how to import all my messages from gmail to thunderbird?
hi
I set my thunderbird account a few days back but how do I get a copy of all my messages from the very beginning in it? I tried the forums but I just got more confused :/
Chosen solution
You can't do this with POP. It won't show you the other folders, just your Inbox.
Set it up again, using IMAP this time. Then you can see all the folders and copy from them. You'll need to enable IMAP on your Gmail settings page, in your browser.
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If you have set up an IMAP account then subscribe to see the folders. File > Subscribe or right on mail account and select 'Subscribe' This should show you a list so you can select.
You can also choose to synchronise all folders. See info here:
I have a POP account as it is a gmail one.
there isnt a sync option on my desktop.
I'm using a windows 10
Chosen Solution
You can't do this with POP. It won't show you the other folders, just your Inbox.
Set it up again, using IMAP this time. Then you can see all the folders and copy from them. You'll need to enable IMAP on your Gmail settings page, in your browser.
Additional: If you actually want a POP mail account, then you would need to do a one off workaround to get the emails into Thunderbird.
As POP mail accounts can only access and download from the server Inbox to Thunderbird pop mail account Inbox, you would need to do the following.
Advise: before downloading. Do you want to leave a copy on the server or not? If yes, In thunderbird Tools > Account Settings > Server Settings for pop mail account or right click on mail account in folder pane and select 'Settings' then select 'Server Settings' for pop mail account
Select 'Leave message on server' Choose none, any or both of the following options as required. Select: for at most xx days' (deletes older messages off server) Select; Until I delete them (deletes any email you manually delete off server) click on OK to save changes.
Now to get the messages. In Thunderbird do this to make it easier to download and move mail. Move all emails out of Inbox into other suitable folders.
logon to webmail account via a browser. Move emails from one folder into the Inbox
In Thunderbird Use the 'get Messages' to download those emails. Move emails into suitable folders. Repeat to get more emails from other folders.
Once you have all the emails on your computer in your Thunderbird profile folder, any further emails that arrive in the server Inbox will get downloaded.
Suggest that once you have downloaded everything you make a back up of your Profile folder. you can manually backup the Profile folder or use tools such as Mozbackup and ImportExporttools addon extension. some info and helpful links:
THANK YOUUUUUU IT WORKED I WAS BREAKING MY HEAD OVER IT