I tried moving my thunderbird data to a new computer and it didn't work. It opened but none of my folders or messages are there. I'm using two Macs.
Hello! I am trying to move my email account from Thunderbird on my old MacBook to Thunderbird on my MacBook Air. I tried following the suggestions offered here about moving the profile, but it didn't work. Right now, it looks like the Thunderbird on my old computer, but it is missing all the folders and emails. It is also not connected to my mail account for some reason. It doesn't let me get me mail. It doesn't do anything. Help!
Chosen solution
I set up a new account with my same email.
Where in the instructions did it say you should set up your account again? That step is completely unnecessary if you copy over your existing profile.
There is no need to repeat the steps from the article here. What I was asking for are the exact steps you did, including exact path, file, and folder names.
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I tried following the suggestions offered here about moving the profile
What suggestions exactly?
The directions found here. I moved my profile to the location it led me to.
Please describe in detail the steps you did with the exact path, file, and folder names.
I downloaded Thunderbird on my new MacBook Air. I set up a new account with my same email. Then I followed these directions. Completely close Thunderbird, as explained above. Use the Thunderbird Profile Manager to create a new profile in your desired location, then exit the Profile Manager. Note: If you just installed Thunderbird on a new computer, you can use the default profile that is automatically created when you first run Thunderbird, instead of creating a new profile. Locate the backed up profile folder on your hard drive or backup medium (e.g., your USB-stick). Open the profile folder backup (e.g., the xxxxxxxx.default backup). Copy the entire contents of the profile folder backup, such as the mimeTypes.rdf file, prefs.js file, etc. Locate and open the new profile folder as explained above and then close Thunderbird (if open). Paste the contents of the backed up profile folder into the new profile folder, overwriting existing files of the same name. Start Thunderbird.
When it opened, it looked in appearance--color, etc.--like my account on my old computer. But nothing is there...none of the files with all of my emails. And it's not connecting to the internet.
Chosen Solution
I set up a new account with my same email.
Where in the instructions did it say you should set up your account again? That step is completely unnecessary if you copy over your existing profile.
There is no need to repeat the steps from the article here. What I was asking for are the exact steps you did, including exact path, file, and folder names.