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Can I run 2 completly seperate thunderbird accounts at the same time?

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I want to be able to receive new email from 2 different addresses at the same time. I know I can run multiple accounts in one profile, but I find it too easy to reply to someone showing the wrong "from" email address. Like showing my personal address when replying to a work email. It is now set up with different profiles so things don't get mixed up, but it's a nuisance closing one profile and opening the other all day long. If I can't do this with t-bird, I may have to use a different email client for one of the accounts. So to summarize, I want to run two copies of thunderbird at once, just like I can run 2 separate copies of Firefox at the same time.

I want to be able to receive new email from 2 different addresses at the same time. I know I can run multiple accounts in one profile, but I find it too easy to reply to someone showing the wrong "from" email address. Like showing my personal address when replying to a work email. It is now set up with different profiles so things don't get mixed up, but it's a nuisance closing one profile and opening the other all day long. If I can't do this with t-bird, I may have to use a different email client for one of the accounts. So to summarize, I want to run two copies of thunderbird at once, just like I can run 2 separate copies of Firefox at the same time.

Chosen solution

You could right-click on desktop and create new/shortcut and target : "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Thunderbird\thunderbird.exe" -no-remote -P start in "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Thunderbird

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All Replies (16)

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Well I guess I need "help for dummies". I can't make heads or tails out of that. I need to see in writing exactly what to type and were. I guessed I should type MOZ_NO_REMOTE=1 in the run window but that came up as "can't find file" or something like that. Can you talk me through each step?

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I can get two separate TB windows each showing a different Profile. Make sure Thunderbird is closed.

I have a Thunderbird Profile Manager shortcut icon on my desktop. Right click on the Profile Manager icon and select Properties. Where it says 'Target', I added a space, then typed -no-remote, another space followed by -P, so it says:

"C:\Program Files\Mozilla Thunderbird\thunderbird.exe" -no-remote -P

click on 'Apply' and 'OK'

Click on Profile Manager shortcut to lauch Profile Manager. Select Profile name I uncheck the option 'Use the selected profile without asking at startup', but you only need to do this once. click on 'Start Thunderbird'

To launch another Profile in a second window, Click on Profile Manager shortcut to lauch Profile Manager. Select second Profile name click on 'Start Thunderbird'

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OK, how do I make a profile manager shortcut? I have a thunderbird icon in my task bar but right clicking on it doesn't show anything like "properties". Left clicking on it brings up profile manager (Actually it's now "Thunderbird - Choose User Profile", I guess they changed its name).

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How to put a Thunderbird Profile Manager icon on your desktop.

Start > All Programs > right click on 'Mozilla Thunderbird' and select 'create shortcut'. A pop up will suggest you place shortcut on desktop, click on OK.

A thunderbird icon will appear on desktop. Right click on the thunderbird icon and select 'Rename'. Rename suggestion: 'TB Profile Manager'

Right click on the thunderbird icon and select 'Properties' - usually positioned bottom of list. Where it says 'Target', it should say:

  • "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Thunderbird\thunderbird.exe"

or if using windows 64 bit:

  • "C:\Program Files(x86)\Mozilla Thunderbird\thunderbird.exe"

Add a space, then type -no-remote, another space followed by -P So it says:

  • "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Thunderbird\thunderbird.exe" -no-remote -P

or if using windows 64 bit:

  • "C:\Program Files(x86)\Mozilla Thunderbird\thunderbird.exe" -no-remote -P

click on 'Apply' and 'OK'

You have created a thunderbird Profile Manager icon.

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Well this is not working.

Start > All Programs > right click on 'Mozilla Thunderbird' and select 'create shortcut'. Problem is there is no "create shortcut" option! Yes I right clicked, and I tried it on other programs too and it doesn't give the "create shortcut" option on any of them.

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Chosen Solution

You could right-click on desktop and create new/shortcut and target : "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Thunderbird\thunderbird.exe" -no-remote -P start in "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Thunderbird

Modified by Gnospen

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If you cannot get the right click options eg; properties.

then this must be switched off on your computer. What OS are you using?

when you right click on desktop icon or Sart > All Programs > Thunderbird What do you see? please post image, so the forum clearly sees what you see.

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Can't do a screenshot because the box disappears as soon as I click on nimbus screenshot

OK I'm an idiot. Found I already had a profile manager icon on the desktop. Made a 2nd copy of it.

 properties/target pasted "C:\Program Files(x86)\Mozilla Thunderbird\thunderbird.exe" -no-remote -P

hit apply

The name ... is not valid make sure path and file name are correct.

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Q: Are you running a Windows 32bit or 64bit OS ?

This makes a difference - see my earlier post. If using 32bit then this is what you need: "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Thunderbird\thunderbird.exe" -no-remote -P

If using windows 64 bit, then this is what you need:: "C:\Program Files(x86)\Mozilla Thunderbird\thunderbird.exe" -no-remote -P

click on 'Apply' and 'OK'

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I'm using 64 bit. I cut and pasted so I didn't mix anything up. Do I have spaces where I should and none where I shouldn't?

C:\Program Files(x86)\Mozilla Thunderbird\thunderbird.exe" -no-remote -P

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I just did what gnospen wrote below except "start in "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla" it didn't ask for where to start so I just tried it and it works, right now I have 3 profiles open and working. THANKS EVERYONE!!!!!

You could right-click on desktop and create new/shortcut and target : "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Thunderbird\thunderbird.exe" -no-remote -P start in "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Thunderbird

Modified June 15, 2015 1:20:05 AM PDT by Gnospen

Modified by TonyBotchagaloop

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There should be double quote at the start and after .exe = "

Actually. I'm just looking at the section....\Program Files(x86)\ I think there should be a space after Files and before the (x86) so try:

  • "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Thunderbird\thunderbird.exe" -no-remote -P
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Yes that works also but I just got it 5 minutes earlier. I had cut and pasted so I wouldn't mess up any spaces and what not from the start. I now have two and will delete one.

And by the way, my email alerted me to your response while I was reading email in a different profile. Yes! That's what I wanted! Thanks to all!

Modified by TonyBotchagaloop

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TonyBotchagaloop said

I want to be able to receive new email from 2 different addresses at the same time. I know I can run multiple accounts in one profile, but I find it too easy to reply to someone showing the wrong "from" email address. Like showing my personal address when replying to a work email. It is now set up with different profiles so things don't get mixed up, but it's a nuisance closing one profile and opening the other all day long. If I can't do this with t-bird, I may have to use a different email client for one of the accounts. So to summarize, I want to run two copies of thunderbird at once, just like I can run 2 separate copies of Firefox at the same time.

TonyBotchagaloop said

Yes that works also but I just got it 5 minutes earlier. I had cut and pasted so I wouldn't mess up any spaces and what not from the start. I now have two and will delete one. And by the way, my email alerted me to your response while I was reading email in a different profile. Yes! That's what I wanted! Thanks to all!

This fix ended up being more trouble than it is worth. For some reason it makes links in email stop working, unless you have time to cut and paste the link to Firefox. What a pain, not worth it. I tried to get used to it for months and just now finally got rid of it.