Windows 10 will reach EOS (end of support) on October 14, 2025. For more information, see this article.

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

email archives

  • 5 replies
  • 0 have this problem
  • 87 views
  • Last reply by tlmoffettii

more options

I want to automatically archive emails to a separate drive from my inbox. I do NOT want to have them stored on the same drive in case the primary drive fails. I also do NOT want to have to manually copy emails to the archive folder. I can find no way to accomplish this.

Having the archive stored on the same drive as my inbox is ridiculous. The whole point is to put the archive folder on a separate network drive.

I want to automatically archive emails to a separate drive from my inbox. I do NOT want to have them stored on the same drive in case the primary drive fails. I also do NOT want to have to manually copy emails to the archive folder. I can find no way to accomplish this. Having the archive stored on the same drive as my inbox is ridiculous. The whole point is to put the archive folder on a separate network drive.

Chosen solution

TIP: be sure to remember this, as if/when you set up thunderbird on a new PC, you will need to have that same local folders drive accessible.

Read this answer in context 👍 0

All Replies (5)

more options

In that case, set up Local Folders to be on a separate drive, and put your archives there.

more options

The question was how to do that. I can find no option to define "Local Folders" on any drive other than the drive that also contains the account profile. I know I can copy the profile to another drive and switch between them, but that is WAY too involved to simply archive old email. I also know that I can create a file and call it "Local Folders" on a different drive, but, again, there seems to be no way to direct Thunderbird to send archives to that folder.

What, if anything, am I missing?

more options

- click account settings and scroll down to Local Folders. Note the local directory link - exit thunderbird - COPY (not move) that Local directory folder to the other drive. Name it whatever you wish, if desired - restart thunderbird, click to account settings, and click the dropdown menu on than Local Folders pane and change to the new location. Thunderbird will probably force a shutdown and restart. - verify that all is okay and you can now change your archive to go to the new Local Folders location

more options

Chosen Solution

TIP: be sure to remember this, as if/when you set up thunderbird on a new PC, you will need to have that same local folders drive accessible.

more options

Thank You! I actually just figured it out for myself. Everything I read lead me to believe that the "Message Store" had to be in the same location as the profile. I just took a chance and changed the location of the "Message Store".