Moving Thunderbird Data to a New Computer

Revision Information
  • Revision id: 165720
  • Created:
  • Creator: Michele Rodaro
  • Comment: Linux: {for linux}{button Open Directory}{/for}
  • Reviewed: Yes
  • Reviewed:
  • Reviewed by: Chris_Ilias
  • Is approved? Yes
  • Is current revision? No
  • Ready for localization: Yes
  • Readied for localization:
  • Readied for localization by: Chris_Ilias
Revision Source
Revision Content

Thunderbird stores your data in a separate location, away from the program filesapplication, called your profile folder. To move your data, copy your profile folder to the equivalent location on your destination computer.

  1. Click on the menu button Fx57Menu, then go to Help and select Troubleshooting Information.Go to the Help menu and select Troubleshooting Information.
  2. Click on Open FolderOpen DirectoryShow in Finder. Your Thunderbird profile folder will open in Windows ExplorerFile BrowserFinder.
  3. CloseQuit Thunderbird.
  4. From your Thunderbird profile folder, go up three levels.
  5. Right-clickHold down the control key while you click on the Thunderbird folder, and select CopyCopy "Thunderbird".
  6. Go to the drive you are using to transfer your data, then right-clickhold down the Ctrl key while you click inside the drive, and select PastePaste Item.
  7. On destination computer, right-clickhold down the Ctrl key while you click on your backup Thunderbird folder, and select CopyCopy "Thunderbird".
  8. Open Thunderbird, and close the account setup window if it appears.
  9. Click on the menu button Fx57Menu, then go to Help and select Troubleshooting Information.Go to the Help menu and select Troubleshooting Information.
  10. Click on Open FolderOpen DirectoryShow in Finder. Your Thunderbird profile folder will open in Windows ExplorerFile BrowserFinder.
  11. CloseQuit Thunderbird.
  12. From your Thunderbird profile folder, go up three levels.
  13. Right-clickHold down the control key while you click inside the folder, and select PastePaste Item.
  14. When prompted, choose to replace your current data.
If you have used the profile manager to store your data in a custom location, create a new profile in the same location as your prefs.js file. Thunderbird will use the already existing data.