How to Export Bluehost Emails to Thunderbird
In short: To export Bluehost emails to Thunderbird, add the account over IMAP, since Bluehost runs on standard mail servers and needs no separate export. In Thunderbird, use Account Actions then Add Mail Account, then connect to mail.yourdomain.com on port 993 with SSL. For several mailboxes or a fixed local archive, a migration tool moves the mail in bulk.
Which Bluehost email platform do you have?
Bluehost does not use a single email system, so the first step is knowing which one runs your account. This decides the IMAP server you enter in Thunderbird, which is where most guides go wrong.
- cPanel email, the classic hosting mailbox. The IMAP server is mail.yourdomain.com.
- Bluehost Professional Email, built on Titan. The IMAP server is imap.titan.email.
- Google Workspace, if you added it as a paid option. The mail lives on Google, so you use Gmail IMAP settings.
An older version of this guide claimed Bluehost simply uses Google Workspace. That is only true if you bought that add-on. Most Bluehost mailboxes are cPanel or Professional Email, so check your account before you start.
Senior Analyst, Corbett Software
“The one thing to get right first is which Bluehost email you actually have, because that decides the server. A classic cPanel mailbox uses mail.yourdomain.com and Professional Email uses Titan. Once you know that, Thunderbird connects over IMAP in a couple of minutes.”
Bluehost IMAP, POP and SMTP settings
Use the row for your platform. The username is always your full email address. The password is the mailbox password.
| Setting | cPanel email | Professional Email (Titan) |
|---|---|---|
| IMAP server | mail.yourdomain.com | imap.titan.email |
| IMAP port | 993, SSL/TLS | 993, SSL/TLS |
| SMTP server | mail.yourdomain.com | smtp.titan.email |
| SMTP port | 465 SSL, or 587 STARTTLS | 465 SSL, or 587 STARTTLS |
| POP3 (optional) | 995, SSL | 995, SSL |
Replace yourdomain.com with your real domain. You can also read the exact values in cPanel under Email Accounts then Connect Devices. POP suits a single device that downloads a copy, while IMAP keeps every device in sync.
Add Bluehost in Thunderbird over IMAP
This is the free route. For most people it is all that is needed. There is no export, since Thunderbird connects straight to the mailbox and syncs the folders down.
- Open Thunderbird, click the menu, the three lines, then choose Account Settings.
- Click Account Actions in the lower left, then Add Mail Account.
- Enter your name, full Bluehost email address and password, then Continue.
- Choose IMAP so the mail stays synced with the server.
- If it does not auto-detect, click Configure manually and type the settings from the table, then Done.
If you are on Bluehost Professional Email and the connection is refused, check that third-party or IMAP access is allowed in your Bluehost email control panel, then try again. Note that IMAP is two-way, so deleting a message in Thunderbird also deletes it on the server.
Move Bluehost to Thunderbird in bulk
A migration tool is the practical choice for several Bluehost mailboxes. It also gives a one-time archive that does not keep syncing back to the server.
The Corbett IMAP Migration Tool connects to your Bluehost account, previews the folders and writes them into Thunderbird in one run, with the structure kept. It moves several accounts in a session, filters by date or folder, then offers a free demo edition on every edition of Windows.
- Run the tool, click Open, then Email Accounts then Add Account.
- Enter your Bluehost address and password, then let it load the folders into the preview.
- Click Export, pick Thunderbird, then Save to start the move.
Keep a frozen local archive
Because IMAP stays linked, a message you clear from the server also leaves Thunderbird. If you want a copy that stands on its own, for a host change or a permanent backup, two routes work. Use the tool above for a fixed import that does not sync back. Or, once the mail is in Thunderbird, export a folder to an MBOX file, which our guide on how to export MBOX from Thunderbird walks through.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to export Bluehost email before adding it to Thunderbird?
No. Bluehost mail uses IMAP, so Thunderbird connects to the server and downloads the folders directly. There is no separate export step for the free method.
What IMAP server does Bluehost use?
It depends on your plan. cPanel email uses mail.yourdomain.com, Bluehost Professional Email uses imap.titan.email, then Google Workspace mail uses Gmail IMAP settings.
What are the Bluehost SMTP and POP settings?
SMTP is mail.yourdomain.com or smtp.titan.email, on port 465 with SSL or 587 with STARTTLS. POP is on port 995 with SSL, for downloading a copy to a single device.
Will the IMAP method keep my folder structure?
Yes. IMAP mirrors the server folders into Thunderbird, so the hierarchy comes across as it is. Remember that deleting locally also deletes on the server.
Does Bluehost only use Google Workspace?
No. Google Workspace is one paid option. Most accounts run on cPanel email or Bluehost Professional Email on Titan.
When is the tool worth it over the free IMAP method?
When you have several mailboxes to move at once. It also suits a fixed archive in Thunderbird that does not stay synced to the server.