Move Thunderbird data to a new computer

Revision Information
  • Revision id: 213472
  • Created:
  • Creator: Steve1234
  • Comment: Added in 2 places: 'Locate the "Profile Folder" entry.' There is a new Update Folder entry before that.
  • Reviewed: Yes
  • Reviewed:
  • Reviewed by: wsmwk
  • Is approved? Yes
  • Is current revision? No
  • Ready for localization: Yes
  • Readied for localization:
  • Readied for localization by: wsmwk
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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. On your source computer, click on the menu button Fx57Menu, then go to Help and select Troubleshooting Information.go to the Help menu and select Troubleshooting Information.
  2. Locate the "Profile Folder" entry. 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 levelsgo up two levelsopen the Go menu and select Enclosing Folder two times.
  5. Right-clickHold down the Control key while you click on the Thunderbird.thunderbird folder, and select CopyCopy "Thunderbird".
    NOTE: .thunderbird is a hidden folder. Make sure you have Linux set to show hidden files.
  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 your destination computer, right-clickhold down the Ctrl key while you click on copy of the Thunderbird folder you created in the previous step, 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. Locate the "Profile Folder" entry. 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 levelsgo up two levelsopen the Go menu and select Enclosing Folder two times.
  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.