Import and export email

Move Thunderbird data to a new computer

How to move Thunderbird data (accounts, messages, passwords) to a new computer.

Profiles - Where Thunderbird stores your messages and other user data

Thunderbird saves personal information such as messages, passwords and user preferences in a set of files called a "profile".

Export your Thunderbird Profile

Thunderbird's export tool lets you create a backup of your Thunderbird profile including accounts, messages, address books, and settings.

Thunderbird and Gmail

Thunderbird can be set up to work seamlessly with Google's Gmail. Messages will be synchronized between your local version of Thunderbird and web-based Gmail.

Import settings and data into Thunderbird

With Thunderbird's import tool, you can import settings and data from a variety of sources including Thunderbird profiles, other applications or files.

The difference between IMAP and POP3

Thunderbird gives users the choice between using IMAP or POP3. This documentation will explain the major differences between these protocols.

Rebuilding the Global Database

Rebuilding the Global Database will initiate a re-indexing of emails and address book cards (newsgroup messages are not indexed).

FAQ Changing IMAP to POP

If your mail server supports both IMAP and POP, Thunderbird will use IMAP by default. Use these instructions to manually configure a POP account.

IMAP Synchronization

IMAP stands for the Internet Message Access Protocol. It enables a mail client (such as Thunderbird) to access messages stored on a mail server. It is more modern and fully featured than POP (Post Office Protocol), which is the other major protocol for accessing mail messages. Most email providers now support IMAP. To see whether your account uses IMAP or POP, check the Server Settings page in the Account Settings.

How do I move my Thunderbird data to a new computer?

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