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Thunderbird won't move/copy old messages in defunct email account

  • 2 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 142 views
  • Last reply by jm

jm
jm
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I have an IMAP email account that is now defunct, thanks to my former university deleting that username. I have lots of emails there I want to save, but I can't copy or move them. I can access them currently, since there are clearly locally stored copies of the emails--I'm prompted for a password, but when I hit cancel, it shows the full text of the email or the full contents of a folder anyway.

When I drag and drop or select "Copy to..." nothing happens--no response of any kind, no sign of working in the background. Any recommendations? I'd love to remove this account so I don't get a password prompt every time I check email.

Thunderbird 68.3.0 on Debian 10

I have an IMAP email account that is now defunct, thanks to my former university deleting that username. I have lots of emails there I want to save, but I can't copy or move them. I can access them currently, since there are clearly locally stored copies of the emails--I'm prompted for a password, but when I hit cancel, it shows the full text of the email or the full contents of a folder anyway. When I drag and drop or select "Copy to..." nothing happens--no response of any kind, no sign of working in the background. Any recommendations? I'd love to remove this account so I don't get a password prompt every time I check email. Thunderbird 68.3.0 on Debian 10

Chosen solution

If you have mbox files then try this.

Exit Thunderbird.

Access profile folders. ~/.mozilla-thunderbird<Profile name>.

In ~/.mozilla-thunderbird<Profile name>/ ImapMail/'imap mail account folder': Copy the mbox file (no extension) - do not use 'Move' - just 'Copy'

Access : ~/.mozilla-thunderbird<Profile name>/ Mail/'Local Folders' folder'. Paste the mbox file into 'Local Folders' folder.

Start Thunderbird Look under 'Local Folders' mail account. Do you see folders with emails.

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All Replies (2)

Toad-Hall
Toad-Hall
  • Top 25 Contributor
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Chosen Solution

If you have mbox files then try this.

Exit Thunderbird.

Access profile folders. ~/.mozilla-thunderbird<Profile name>.

In ~/.mozilla-thunderbird<Profile name>/ ImapMail/'imap mail account folder': Copy the mbox file (no extension) - do not use 'Move' - just 'Copy'

Access : ~/.mozilla-thunderbird<Profile name>/ Mail/'Local Folders' folder'. Paste the mbox file into 'Local Folders' folder.

Start Thunderbird Look under 'Local Folders' mail account. Do you see folders with emails.

jm
jm Question owner
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I followed your directions and was able to find the files (no extension) that were the message data for all the different folders. It was a maze, and there were strangely a number of duplicates (maybe from times when I had to change my mail server for that account?), but I found everything eventually.

Once I copied them to Local Folders I could move and organize them as needed. Thanks!