Moving Thunderbird data from Win 10 to Win 11 computer
I am having trouble moving Thunderbird data from one computer to another. The first computer is Windows 10 32-bit that has been running T-Bird 140.3.0esr for several years. The second is Windows 11 64-bit running T-Bird's latest version. I tried both procedures cited in the Mozilla article at https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/moving-thunderbird-data-to-a-new-computer.
I first did the 2nd method cited -- Win 10 to Win 11. It worked but the new computer is missing Local Folders and contacts organized as groups.
I then did the 1st procedure cited, using copy and paste commands. It did not work at all and now T-Bird will not load. I get this message: "Your Thunderbird profile cannot be loaded. It may be missing or inaccessible."
So, different operating systems with different bit specs and different T-Bird versions.
I thought of updating the Win 10 computer to T-Bird's current version and then doing the Win-10-to-Win-11 copy/move procedure but thought it best to ask here first. Thanks for any help.
Ọ̀nà àbáyọ tí a yàn
Which means you're doing something incorrectly. Here are specific details for option two and these steps have been reliable for many on the forum:
Here is the link for moving a profile in Windows when installed in default location:
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/moving-thunderbird-data-to-a-new-computer
here is the info in brief steps:
- ensure thunderbird is NOT running on old machine
- enter %appdata% in search window on task bar and press Enter key
- this should open windows file explorer in Appdata\roaming folder
- highlight the Thunderbird folder and copy to external media
- ensure thunderbird is installed on second computer and NOT running
- enter %appdata% in search window on task bar and press Enter key
- you should be in Appdata\roaming folder , copy&paste the exported Thunderbird folder there. This MUST prompt to overwrite an existing folder of same name. allow it
- start thunderbird and all should be there
All Replies (3)
Ọ̀nà àbáyọ Tí a Yàn
Which means you're doing something incorrectly. Here are specific details for option two and these steps have been reliable for many on the forum:
Here is the link for moving a profile in Windows when installed in default location:
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/moving-thunderbird-data-to-a-new-computer
here is the info in brief steps:
- ensure thunderbird is NOT running on old machine
- enter %appdata% in search window on task bar and press Enter key
- this should open windows file explorer in Appdata\roaming folder
- highlight the Thunderbird folder and copy to external media
- ensure thunderbird is installed on second computer and NOT running
- enter %appdata% in search window on task bar and press Enter key
- you should be in Appdata\roaming folder , copy&paste the exported Thunderbird folder there. This MUST prompt to overwrite an existing folder of same name. allow it
- start thunderbird and all should be there
David, thank you very much. My error was in copying only the Profiles folder, not all of the Thunderbird folders.
FWIW: When I keyed %appdata% into the task bar of my wife's new Win 11 computer I got a Bing search which offered several viseos about %appdata% instead of being taken to the directory location. Apparently the latest version of Win 11 is set to search the internet instead of the directory. I got around this by using the Windows key + R to get the command line where I entered %appdata%. Google later told me the old task bar function can be restored if you go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Search Permissions and disable the "Show search highlights" option. But I haven't tried that.
Puzzling. I use win 11 and the search window on task bar takes me directly to appdata\roaming when I enter %appdata% But thanks for that feedback. Good to know. :)
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