The whole point of IMAP is that messages are stored on the server and so you don't need to fiddle about copying your profile to and fro. Each machine will see the same set of folders and messages. To get a clean start, I'd think about setting the laptop to use a new empty profile, add the account(s) and then it will sync to the server and be identical to the desktop. However did you get the idea that you ''need'' to shuffle the profile back and forth? Filters will not sync, but those can be ported from machine to the other. Just copy msgFilterRules.dat from each account's folder on one to the corresponding account's folder on the other. Address books and calendars won't sync either, but this can be automated via, for instance, Google Contacts and Google Calendar. Or… just this one last time, copy the profile over, which will get the two machines in sync. Thereafter leave it be. If you do add a filter to one machine, you will need to manually re-create it on the other, but that's probably quicker than copying the whole profile. IMAP will do the major part, which is showing what's on the server in the mail client on each (or any) of your computers. That means you could also see all your same messages on a phone or tablet too. As mentioned, there are other tools for calendars and address books. If you are not happy with the calendar and address book issues, then you can continue doing as you do now, so long as you're content to put up with the long copying sessions.