Avatar for Username

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

Thunderbird migration

Tim S
Tim S
more options

I am trying to migrate Thunderbird from a back-up (bootable) external drive to a new laptop. The OS is Mac Catalina 10.15.5.

I have tried to follow the instructions in troubleshooting; I copied everything under Thunderbird in my library on the backup disk, installed Thunderbird on the new MacBook Air, then, with Thunderbird shut down, I copied all the info to the new machine. This included the profil.ini file, and the profile itself.

But, when I restart Th., it assumes that I do not have an email account (I had originally set one up after installation), makes me set one up, and then apparently adds a new default profile, and modifies the profile.ini file. It is very complicated, with about seven entries. I see my old profile in there, but do not see how to modify profil.ini to make it the default. With all the Locked=1's, paths, etc.

Thanks for all help!

I am trying to migrate Thunderbird from a back-up (bootable) external drive to a new laptop. The OS is Mac Catalina 10.15.5. I have tried to follow the instructions in troubleshooting; I copied everything under Thunderbird in my library on the backup disk, installed Thunderbird on the new MacBook Air, then, with Thunderbird shut down, I copied all the info to the new machine. This included the profil.ini file, and the profile itself. But, when I restart Th., it assumes that I do not have an email account (I had originally set one up after installation), makes me set one up, and then apparently adds a new default profile, and modifies the profile.ini file. It is very complicated, with about seven entries. I see my old profile in there, but do not see how to modify profil.ini to make it the default. With all the Locked=1's, paths, etc. Thanks for all help!

All Replies (2)

Tim S
Tim S Question owner
more options

OK, I figured it out. Just copied the whole /Library/Thunderbird folder to the MacBook, then restarted the machine before starting Thunderbird. Duh!

Paul Littlefield
Paul Littlefield
more options

Actually, I am getting the same problem.

I have a macOS laptop and have upgraded from TB 68 to 78.

When lanched, TB started with a fresh profile and guided me through the 'use old profile' screen - which I set as the 'default' profile and restarted TB.

Alas, it does not start with my existing profile automatically - and everything I have tried (like editing the profiles.ini file and removing all the '-release' profiles in the Terminal have failed.

I have 'fudged' it by creating a desktop launcher in macOS to launch TB with -P cmncjduegeg.default

Can anyone guide me how to make the standard macOS button in the dock launch my profile please?