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Transfer Thunderbird to new PC

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  • Last reply by robinm16

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I am about to change desktop computers - upgrading to Windows 11. How or can I transfer all my Thunderbird data, saved emails, address books,layout, etc, to my new computer? Can I export everything to an external hard drive and then import to the new PC? Many thanks for any advice. heers, Ron

I am about to change desktop computers - upgrading to Windows 11. How or can I transfer all my Thunderbird data, saved emails, address books,layout, etc, to my new computer? Can I export everything to an external hard drive and then import to the new PC? Many thanks for any advice. heers, Ron

All Replies (14)

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Here is the link for moving a profile in Windows when installed in default location:

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/moving-thunderbird-data-to-a-new-computer

here is the info in brief steps:

  1. ensure thunderbird is NOT running on old machine
  2. enter %appdata% in search window on task bar and press Enter key
  3. this should open windows file explorer in Appdata\roaming folder
  4. highlight the Thunderbird folder and copy to external media
  5. ensure thunderbird is installed on second computer and NOT running
  6. enter %appdata% in search window on task bar and press Enter key
  7. you should be in Appdata\roaming folder , copy&paste the exported Thunderbird folder there. This may prompt to overwrite an existing folder of same name. allow it
  8. start thunderbird and all should be there

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The link simply takes me to a Dec 2024 answer, I have not been able to progress at all. I have tried 4 Thunderbird accounts with the passwords copied from the old pc with no success at all, obviously doing something wrong.

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Please follow my steps exactly. These steps move the accounts, all settings, and messages. Your original post indicated you were preparing to copy to new PC, but your latest response indicates that you have done that and are facing a different problem. You can restart with my suggested steps, or provide detail info on where you are now. Thank you.

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Discovered my problem was errors in copying information. Apologies. Please note I am not the original questioner.

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Hi David, I've used your points 1 to 8 using the %appdata% method which successfully transferred 'something 'to my external hard drive. Does this file contain 1. All emails 2. All addresses 3. My layout format. ? Thank you. Ron

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Everything should be there. I have shared these steps for several years and most users make the transfer with no issues. If you haven't do so yet, download the new thunderbird at https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/thunderbird/all/

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I have the same problem. David gave me detailed instructions, and I followed them exactly, but the folders were not transferred. Is there a way to export (or import) folders one at a time? I have had Thunderbird on my old PC for many years. Could the problem be that this version is too old? I am clutching at straws here. Obviously, it is very important that I get these folders over as, for example, I have software keys in emails from years ago that I need when I install the apps on my new PC.

It will be an incredible pain if I have to send hundreds (thousands?) of email messages to myself.

Any ideas?

With hope,

Robin McLeod

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If you followed carefully, all are copied, as my steps use the OS's file manager that copies everything. If some components were not copied, that indicates that thunderbird was still active. You can verify that the copy worked by looking at the copied folder in Windows File Explorer. In the thunderbird\profiles\<profilename> folder will be the imapmail folder with IMAP content, the Mail folder for POP content, and the Mail\Local Folders folder for local folders. Can you do a screenshot of the copied folder?

Yes, there are manual ways. You can use Windows File explorer to copy each individually when thunderbird is not running and paste into the Local Folders folder on the other PC. The addon, importexporttools NG, does the same thing from within Thunderbird.

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Interesting, David! I have attached a file with several screen shots so that you can see the structure. In the Profiles there were two, so I looked at them both. I went to the Mail folder in each and - none of my many folders were there. So that seems to explain why none were getting moved over! They must be somewhere else. But where? I'll hunt around to see if I can find them. Phew, what a thrash - and taking up so much of your time too.

Now I know what the format of the folders looks like (as in "Trash" and "Trash.msf") I look for things like that.

I'll let you know what I manage to get done.

Thanks,

Robin

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Robin, attachments should be JPG or PNG. your attachments did not appear. Please revisit. Thanks much.

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Hi David, It was a jpg. This time I'll try a png.

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David, I may have solved it. There is a Thunderbird folder on my E: drive. It has many folders in it. I'll copy this one and let you know what happens.

Robin

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David, Solved. I moved over the folder that was on my E: drive and it worked fine. And, in case you wonder, I have utterly no idea why I had Thunderbird folders on BOTH my C: and E: drives.

Now I did like the UI that came up before, rather than the one I had on my old PC, and now have on the new one. But I think I may leave that for a while and struggle with getting some other apps working on the new PC. I do so hate changing PCs.

But, thank you. It was only when you sent me off to look in the Local Folders directory that I realised it was empty and hence the correct one had to be somewhere.

Cheers,

Robin

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Thanks for the feedback. I'm glad all is well now. :)

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