Excel to Thunderbird, Choose vCard Over CSV
As we have established previously, if anyone wants to put the Excel contact information inside the Thunderbird email client, they must use an intermediary. When we look for our bridge, two options pop up vCard and CSV. Now that both are acceptable in Thunderbird, choosing one over the other may be difficult. As Excel has the option to convert its data to CSV, many may try to go with this method. However, do this at your own risk. We will explain why experts warn users against using CSV and recommend vCard for Address book transfers. For that, refer to the tabular comparison given below.
|
Feature |
vCard |
CSV |
| Compatibility | Widely accepted standard format | Non-standard, potential read/write issues |
| Usability | Straightforward import process | Requires mapping fields for import |
| Security | Lower risk of malicious content | May contain hidden formatting or macros |
| Structure | Self-contained file with all contact details | Requires header definition and consistent format |
| Integration | Easier for developers to integrate |
Complexities in handling diverse CSV variations |
Proper Solution to Import Excel Contacts to Thunderbird
There are some situations in which a user saves a contact list in MS Excel XLSX file format. Now, as it is a list of a large number of contacts so, a user can move it to the email client and access it in a proper way. Thunderbird is one of the topmost choices among the users but it does not support .xlsx or .xls file format. When a user needs to import contacts from Excel to Thunderbird, he or she needs to export the XLSX file to vCard format. Now, there is a manual solution available for the same.
In order to convert Excel to VCF format, a user can take the help of Excel Contacts to VCF Converter application. The software is designed in a manner that it exports contacts XLS contacts file to VCF format in no time without any hassle. In order to know the seamless and foolproof method for the same, follow the steps mentioned below:
A free download Excel converter that allows the user to export the 10 contacts from each folder as a demo model. Users can purchase a full license and then activate this tool to enjoy unlimited editing of Excel spreadsheets. Transferring contacts from Excel Converter is very simple and easy with this amazing tool.
Also Read: How to Import Excel Contacts to Lotus Notes?
Step by Step Guide to Import Excel Contacts to Thunderbird
There is no direct solution available to import the selected file to Thunderbird. It is divided into two parts:
Step 1: Convert Excel Contact File to vCard Format
- First you Need to Download and Install the software
- click the Browse button to select the Excel contact file
- Select the Open button to import Excel into the Thunderbird address book
- Now you will be able to see all the people who are in the Excel file from the interface of the software
- You can also connect Excel fields to Outlook features to transfer contacts from Excel to Thunderbird
- Click the Next button. In the “Export” section, you can choose the location as you like
- Now, Select the Change button to select the appropriate location to save the contact file
- Finally, click the “Convert” button and the software will start the process of converting Excel contacts to vCard file format
- After converting to the vCard format of the desired version using the application, a user needs to import the resultant file in the Mozilla Thunderbird application to complete the process to transfer Excel file to Thunderbird.
Step 2: Import Multiple vCard to Thunderbird Address Book
Now, if you want to know the steps to move this file into Thunderbird, simply follow the steps mentioned below:
- To begin the process, open the Mozilla Thunderbird application on the local machine.
- After that, click on the Address Book tab and then on Tools Import.
- Now, an Import Wizard will appear in front of you. Here, choose the Address Book option in the Select the type of material to import option. Then, click on the Next button.
- Next, you need to choose the vCard file (.vcf) option to import contacts from Excel to Thunderbird.
- After that, choose the vCard file that you have created in step 1.
- At last, click on the Open button to upload it. Click the OK button to complete the process successfully.
- Here, you can check in the Thunderbird address book the process to transfer Excel to thunderbird is successful.
Important Features of this Software
It is one of the popular applications to deal with Excel files. Some of the advanced features offered by this software are:
- Launch the Thunderbird email client, then press the Address Book button.
- Inside the Toolbar, you will find the Import icon. Click it.
- This opens the Import wizard, Choose vCard file (.vcf, .vcard) >> Continue.
- Select the same vCard file we got at the end of Step 1.
- Under “Select where to import the chosen data” text, pick “Create a new directory <Directory_Name>” >> Continue.
- Make one last check on the vCard file (.vcf) and press the Start Import option.
- After the import is done, click Finish and terminate the task to import Excel contacts to Thunderbird.
This marks the end of the two-step process to prepare your Excel contacts for use in the Thunderbird client.
Conclusion
Management of contacts is really important for the users. Therefore, they store a large number of contacts in an Excel spreadsheet. Now, to access these contacts in a quick manner, they always try to import them to their respective email application. Like this only, the blog will let you all know how to import Excel contacts to Thunderbird in a seamless and reliable manner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Why can’t I add Excel contacts in Thunderbird directly?
Ans. An Excel file is more than just a storage unit. It has many moving parts, so when a third party attempts to import it, there is often one issue or another. Apart from the regular data mismatching and import failure, there is also the risk of adding malicious macros to an Excel file. As a result, many apps outright forbid the upload of Excel files, and Thunderbird is one of them.
Q. Will there be any change in my existing contacts after the import of this Excel file?
Ans. You are not importing the Excel file directly but transforming it into vCard and attaching it to Thunderbird. During the import, Thunderbird allows you to put these contacts in a brand-new Address book. Thereby removing any chance of duplicity or overwriting. So, in short, your existing contacts will be perfectly safe.
Q. Can I directly place my single-column Excel file of emails into Thunderbird?
Ans. Yes, there is a feature called the mailing list for this exact purpose. You need not transform your Excel to CSV; just follow these steps.
- Open the Excel file Copy the entire column containing emails.
- Launch Thunderbird and open Address Book
- Click New List
- Select an Address Book.
- Type Mailing List name.
- Paste Excel data under “Type email addresses to add them to the mailing list:”.
- Press OK.
The entire mailing list will be copied into the address book of your choice.