Thunderbird Community Forum

To be really useful to me I need Thunderbird to be able to read my Outlook pst-files.

For years my practice has been to move emails from the ost-file to the pst-file too limit the size of the ost-file. Both files are localized on my computer but only the emails in the ost-file are in my gmail-account. So the method helps me limit the size of my gmail-account but still gives me total access to my email-history.

Without a similar possibility in Thunderbird it's difficult for me to leave Outlook, which I really want to. Can you help me?

Hi, I had/have an IMAP account at my ISP Host, with TB connecting to.

There has been a number of occasions where I have used the Servers IMAP copy of emails as a back up, and from memory am sure that when connecting a fresh client, all emails/folders etc updated and down loaded from the server > client, in fact nothing got deleted on either side, and both sides synced.

My host (Fasthosts - I will name and shame) deleted my whole IMAP account by mistake.

They hastily re-instated just the package but all the emails had been wiped from the server.

I did though have a full copy of all emails on my TB IMAP client.

When I reconnected my client to the server after the re-instatement, i expected my clients emails to upload to the server, but instead they 'vanished' - and I have nothing but empty folders.

Am I able to recover any of these emails from my client, ie are they sitting in a file/folder still ??

TB has restarted a number of times since, and I fear the folder may have been compacted, but I cannot be sure.

Thoughts appreciated.

In reference to the article [[Knowledge Base Article|http://mzl.la/1ApHiU3]], "Move Thunderbird data to a new computer", this misses the transfer of Local Folders.

The instructions only include moving the Thunderbird application data folder with profile information but does not include Local Folders, after completing these instructions the Local Folders will not be present on the new computer.

The path for Local Folders is under Account Settings > Local Folders, this folder needs to be copied to the similar path on the new computer as well.

I have copied emails from a Windows 10 to Windows 11 computer using these instructions and it appears to work.

Здравствуйте!

Пытаюсь подключить Яндекс.Почту к Thunderbird, чтобы скачать письма с Яндекса на компьютер.

Проблема такая: при добавлении аккаунта Яндекс.Почты в Thunderbird меня почему-то перебрасывает на авторизацию Google. Возможно, это связано с тем, что ранее почта была мигрирована на Google-аккаунт с таким же адресом и доменом, либо ящик Яндекса сейчас неактивен (он не оплачен, там просто старые письма лежат) — точно не понимаю.

Подскажите, пожалуйста:

Почему при подключении Яндекс.Почты Thunderbird может открывать Google-авторизацию? Можно ли принудительно подключить Яндекс.Почту вручную? Если ящик Яндекса был ранее связан/мигрирован с Google, есть ли способ всё равно скачать письма именно с Яндекса?

Моя цель — получить локальный архив писем с Яндекс.Почты на компьютере. Буду благодарна за пошаговую инструкцию, что проверить и как правильно настроить подключение.

While importing a Gmail account, I ended with three Trash folders, only one of which I could delete. Trash goes automatically into the top folder, but bottom one says it's a system folder and can't be deleted. How do I consolidate into the one that Trash automatically goes into, which should be the top one, please?

I have an old(er) Thunderbird file - we were not able to get the system running so we just plugged in the hard drive and zipped it (not with Thunderbird, just zipped the raw files - see attached) and I have tried all three methods that Gemini spit out to me (#3 looks like what I have seen on the forums here) and the bext I can do is get the first message to pop up (out of about 500+) and can't see the others. Using Thunderbird on the new machine and also tried the ImportNG tool as well. I can't loose this collection, very important. Although the old machine does not work, I still have access to the hard drive if I need more "stuff" off of it. Not sure what the old version of Thunderbird was but the box was last used in Jan 2019 and setup originally around 2008. Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Hello,

I have been using Thunderbird only occasionally for backing up Google emails after which I delete the emails from Google. I am thinking of using Thunderbird permanently but there are things I'm not sure about.

1). Does Thunderbird automatically integrate Google Take Out mbox files automatically into one email list? When I start Thunderbird, I see files that I have uploaded to Thunderbird (on two occasions in the past and these were mbox files from Google Take Out) but these files are empty. (screenshot attached). When I select the "all mail" folder all of the mails saved since 2005 appear to be there.

2). Does Thunderbird save attachments or only the emails themselves?

I would be grateful for some help so that I can optimise my working with Thunderbird.

Best wishes

DanZ

From my local folder of emails in Thunderbird, I am able to extract to .CSV and see fields in Excel. While date and time and sender and receiver and subject fields work successfully I don't see the email body coming through. How do I achieve this please?

I managed to append switch values to get the Time field included as part of my extract but the email bogy, or even a truncated part of it eludes me. I understand that some of my email body fields are substantial but currently my repeated exports show nothing. Formats other than CSV would be welcome if they can solve my problem.

This morning I noticed that all emails prior to May 1 were missing from folders that I created. I assumed (incorrectly) that they were in the sbd file that I backed up in April. So I moved that file into the proper destination location but nothing popped up. I then restored the old sbd file back and now I don't even see any the the folders that I created. Note: when I click on the sbd file I do see the folders but they don't appear under Local Folders I've googled and used AI....no luck

My email was rossmann@telkomsa.net My husband died on 25 May 2023 and telkom closed his account. I opened a gmail account. I am now wanting to open a few emails from 2022 regarding contracts but Thunderbird obviously only has my old email. Please could you assist me Kind regards, Chrissie Rossmann

I had to reset my Windows 10 computer and lost all apps and files.  I have attempted to download Thunderbird to replace the one that was lost.  I had hoped to regain my old emails and files but that is beyond my abilities.  I am a senior citizen [81 years] and have been using Thunderbird along with Earthlink mail [which has been recovered along with some of my emails] for over 25 years.  I also recovered Mozilla Firefox [with my bookmarks].  Now I need to recover my Thunderbird account with my emails and files.  There were many years of emails and files in Thunderbird.  Earthlink mail sent me a link on my cell phone that only required me to touch it to install it on my Dell computer.  I did not set up my computer many years ago and the man who did set it up is now deceased so I cannot go to him for help.  If you can send me a link with which I can recover my thunderbird account along with my files and emails I would be eternally grateful.  My cell phone number is [edited phone# from public community support forum].  HELP!!!  PLEASE!  Thank you very much and GOD Bless You.    Janice Chelf,  San Antonio, Texas

System:

Win 11 Home (lastest updates, also my notebook's latest updates from the manufacturer) Thunderbird version 151.0

Okay, this is a multiple clusterf#@$.

I ended up needing to do a Win 11 Home "reset" keeping data. But I needed to back up some files first. But my back up drive was full. Usually, it's because of EaseUs ToDo not deleting files and just adding and adding to the system backup. But that wasn't the main issue: my Thunderbird profile (which I backup separately) was about 280 GIGABYTES in size! This is an extension of a prior problem for which nobody on here new how to solve and certainly nobody from Mozilla chimed in to help. So I did what I'd done before (but it'd never been like this) and delected a couple of THOUSAND seemingly redundant iterations of files from my profile, but NONE of the folders inside the profile.

Of course the Win11 reset deleted Thunderbird and all the profile information. No big problem, I've done this before...but it didn't work copying in all of the old files (from my backup drive) into a new profile and selecting that profile to boot. So, I went to the "Recycle Bin", undeleted all of those files back into my backed-up profile. But I'm only able to get Thunderbird to see all of my address book information. It is not finding my Thunderbird and email account settings nor my email messages (21 years worth). I 100% did NOT delete my email messages (c:\users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\PROFILENAME\Mail).

I can laboriously redo my email account information (five different accounts) and Thunderbird user settings, but I really DESPERATELY NEED HELP restoring my email messages.

PLEASE PLEASE HELP ME!

i got 20 odd years of folder structures and import from old outlook only imports 2 of the 12 sub folders this is just one example, its also only import bits and pieces. see snip

it also import supid hotam crap i dont want

The newest version of Thunderbird wiped out the stored files from the previous version by making me create a new identity. I have tried several times to use "import" to retrieve backed up data from the old version, but without success, even after I re-installed an earlier version of Thunderbird. Each time I use the "import" feature I get a message that it failed unexpectedly. I need these old e-mails because they contain receipts for charitable donations that I need because my tax returns are being audited. What can I do?

I’ve set up a new email service type, IMAP, to take the place of my old POP email. The POP email doesn’t have a synchronization and storage feature, so I’m wondering: First, how can I combine the old POP emails with the new IMAP address; and second, how do I transfer DRAFTS and SENT EMAILS from the old to the new one?

I’ve set up a new email service type, IMAP, to take the place of my old POP email. The POP email doesn’t have a synchronization and storage feature, so I’m wondering: First, how can I combine the old POP emails with the new IMAP address; and second, how do I transfer drafts and sent emails from the old to the new one?

I have one desktop using LINUX MINT with its issues. using Thunderbird mail program. I also have a DELL laptop WIN 11 using Thunderbird.

Is it possible to sync the two (2) accounts to save emails on bothe CPUs?

Regards,

Christopher

I have saved my selected emails in different folders under Local Folder based on the subject of the email. Now I do not see one such folder where I had saved several emails for that particular subject/topic. Need step-by-step to restore that FOLDER from C:\users\myname\AppData\ ???

My issue described may not be Accessibility I chose in Topic above as that was the closest to match. Basically I am missing that Folder as I might have accidentally deleted from the current file that displays when I click open Thunderbird Mail.

I would appreciate detailed instructions on how to transfer emails currently in my "roundcube" email account to my mozilla thunderbird emal account (I would like to have my old emails transported to the mozilla account).

Sorry for long post. Struggling to get backup done, running out of time and other things in life now getting really urgent . Got my Yahoo Mail headache again today. Please can someone advise me? Thunderbird 150.0.2, Mac OS 10.15 7 Catalina, 2018 Macbook Pro.

Not tech-savvy so finding it hard to find what settings to use in TB. Other people's post answers always seem to show dialog options I'm not seeing on my computer

AIMS: - Prevent folders from deleting in my backup, if I delete stuff on Yahoo. - Backup Yahoo emails to a stable, local copy on an external drive, so I can access old emails + attachments independently without it trying to reconnect / synch with Yahoo Mail - After backup, delete more mail to reduce YM storage from 39GB to less than 15. Feel reluctant to do this yet, as I already lost a big folder of work from my backup by trying to muddle my way through this. - Ideally would like to end up with a local copy I can access in Mail Backup X What I've tried; - Backup using Mail Backup X. Took 18 hours and some large folders were incomplete so I tried again after splitting them up in Yahoo Mail. I liked the software but something went wrong on the 2nd try and it now won't connect to Yahoo at all. Deleted and replaced 3rd party password multiple times. Server details are accepted, but then the icon just spins endlessly, hence trying Tbird instead. Deleted the MBX account which meant no error logs available (Yes. I should not have done that). - Tried both IMAP and POP backup using TBird - have added TBird ImportExport add-on but have no idea what settings to use, advice welcomed Questions/assumptions that may be wrong: - Was advised to use server export.imap.mail.yahoo.com, what's the reason for this and would it work? Can't remember if Yahoo allowed me to enter this setting. Sorry, hard to recall as I tried so many times. - POP only backs up 1 folder - Inbox. Really?? that's not a solution then - TBird's default is IMAP so surely it would always try and connect to synch, and so would any copied backup accounts? - if I get the ImportExport add-on settings right, can I *really* achieve the goal of a local offline backup I can trust, that I could keep on an external drive and access later via Mail Backup X?