Transferring your accounts from your computer with a QR code

Already have your email addresses in Thunderbird on your computer? Then you can transfer them to Thunderbird for Android in a few seconds. Thunderbird on your computer creates a QR code, which you scan with the app. You don't need to type anything.

The data goes directly from your computer to your phone. According to Thunderbird, nothing is sent to Mozilla's servers.

On your computer

1. In Thunderbird, click the menu button, then Tools and Export for Mobile.
2. Under Select which accounts to export, tick the email addresses you want to transfer.
3. Choose whether to include the passwords with Include account passwords in the QR code. If you don't, you'll enter them on your phone later.
4. Click Export. Thunderbird shows one or more QR codes.

Please note: If you include the passwords, your password is stored in the QR code. Make sure nobody else can see your screen while the code is displayed, and don't take a photo or screenshot of it.

On your phone

1. Open Thunderbird for Android and go to Settings.
2. Tap Import settings.
3. Tap Scan QR code and give the app access to the camera.
4. Hold your phone over the QR code on your computer. If there are more codes, click Next on your computer and scan the next one.
5. Didn't include the passwords? Enter them when the app asks for them.

Then click Done on your computer.

What is transferred, and what isn't?

• Transferred: your email addresses with the server and account settings, and the passwords if you choose.
• Not transferred: your mail itself. It is stored on our server and the app fetches it automatically. Your calendar and contacts aren't transferred either (see Calendar and contacts on your phone, and the iPhone).

You can't tick accounts that Thunderbird for Android doesn't support. Can't see the Export for Mobile option? Then update Thunderbird on your computer (see Installing Thunderbird on Windows, Mac and Linux).