Windows 10 reached EOS (end of support) on October 14, 2025. If you are on Windows 10, see this article.

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
Arkivert

How do I remove an account without deleting email on my Gmail server?

Wayne Mery replied
bmichaels

Hello,

I entered my email upon opening Thunderbird for the first time. I did not realise it would start downloading my email contents right away. How do I remove my account on Thunderbird without deleting all my emails on Gmail?

I am only using Thunderbird to import old emails from another account, so I don't like the fact it started downloading all my emails...

Thank you for your help!

B

Hello, I entered my email upon opening Thunderbird for the first time. I did not realise it would start downloading my email contents right away. How do I remove my account on Thunderbird without deleting all my emails on Gmail? I am only using Thunderbird to import old emails from another account, so I don't like the fact it started downloading all my emails... Thank you for your help! B

All Replies (3)

bmichaels said

I entered my email upon opening Thunderbird for the first time. I did not realise it would start downloading my email contents right away. How do I remove my account on Thunderbird without deleting all my emails on Gmail?

Just remove the account from Thunderbird at Options (or Tools) | Account Settings

bmichaels said

I am only using Thunderbird to import old emails from another account, so I don't like the fact it started downloading all my emails...

Why then did you specify the email account? :)

So if I press "remove account" it will not delete all my emails off of my account? I've read other messages saying that "remove account" deletes everything off of the email server, and I just want to remove everything off my computer, not my email...

Wayne Mery said

bmichaels said
I entered my email upon opening Thunderbird for the first time. I did not realise it would start downloading my email contents right away. How do I remove my account on Thunderbird without deleting all my emails on Gmail?

Just remove the account from Thunderbird at Options (or Tools) | Account Settings

bmichaels said

I am only using Thunderbird to import old emails from another account, so I don't like the fact it started downloading all my emails...

Why then did you specify the email account? :)

Because I thought I would be prompted whether I want the emails downloaded onto my computer or not. It started downloading all my emails right away.

bmichaels said

So if I press "remove account" it will not delete all my emails off of my account?

Correct.