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Transfer Thurderbird to a new compuetr

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  • Last reply by david

robinm16
robinm16
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Hello, Firstly, thanks for having Thunderbird. I have used it for many years (and give ongoing support). I have changed my computer and am having a tough time getting my email folders over to the new installation. The following are the key points.

  • I suspect that the version on my old computer is different from the current version I have just downloaded and installed.
  • I like to UI of the new version better.
  • I have tried BOTH the step-by-step (copy and paste) version of transfer AND the Import version - but neither worked.
  • The Inbox transferred over BUT NOT the local folders.

Any ideas?

Sincerely, Robin McLeod

Hello, Firstly, thanks for having Thunderbird. I have used it for many years (and give ongoing support). I have changed my computer and am having a tough time getting my email folders over to the new installation. The following are the key points. * I suspect that the version on my old computer is different from the current version I have just downloaded and installed. * I like to UI of the new version better. * I have tried BOTH the step-by-step (copy and paste) version of transfer AND the Import version - but neither worked. * The Inbox transferred over BUT NOT the local folders. Any ideas? Sincerely, Robin McLeod

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david
david
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Here is the link for moving a profile in Windows when installed in default location: 

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/moving-thunderbird-data-to-a-new-computer

here is the info in brief steps:

  1. ensure thunderbird is NOT running on old machine <== IMPORTANT
  2. enter %appdata% in search window on task bar and press Enter key
  3. this should open windows file explorer in Appdata\roaming folder
  4. highlight the Thunderbird folder and copy to external media
  5. ensure thunderbird is installed on second computer and NOT running <== ALSO IMPORTANT
  6. enter %appdata% in search window on task bar and press Enter key
  7. you should be in Appdata\roaming folder , copy&paste the exported Thunderbird folder there. This may prompt to overwrite an existing folder of same name. allow it
  8. start thunderbird and all should be there

These steps have worked well. The process is to copy the full profile and associated files at once. These steps do that.

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