Current PC runs Windows 7, Thunderbird version 115.18.0esr (32-bit). New PC runs Windows 11 with Thunderbird version 153.0.3 (64-bit). How do I transfer the data?
I tried the instructions at https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/moving-thunderbird-data-to-a-new-computer, and watched the video. Copied and pasted exactly as instructed - nothing happened. Is it possible to transfer the data, including message filters and in-box folders, to the new PC? Old PC: version 115.18.0 esr (32-bit) - on Windows 7 New PC: version 153.0.3 (64-bit) - on Windows 11 Or is this data transfer impossible due to incompatibility of the different Thunderbird versions? Thanks. I also tried transferring the data from the old PC to a slightly newer laptop on Windows 10, utilising Thunderbird version 140.13.0 esr (32-bit). Nothing happened there either. Is it a lost cause? Do I just go ahead and create new message filters on the new PC and forget about trying to transfer the data and associated rules? Maybe that's the way to go for me. Thanks.
All Replies (4)
You will have to be specific about where the process breaks down. Because it DOES work. The newest versions of Thunderbird will happily open profiles created by that old version, although the reverse is not true. Some add-ons may no longer work and/or you may need to update others, but generally things work.
Filters, I don't know about. I would think they would work since the folder structure would be the same, but I don't have that personal experience.
32-bit and 64-bit copying can be a problem.
You can try to use Thunderbird's export/import tool: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/thunderbird-import
wxie said
32-bit and 64-bit copying can be a problem. You can try to use Thunderbird's export/import tool: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/thunderbird-import
Can it? File size limitations could be a problem going the other way because modern file systems/OSs can create files larger than some older OS can deal with. But I've never had a problem in this situation from going from a 32-bit profile to a 64-bit one.
Anyway, the process described in the article does generally work - I've done it a bunch of times. Which is not to say that something couldn't go wrong, just that it hasn't happened to me personally.
I've been warned to not depend on Thunderbird's build in profile export tool, especially if the profile is larger than 2 GB.
You are right about the file copying. Generally, it should not be a problem to copy normal files between 32-bit and 64-bit systems.
I don't know if your problem have been solved or not from your comment. Is it solved?
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