Yes, it can be done, but there are several steps involved. Is this a POP account? If so, are you wanting to merge old and new? That could produce some duplicates. Share the details of what you want to do and I (or someone) will respond

David,

Yes, it's a POP account. The old and new messages are in the same account. I just now see some suggested topics on the right side of my screen, one of which is "How to merge profiles in Thunderbird." I'll have to take a look at that. Perhaps it will tell me how to do it.

Illinichip

That’s a common situation and definitely possible to fix. You can manually copy the mail folders (like Inbox, Sent, etc.) from the backup profile into the new one using a tool like ImportExportTools NG in Thunderbird. Just make sure to back everything up before merging.

Thanks Ethan. So I can't just cut and paste the mail folders from the backup profile to the new one? The Import/Export tool must be used?

Yes, that also works. We rarely suggest it because so many users are uncomfortable with windows file explorer. Do this when thunderbird is not running. If you want to MERGE the folders, then you would need the importexport addon to do that rather easily.

But copy to LOCAL FOLDERS, not to the account folder.

Thanks David. I'll have to take one step at a time. After I get my new computer set up, the first issue will be migrating the old profile to the new computer. Then I'll worry about merging with the second profile developed on my 2nd old computer.

Should I copy the old profile to the new computer before I even download T-bird? Or is downloading T-bird and establishing my account the first step, and then replacing the newly created profile with the old?

Suggestion: set up thunderbird and then click tools>import>import from another thunderbird installation and at the next screen, click 'choose a profile folder.' Once thunderbird is stable, you can import or copy the message folders from the other profile to your Local Folders folder. If you then want to merge the old and new input and sent folders, post back when first steps are done.

Okay, I'll do that. It may be another day or two.

My server just merged with a larger company. It shut out my Thunderbird account.........when I was able to get it working, ALL OF MY EMAIL ADDRESSES disappeared from my ALL OF MY ADDRESS books. I need them BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How do I recover them????????????????????

Please inform..................

[edited] @echoes.net [edited email and phone# from public community support forum]

- Find an old profile folder - the addresses are in two files: abook.sqlite and history.sqlite - close thunderbird and, in windows file explorer, copy and paste them into your active profile. - to get to the active profile, click help>troubleshootinginformation, scroll to 'profile folder', click 'open folder' and then exit thunderbird prior to the copy/paste . you will probably be prompted for an overwrite. allow it.

Yes, that also works. We rarely suggest it because so many users are uncomfortable with windows file explorer. Do this when thunderbird is not running. If you want to MERGE the folders, then you would need the importexport addon to do that rather easily.

Please explain how to use the importexport addon. I'm closing my office and moving everything to my home, and need to merge my TB office emails to my home TB file. Thanks.

If the office account is IMAP, first do this: File>offline>download to ensure that all messages are on the PC. If menu bar is not visible, click the alt key first. Now, with the importexport addon installed, do this:

1. highlight a desired folder to export
2. rightclick and select the importexport option to export messages in EML format
3. save to external media
4. repeat the above for each desired folder

On the receiving PC, do this:

1. highlight a folder to which you want to merge exported messages
2. rightclick and select the importexport option to import EML messages
3. repeat for each folder