duplicate thunderbird on second computer
I have Thunderbird on my main desktop PC using Windows7. I now have to use a laptop with Windows 10 when I am mobile. How can I get a duplicate copy of my Thunderbird mail on my laptop so that I can access and use either as required. If I copy all my Thunderbird files from my PC onto my laptop and install them will that work. If not perhaps you could tell me how to do it in step by step in simple terms. Thank you for your help
Mafitar da aka zaɓa
re :I have Thunderbird on my main desktop PC using Windows7. I now have to use a laptop with Windows 10 when I am mobile.
Ideally you would be using imap mail accounts set up on both, so each use the server remotely.
You could go through a routine of copy pasting to Laptop each time and then copy pasting it all back to Desktop. But this is somewhat cumbersome. In this instance after installing and running once on laptop, (do not create any mail accounts). Make hidden files and folders visible on both machines. Default location of profile folder:
- C:\Users\<Windows user name>\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\<Profile name>\
Copy paste the 'Thunderbird' folder as this will also copy paste the 'profiles.ini' file keeping everything including account numbers the same.
However, a better method as advised by Zenos, would be to store your profile on an external harddrive and set up Thunderbird on both desktop and laptop to look for profile on external hardrive.
This would mean you having to carry around an external hardrive.
Q: Are you sure you do not want to try setting up and using imap mail accounts? Pop is not the best if wanting to access same folders on different devices. IMAP is perfect for it.
You can put emails back onto server if required.
You do not need to delete pop mail accounts, although I would make sure they leave a copy on the server.
All Replies (7)
Copy Thunderbird's profile to the portable machine.
Cannot find or access the profile manager
re : I have Thunderbird on my main desktop PC using Windows7.
Are you using POP or IMAP mail account on desktop machine? Do you have emails stored in your 'Local Folders' mail account?
Hi , I am using POP and my emails are stored in my Local Folders
chck said
Cannot find or access the profile manager
Did you read the article linked to from the one Zenos gave you telling you how to start the profile manager.
This one https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/using-multiple-profiles
Zaɓi Mafita
re :I have Thunderbird on my main desktop PC using Windows7. I now have to use a laptop with Windows 10 when I am mobile.
Ideally you would be using imap mail accounts set up on both, so each use the server remotely.
You could go through a routine of copy pasting to Laptop each time and then copy pasting it all back to Desktop. But this is somewhat cumbersome. In this instance after installing and running once on laptop, (do not create any mail accounts). Make hidden files and folders visible on both machines. Default location of profile folder:
- C:\Users\<Windows user name>\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\<Profile name>\
Copy paste the 'Thunderbird' folder as this will also copy paste the 'profiles.ini' file keeping everything including account numbers the same.
However, a better method as advised by Zenos, would be to store your profile on an external harddrive and set up Thunderbird on both desktop and laptop to look for profile on external hardrive.
This would mean you having to carry around an external hardrive.
Q: Are you sure you do not want to try setting up and using imap mail accounts? Pop is not the best if wanting to access same folders on different devices. IMAP is perfect for it.
You can put emails back onto server if required.
You do not need to delete pop mail accounts, although I would make sure they leave a copy on the server.
I managed to set up a second computer accessing my Thunderbird emails as a duplicate from my first PC. I did not manage to understand or achieve this from the Mozilla support articles but managed to do it from an excellent step by step set up on www.infopockets.com