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Thunderbird updated, I can't find my old email messages or accounts

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  • Last reply by bhamjones

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I have an old laptop I rarely use (Windows 10 Home), but I hang on to it because of all the old files, pictures, email messages, and the like.

Today I was looking for an old email message, so I fired up the old computer for the first time in months, and Thunderbird began to update. It took quite a while (slow computer). When it finished, Thunderbird v 91.13 was prompting me to set up an email address. It was as if I was using Thunderbird for the first time. None of my old accounts, messages, or folders were anywhere to be found that I can see.

All I want is to be able to access the thousands of email messages and the dozens of folders that contained them when I used the previous version of Thunderbird.

What do I need to do to be looking at those folders, scrolling through the old email messages? I would be very grateful for any help.

Thank you very much.

I have an old laptop I rarely use (Windows 10 Home), but I hang on to it because of all the old files, pictures, email messages, and the like. Today I was looking for an old email message, so I fired up the old computer for the first time in months, and Thunderbird began to update. It took quite a while (slow computer). When it finished, Thunderbird v 91.13 was prompting me to set up an email address. It was as if I was using Thunderbird for the first time. None of my old accounts, messages, or folders were anywhere to be found that I can see. All I want is to be able to access the thousands of email messages and the dozens of folders that contained them when I used the previous version of Thunderbird. What do I need to do to be looking at those folders, scrolling through the old email messages? I would be very grateful for any help. Thank you very much.

All Replies (3)

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Hello there bhamjones. We have read your message. We try to help you.

Moving from this version of Thunderbird to the latest release of Thunderbird software is a big step. What version s did you say? What version of Thunderbird are you using at the moment and from what version dit you updated?



Greetings Firefox volunteer.

Googlethunderbird modificouno o

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Hello there


All normal folders on your Thunderbird version are present, including those on your laptop? Did you also refresh or replace the OS on your laptop at the time, perhaps you did not mention this in your letter.

it will be about subfolders with content?




Greetings Firefox volunteer.

Googlethunderbird modificouno o

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The updated version of Thunderbird on my laptop is v 91.13.

It acts like it is a new install, not recognizing old files.

I cannot say what the previous version of Thunderbird was though I did update it from time to time.

There are email folders on my laptop that correspond with my previous use of Thunderbird. Mail folders that are 7 GB, 5 GB, 4 GB, and so on.

I don't know what other Thunderbird files I should be looking for. If I knew what files or folders I should look for, I would be glad to look for them.

Thank you very much for any help you can give me.