If you removed the account, it may still be possible to recover the mail. Help/Troubleshooting Information, click Open Folder to open the profile in File Explorer, close TB. Open the Mail (for POP accounts) or ImapMail (for IMAP accounts) folder and see if there is a folder named after the deleted account. In that folder, look for the mbox files - files with no extension that appear with .msf files of the same name. Copy the mbox files only into the Mail/Local Folders location. Restart TB, and you should find the copied folders under Local Folders.

Thanks. I followed your instructions but only got the Inbox back...none of the folders I had created in Thunderbird. Not sure what/if I did anything wrong?

So, the deleted account was IMAP, but were the missing folders stored on the computer for offline use, or just the headers? If it was the latter, you would see an .msf file with the name of the folder but no mbox file.

It was my belief that they were stored on the computer for offline use.

If you had folders set up as subfolders to Inbox, then perhaps you have a 'Inbox.sbd' folder in the imap mail account folder. If you see that folder, click on it to open, maybe there are some mbox files in it.

Otherwise sounds as if you only had the Inbox selected to download full copies for offline use and other folders only download headers.

General good info on Synchronisation: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/imap-synchronization

One method to access Account Settings: right click on imap mail account in Folder Pane and select 'Settings' Select 'Synchronisation & Storage' click on 'Advanced' button to see what folders are selected for offline use.

You can also select a folder for offline use by: Right click on imap folder in Folder Pane and select 'Properties' > 'Synchronisation' tab select checkbox 'select this folder for offline use' and click on 'Download now' button to get full copies downloaded.

Where do I find the imap mail account folder?

edelisi1 said

Where do I find the imap mail account folder?

As mentioned above, there is a Mail subfolder of the profile folder for POP accounts and Local Folders, and an ImapMail subfolder for IMAP accounts. The ImapMail folder contains subfolders for each account.

I believe I've found at least some of my folders. But I can't seem to get them to go into Thunderbird, under the inbox folder. What am I doing wrong? And is there a way to make sure they all are stored on the computer, not just the folder names?

Thanks!

If your account is IMAP, I recommend you not try to copy folders into Inbox, as this may require a significant upload to the mail server. Just copy the mbox files into Mail/Local Folders as described above.

RE info supplied by sfhowes:

• Open ImapMail (for IMAP accounts) folder and see if there is a folder named after the deleted account.
• In that folder, look for the mbox files - files with no extension that appear with .msf files of the same name.
• Copy the mbox files only into the Mail/Local Folders location.

Perhaps the image below may help as an example.

If viewed in this forum, click on image to enlarge it.