How does one get off the Beta treadmill?
I have been a long time user of Thunderbird. I run multiple computers which I like to network share/backup Thunderbird under my User/AppData/Roaming profile. I have been running Beta versions on all of my computers, but any change to the beta version on my primary machine causes me to have to make beta updates on all the others so my copied profile works. I have also noticed many issues with printing on the current beta versions. I want to get off the beta treadmill and simply install the current stable Thunderbird version. When I do this on a machine I am unable to get any of my current profile to work. I have multiple email accounts and have everything setup exactly as I want it, so starting from scratch on the stable version and loosing all my saved folders and email files would be very painful. Is there a way to install the current stable Thunderbird version and bring over my profile from a beta version (downgrade)? I would love to see some type of export and import that would work between versions, but that doesn't appear to be an option at this time.
Chosen solution
Install the release version in a separate directory, but don't run it from the final window of the installer. Windows key+R and enter the path to the release exe with these arguments:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Thunderbird Release\thunderbird.exe -p --allow-downgrade
In this case, the 32-bit TB 68 was installed in Mozilla Thunderbird Release. The 64-bit is installed in C:\Program Files. The -p switch starts Profile Manager, where you can select a profile that was run in a beta version, and --allow-downgrade should allow access by TB 68 to a profile run with TB beta.
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Chosen Solution
Install the release version in a separate directory, but don't run it from the final window of the installer. Windows key+R and enter the path to the release exe with these arguments:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Thunderbird Release\thunderbird.exe -p --allow-downgrade
In this case, the 32-bit TB 68 was installed in Mozilla Thunderbird Release. The 64-bit is installed in C:\Program Files. The -p switch starts Profile Manager, where you can select a profile that was run in a beta version, and --allow-downgrade should allow access by TB 68 to a profile run with TB beta.
Thank you for the information. I normally look for 64bit apps, but my Beta version also appeared to be under x86 with nothing in C:\program files. Wasn't sure at this point, but created a Mozilla Thunderbird New folder under x86 when installing TB 68. I then following your syntax and was able to open and point to a working (has my email) profile. None of the address/contact info came over, but I was able to export and import that data as well manually. Cleaned up my other dead profiles and moved everything into the standard X86 Mozilla Thunderbird directory. I seem to be back in business now on the non Beta version 68.8.1. I thank you for your help.
Hi, I have the same problem, but on Mac. I need to get out of the Beta versions urgently, they are increasingly unstable, with a lot of latency when editing a message, and now it closes when I want to print a message. I have the Beta 82.0b1 and I want to return to use the stable version 78.3.1, the current one. Thanks from now on!