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How to disable a mail account for some time?

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  • 1 has this problem
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  • Last reply by Toad-Hall

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I have many (25-30) mail account being manager by Thunderbird. For about 10 of them there is 99% that I will never use them (example: I am no longer working in that company or domain that I no longer own). I understand, that I can just remove a whole account including emails and credentials, but there is still this 1% that I will need to access all of those email that I have downloaded offline and search through them using Thunderbird. This is why I do not want to remove it. However, keeping all of those account active naturally makes Thunderbird use more RAM and network. I would like to disable those account so that I won't see those account on a mail list but I would like it to be easily reversible. After reversing I would be able to access all of those emails and search using Thunderbird though them.

It is okay if I would be doing to my moving folders/folders in and out so that Thunderbird won't be able to see/access them. I just need to know which ones. It doesn't have to be an elegant solution (like a GUI checkbox), just a practical solution. Bash scripts are also fine.

I have many (25-30) mail account being manager by Thunderbird. For about 10 of them there is 99% that I will never use them (example: I am no longer working in that company or domain that I no longer own). I understand, that I can just remove a whole account including emails and credentials, but there is still this 1% that I will need to access all of those email that I have downloaded offline and search through them using Thunderbird. This is why I do not want to remove it. However, keeping all of those account active naturally makes Thunderbird use more RAM and network. I would like to disable those account so that I won't see those account on a mail list but I would like it to be easily reversible. After reversing I would be able to access all of those emails and search using Thunderbird though them. It is okay if I would be doing to my moving folders/folders in and out so that Thunderbird won't be able to see/access them. I just need to know which ones. It doesn't have to be an elegant solution (like a GUI checkbox), just a practical solution. Bash scripts are also fine.

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AS those accounts do not need access to the server : Options 1. Create folders in 'Local folders' mail account. then select batches of emails and use right click 'Copy to' and select folder in Local Folders. then you could delete the mail acounts once you had copies in 'Local folders' mail account.

Options 2 I would use this as it separates what is loaded. But you need to use a different profile when needing to search old stuff. Create a new Profile. Help > Troubleshooting information Click on 'about:profiles' click on 'Create a New Profile' Click on Next A name is offered but you can create one -eg: OLD profile click on Finish

In 'about:profiles' For the profile that is set up the current default Root directory.....click on 'Open folder'

a new window opens showing contents of current default 'profile name' folder

Exit Thunderbird

Then copy all the folders and files in that current default 'profile name' folder Go up directory to 'Profiles' folder click on the new profile 'OLD Profile' to see contents. delete all the files and folders so it is empty Paste in all the copied files and folders from current profile.

Now you have two identical profiles.

Start Thunderbird Go into the 'about:profiles' location as before Locate the other 'Old profile' and below it click on 'Launch Profile in new browser' It's not a new browser ! Exit original Thunderbird.

You are now viewing the OLD profile. You can remove all the currently used mail accounts only keeping the old ones. You can then set that profile to run in offline mode via : Menu app icon > Options > Options > Advanced > Network & Disc Space Click on Offline' Uncheck Auto follow detected online state Select 'Offline' then Exit Thunderbird.

Start Thunderbird and you will be back in the default profile. You could now delete all the old unused mail accounts.

The end result is this: The default mail account only opens and shows all the current active mail accounts. The other 'OLD Profile' only contains all the inactive old mail accounts and open in Offline mode.

You could create a desktop icon to auto open the Profile Manager Create a Thunderbird shortcut Right click select Properties Alter the 'Target to say: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Thunderbird\thunderbird.exe" -P Simply add a space then -P click on OK

From then onwards you can use that shortcut to choose which profile you want or use the 'about:profile' method I mentioned earlier.