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I transferred content via a Time machine backup of my old macBookPro (Ventura 13.6) to my new macBookPro (Sequoia 15.6.1). The Thunderbird folder is identical on both computers and contains two profiles: a newer 9389qbc0.defalut-release and an older r13n4n5e.default. The former presumably is active on my old computer and is the one I want to view/use on the new computer. However, the older version appears on my new computer. How do I get Thunderbird on the new computer to recognize and load the newer profile? Thanks much for any assistance!

For some years I have transferred the current Thunderbird data profiles from a desktop computer to a laptop once a year when traveling. When returning home six months later I have been able to delete the old data profiles in the desktop and transfer the 'current data' from the laptop over. This system has worked for some years however after recently upgrading the laptop to the latest version (140.2.1esr) and installing the latest version on the desktop (both 140.2.1esr) the transfer of data fails. The program identifies the data on the laptop as an "old program". Could someone point me in the right direction and advise where I am going wrong at the moment. Thanks in anticipation , Bruce

I'm sure this is a really dumb question but I'm all set to unzip my profile backup into new machine. I see it named in the Quick Access window, but a double click on it brings an error message that I have to unzip it first. Clearly I'm learning both my laptop and win 11 at the same time, and I don't know where/how to unzip it. I'm confused, I hope my question isn't. Can anyone talk me thru getting it unzipped so I can import it into Tbird in new machine? Thanks, Stacy

I have 3 computers and I want to make sure Thunderbird is synchronized on all 3. Yes, I have checked your forums for help. Here’s my configuration:

Main PC – used daily. Thunderbird has 4 email accounts. One is IMAP, the others are POP. Backup PC – Used only occasionally. files on this computer are synchronized with the Main PC about once per month. The email accounts are the same as the main computer. Laptop – Used only occasionally. files on this computer are synchronized with the Main PC about once per month. The email accounts are the same as the main computer.

I have read articles on how to move profiles, but I have not come across one that does what I want to do. Also, I am confused about whether filters can be duplicated on more than one computer. I have seen suggestions to just use IMAP (which might work for some, but not all, accounts), but that doesn’t address how to copy filters and keep them synchronized.

Here’s what I would like to do.

Step 1: Back up Main PC Step 2: Copy Thunderbird emails and filters from that backup to the Backup PC Step 3: Copy Thunderbird emails and filters from that backup to the Laptop.

When all steps are completed, I would expect that if I open Thunderbird on either the Backup PC or the Laptop that all messages, folders, and filers would be exactly like those on the Main PC.

Is this possible? If so, what must I do to ensure everything works as I would like?

Thanks, Alan

Switch computers from windows 10 to windows 11. I downloaded bookmarks history from windows 10 on an external drive in html.

On new windows 11 computer, I'm trying to configure book marks. Turned off chatbot. Firefox or windows 11 is populating my sidebar with internet history I no longer use? How do I stop this and how do I import my bookmarks? i tried the import , similar to export, but it is not showing up?

Appreciate any help. Brian

I have a new PC and want to copy my existing filters on to my new PC. I have 116 filters set up and do not want to have to manually add them. I tried exporting my profile from my old PC but it is 38Gb

Good morning you wonderfull people, I tend to update my computer once every so often. And that time has now come, I have to go through all the setting and extentions on my new system with Firefox along with many other settings for my faverate sorfware. Is there a way to copy all the existing settings to my new set up. Along with tool bar bookmarks that I can't seem to figure out how to export like the normal bookmarks. Kind regards Victor.

Several Months ago I bought a new W11 HP laptop and successfully followed the following procedure provided by David to get my TB profile/data and all files and folders onto this new computer. 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 

There were a few hiccups but it works great! I now want to make sure I am creating a back up copy to save on a flash drive just in case something happens. I followed steps 1-3 above and that should be my back up..RIGHT? I did that and saved it in a folder labeled TB back up Profile and a date. My old was was to just back up the TB profile folder alone but I think this one saves everything. (accounts, folders, Local etc. Have I done it right???

Hi,

I'm trying to move Thunderbird from my Windows 10 laptop to one where I just installed Linux (Zorin Pro 17.3). I followed the instructions here: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/moving-thunderbird-data-to-a-new-computer

I installed Thunderbird 140.4.0 esr, which is the latest version. Both laptops now have that version installed.

But when I open TB on the Linux computer, and close the Account Setup window, and go to the Troubleshooting screen, next to "Profile Directory" it says "Open Directory", but when I click on that, nothing happens. So how can I paste my TB profile? Do I have to start a new profile first, and then copy over that?

I installed TB from the "Software" area, which I believe is a Flatpak. I'm very new to Linux, so just fumbling around here. There were 3 options of Thunderbird. I installed the one that had the most information and seemed most up to date. That was confusing.

I would LOVE some help on this.

Thanks!

Hi, Not sure where to begin. Had issues w/mouse and decided to reimage. Copied all files from C:\Users\user\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird. Now have no msgfilteres, folders in Local Folders, or an Address Book.

I used info from https://windowsloop.com/backup-restore-thunderbird/. Was this wrong? Where did I mess up?

Thanks

Hi, I'm having issues moving a 10 year old Thunderbird installation on a Windows 10 Pro computer to a new Windows 11 Pro PC.

I looked at all the guides & prior support messages and followed the instructions carefully. My old Windows 10 installation was in a custom directory (G:/Program Data/Thunderbird). I ensured it was updated to the most current version and closed it before moving files. I installed Thunderbird on the Windows 11 machine, went to Troubleshooting Info and found the folder that it used for the profile (when I go to profile editor, there are 2 profiles listed in the new build - I verified that I was in the directory for the default profile). I then closed Thunderbird on the new PC.

The two computers are on the same network so I moved all the files from the old location to the new location via just drag and drop. Of note, I couldn't "go up 3 levels" on the original machine's directory as per the instructions because, well, there weren't 3 higher levels of directories - I just moved the Thunderbird to Thunderbird on the new PC.

When I open Thunderbird on the new PC, it still acts like it's a new installation, except I do have my Address book. I tried deleting the second profile it had created; no different. I tried creating a new profile and specifying a directory somewhere else (eg. C:\Program Data\Thunderbird) and moving the files there - no different. I tried copying (presumably inactive) Thunderbird folders from the old computer C:\Users\~\Roaming and \Local over to a similar location on the new PC - nothing changed.

Anybody have any other ideas of what I'm doing wrong? Thank you!

Bonjour est il possible q un développeur ai pensé à un manière de sauvegarder les comptes paramétrés dans Thunderbird ? et ne me parler pas du dossier profil puisque d une version a l'autre cela ne fonctionne plus!

(je viens d en faire les frais !)

Hello, is it possible that a developer has thought of a way to save accounts set up in Thunderbird? And don't even get me started on the profile folder, because from one version to the next it doesn't work (I've just had to pay the price!).

merci de votre aide thank you for your help

I have followed all of the on line instructions to move/copy Bookmarks from Firefox Nightly (current version as of 20February025) to regular Firefox browser. Both are running on same machine. Nightly install is also running Firefox ad blockers. Following all of the instructions on line I can find to accomplish, but cannot move book marks to Firefox. Have copied bookmarks from Firefox Nightly as HTML file to stand alone device but unable to get the bookmarks to import from stand alone device into Firefox. Assistance please.

I have a new Thunderbird profile, fixing the many problems with the old one, ably assisted on the MozillaZine Tb forum. One matter not really helped, and there is, of course, too much wrong information on-line.

My question: How do I properly copy the filters from the old profile to the new one? I did a search here before posting, but found no answers.