Merging Thunderbird profiles
My old Windows10 computer died, but I have an external backup with my Thunderbird profile folder. In the meantime, I have been able to resurrect an old Windows10 computer to continue receiving email, but was not successful transferring the backup profile. Thus, I have "new" profile on this second computer containing only the recent emails not in the backup profile.
I've purchased a new Windows11 computer. My question is: How can I merge my old emails in the backup profile with the recent emails received after the backup was made? In other words, is it possible to merge two separate profiles into one? Thanks.
Illinichip
Opaite Mbohovái (9)
Yes, it can be done, but there are several steps involved. Is this a POP account? If so, are you wanting to merge old and new? That could produce some duplicates. Share the details of what you want to do and I (or someone) will respond
David,
Yes, it's a POP account. The old and new messages are in the same account. I just now see some suggested topics on the right side of my screen, one of which is "How to merge profiles in Thunderbird." I'll have to take a look at that. Perhaps it will tell me how to do it.
Illinichip
That’s a common situation and definitely possible to fix. You can manually copy the mail folders (like Inbox, Sent, etc.) from the backup profile into the new one using a tool like ImportExportTools NG in Thunderbird. Just make sure to back everything up before merging.
Thanks Ethan. So I can't just cut and paste the mail folders from the backup profile to the new one? The Import/Export tool must be used?
Yes, that also works. We rarely suggest it because so many users are uncomfortable with windows file explorer. Do this when thunderbird is not running. If you want to MERGE the folders, then you would need the importexport addon to do that rather easily.
Thanks David. I'll have to take one step at a time. After I get my new computer set up, the first issue will be migrating the old profile to the new computer. Then I'll worry about merging with the second profile developed on my 2nd old computer.
Should I copy the old profile to the new computer before I even download T-bird? Or is downloading T-bird and establishing my account the first step, and then replacing the newly created profile with the old?
Suggestion: set up thunderbird and then click tools>import>import from another thunderbird installation and at the next screen, click 'choose a profile folder.' Once thunderbird is stable, you can import or copy the message folders from the other profile to your Local Folders folder. If you then want to merge the old and new input and sent folders, post back when first steps are done.
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