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

Thunderbird failed to find profile

  • 3 iimpendulo
  • 0 inale ngxaki
  • 179 views
  • Impendulo yokugqibela ngu Wayne Mery
  • Esonjuliweyo

I am running Thunderbird vers 127 (I think) on Win 10. When I try to start it all I get is the error -

"A newer version of Thunderbird may have made changes to your profile which are no longer compatible with this older version. Use this profile only with that newer version, or create a new profile for this installation of Thunderbird. Creating a new profile requires setting up your accounts, calendars and add-ons again..".

How do I get back to my profile? All was fine until May 7th when I went on hols but but this happened when I tried to restart on 19th May (so don't think it has updated to vers 128)

Any help much appreciated as this is a complicated profile and would take an age to re-build. (I have got a coy of the relevant profile as a backup)

I am running Thunderbird vers 127 (I think) on Win 10. When I try to start it all I get is the error - "A newer version of Thunderbird may have made changes to your profile which are no longer compatible with this older version. Use this profile only with that newer version, or create a new profile for this installation of Thunderbird. Creating a new profile requires setting up your accounts, calendars and add-ons again..". How do I get back to my profile? All was fine until May 7th when I went on hols but but this happened when I tried to restart on 19th May (so don't think it has updated to vers 128) Any help much appreciated as this is a complicated profile and would take an age to re-build. (I have got a coy of the relevant profile as a backup)

Isisombulu esikhethiweyo

re:"A newer version of Thunderbird may have made changes to your profile which are no longer compatible with this older version.

That means you were previously using a newer version than the one you have currently got installed.

Try this:

I'm assuming you are using a Windows OS and have used a Thunderbird installation from this link so profile is in the default location. https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/thunderbird/all/

  1. Exit Thunderbird
  2. In windows search bottom left of screen type: %Appdata% - see image as guide
  3. Select the %Appdata% file folder option
  4. Select 'Roaming'
  5. Select 'Thunderbird'
  6. Select the original profile name
  7. Look for this file and delete it : 'compatibility.ini'
  8. Start Thunderbird.
Funda le mpendulo kwimeko leyo 👍 0

All Replies (3)

Woops, just realised it must have attempted to instal vers 128; all program files & folders are dated 13 or 16 May, so now what?!!!

Terry

Isisombululo esiKhethiweyo

re:"A newer version of Thunderbird may have made changes to your profile which are no longer compatible with this older version.

That means you were previously using a newer version than the one you have currently got installed.

Try this:

I'm assuming you are using a Windows OS and have used a Thunderbird installation from this link so profile is in the default location. https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/thunderbird/all/

  1. Exit Thunderbird
  2. In windows search bottom left of screen type: %Appdata% - see image as guide
  3. Select the %Appdata% file folder option
  4. Select 'Roaming'
  5. Select 'Thunderbird'
  6. Select the original profile name
  7. Look for this file and delete it : 'compatibility.ini'
  8. Start Thunderbird.

What does your update history show, found at Help > Troubleshooting Information > Show Update History?