Moving Thunderbird Data to a New Computer
Revision Information
- Revision id: 172853
- Created:
- Creator: Chris Ilias
- Comment: fix mac instructions on step 12, and "your" to "On destination computer"
- 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.
- Click on the menu button , then go to and select .Go to the menu and select .
- Click on . Your Thunderbird profile folder will open in Windows ExplorerFile BrowserFinder.
- CloseQuit Thunderbird.
- From your Thunderbird profile folder, go up three levelsopen the . menu and select two times
- Right-clickHold down the control key while you click on the Thunderbird folder, and select .
- 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 .
- On your destination computer, right-clickhold down the Ctrl key while you click on your backup Thunderbird folder, and select .
- Open Thunderbird, and close the account setup window if it appears.
- Click on the menu button , then go to and select .Go to the menu and select .
- Click on . Your Thunderbird profile folder will open in Windows ExplorerFile BrowserFinder.
- CloseQuit Thunderbird.
- From your Thunderbird profile folder, go up three levelsopen the . menu and select two times
- Right-clickHold down the control key while you click inside the folder, and select .
- 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.