Thunderbird Community Forum

I transferred my accounts from an old Win 7 computer to a newer Win10 computer. Local Folders files were transferred in and show in the "Local Folder" folder but only trash show in the application. How can I get all my folders inside "Local Folders" to show in the application

I already have Thunderbird installed on a laptop. IS it possible to export my inbox and view the emails on a desktop without having to create an email account on the desktop?

How do I make a backup copy of my Thunderbird email client, saving all the subfolders? I would like to then uninstall Thunderbird and then reinstall it, as a new user, and without losing any of my old user folders. Thanks. After I do this, will I be able to reload all the old subfolders and read those messages?

11-14-25 I have a Dell Precision M6700 laptop running Outlook 2007 under Windows 7 64 bit Pro. I have a Dell Precision 7720 laptop running Thunderbird under Windows 11 64 bit Pro. So far I have been unable to export the Outlook.pst file from the M6700 and import it into the 7720. I have tried to find a free version of a pst to eml converter, but the free (or trial) versions only seem to convert a few files in each folder. So assuming pst to eml conversion is the first step, I need recommendations for reliable but reasonably priced conversion utilities so that I can export the files from Outlook 2007.

I have tried to import converted eml files into Thunderbird, but the Thunderbird import software seems to be looking mainly for a profile which I don't know where to find. And besides, it appears that Thunderbird is designed to do the export/import operations on the same computer, not two computers as in my case. Anyway, I get an error no matter what I try. If someone has insight into these various steps, I would greatly appreciate some help. Thanks!

Regards, Dave

To be clear, I seriously doubt the problems I am encountering are TB's fault! The problems may be my fault since I've grown older, I've tended (believed) using new versions of software present my mind a BIGGER challenge than using the older software/version I have been successfully using? I'm still using Version115.10.1

After our ISP chose to start using Zimbra Oct. 7, 2025 and their tech support could not assist me in getting TB working the had me remove POP3 settings for TB and change to IMAP with their software.

FINALLY someone helped me get TB working with IMAP. For 3 days grrr. Now the ISP says I need to use their web mail, Zimbra.

So might downloading the current TB version and somehow get the In box, all the folder contnets etc. over - into the new TB help?

I was going to backup everything tonight, now I have little to NO hope, without help!

THANKS & remain WELL plus be SAFE!

Robin

Today my Windows 11 pro operating system updated itself to Version 25H2 (OS Build 26200.7171) When I opened Thunderbird it required me to put my account details in and then accessed my IMAP details. All my folders and sub folders were there but no Local Folders. How can I import them into Thunderbird please. Thanks

Hi, I am Div, and I have a large number of EML files which I want to send to Thunderbird. Can anyone tell me the best ways?? I know the manual method, but it didn't work out for me because I want my files to be imported safely in bulk, as it is my daily work. I want a reliable solution. Will be really thankful if someone suggests a safe and quick solution.

URGENT! My emails are from 5 roadrunner.com (former mail.twc.com) New owner Spectrum is closing us out of our accounts. How can I protect my 15 GB of emails?? Will they disappear if I can no longer access roadrunner? I'm not sure if the server will be swept, but it's in the works. Please tell me how I can bulk save these lifetime of emails...fast! Thank you! p.s. I am computer illiterate and very nervous! I will appreciate step-by-step. (I thought I was safe downloading them to my computer with Thunderbird, but now I think I need to do more to secure them locally.....thank you!

10 Nov.

The version of Thunderbird I currently have on my Dell desktop is possibly corrupted. Dell Premium Support is trying to help me. I currently cannot send or receive e-mail through Thunderbird. Dell technician wants to install new version of Thunderbird. Then he wants to create a back up of all my current Thunderbird e-mail, and of all my local folders, including their contents. Then he would export the data from the back up and import it onto the new version of Thunderbird.

Please explain how to create a back up of all Thunderbird data.

I have read some information on how to create back up of Thunderbird Profile. However, this is apparently not a back up of all the e-mail itself, plus all the local folders and their contents. Thank you.

I want to use Thunderbird to read saved offline messages stored in mbox files, delete messages I no longer need, and then resave to mbox format. How do I do this? I just downloaded Thunderbird and am struggling to use the help articles and forums to find instructions.

Hi, I'm unable to extract the emails using the ImportExportTools NG add-on. I tried right-clicking on the local file under Local Folders, using the ImportExportTools NG > Export All Messages to Folder > CSV Format steps. However, after loading emails partially, I am getting the following error code repeatedly. Can you please help understand what is the issue and how to resolve this? I have 62175 emails that I need to export.

[Exception... "Component returned failure code: 0x804b0002 (NS_BINDING_ABORTED) [nsIScriptableInputStream.available]" nsresult: "0x804b0002 (NS_BINDING_ABORTED)" location: "JS frame :: chrome://mboximport/content/mboximport/exportTools.js :: IETstoreBody :: line 2767" data: no]

IETstoreBody@chrome://mboximport/content/mboximport/exportTools.js:2767:20 IETstoreHeaders@chrome://mboximport/content/mboximport/exportTools.js:2714:10 exportAllMsgsDelayed@chrome://mboximport/content/mboximport/exportTools.js:826:32

Hello, I’m experiencing an issue when saving email messages as .eml files from Thunderbird.

When I save a message to a network storage folder (for example, a shared drive or NAS), the file seems to save correctly, but when I try to reopen it later, the content is completely blank — the message body is missing.

If I save the same email to my desktop or a local folder, the file opens perfectly and displays all content as expected.

Environment details:

Thunderbird version: 140.3.1esr

Operating system: Windows 11

Network storage type: NAS

Has anyone else experienced this issue? Could this be related to file permissions, encoding, or how Thunderbird handles .eml files on network paths?

Thank you for your help!

My laptop fried and I have it currently in the computer ER. They are attempting to salvage the information from the hard drive, but it my take a week to complete this process. I have purchased a new laptop and I am close to completing loading just about everything. I have installed Thunderbird, but because I did not have a clean backup I have no local recovery for Thunderbird. Is there by any chance a way that there could be a way to find a recovery file for my Thunderbird? Rebuilding the calendar and the address book is going to be like walking in 4 feet of soft sand at high tide at the beach.

Thank you, Richard Germain

Hi, I've set up TB successfully on a new PC and been using it a while. Then I noticed my local folders archive group of subfolders was missing. I followed some instructions about moving local folders file across from the old to the new version.

Now I see the individual archive folders without the folder group name 'archive'.

Also, there are a couple of other files not visible on the new platform although they were in the original installation local files and were copied across.

I was careful to ensure the same version running on both PCs. Also that TB was closed when copying files across.

Any pointers appreciated!

First I beg your indulgence for my approximative enclise ! Some years ago I used thunderbird on an old MacBook Pro getting mails from pop servers. Indeed I can do an export of thèse mails but I have some questions : First : does an export contains my 2 accounts ? Second : how can i see thèse export ? Must I réinstall Thunderbird and import ? Must I keep pop access or can I use imap ? Is there a reader of thèse exports ???? Your expérience will be a good help

I have my gmail account on Thunderbird on Windows 10 and Pop_OS. The Windows has local folders the Pop does not. What happens to the emails on the machine without? I was trying to make room on Windows for a dualboot. I copied everthing to usb then accidentally deleted my user files. 1)How do I recover the local folders from the usb? And/or 2)Do I even need to since I have Thunderbird on Pop? My concern is that, since I set up local folders on Windows, that those emails never got sent to the Pop machine. Otherwise, they all might be there and I just have to locate them which means I don't have to restore the Windows emails.

Hi, I have used Mozilla Thunderbird to receive my emails from Google's gmail for several years now. I have created many folders in Thunderbird, to store many of my incoming emails in. Recently, I had to purchase a new computer with Windows 11 installed, as I had used Windows 10 for many years on my old, now outdated computer. Is there a way to retrieve my folders from Thunderbird, so that I can have them on my new computer, or are they lost forever? I have my hard drive from my old computer, so would they be on that hard drive somewhere? Thank you.