Do you mean local folders? That is, folders that are not part of an email account? If they are TB email folders, you can set them into TB by first defining them within TB as placeholders and then (with TB shut down, copying the actual folders to overwrite the placeholder files. Spelling of file names must be exact. Okay, what I just wrote may not apply, and that may help you define what you are attempting.

so how do you set up placeholders?

Lets start with is the account IMAP or POP? If it is IMAP subscription to folders is required (right click the account and select subscribe)

Hi Matt its POP

This is so frustrating as my gmail folders popped up as soon as I reloaded Thunderbird!!

Hi Matt its POP This is so frustrating as my gmail folders popped up as soon as I reloaded Thunderbird!!

And your gmail will be IMAP. Your basic assumption is they are on your computer. What makes you think that? I see nothing where you copied files and folders from your previous device.

If you did, are you using the profile you copied? your "ongoing problem" with Thunderbird is generally 1. User is not using the profile they copied. 2. User has not actually copied anything. They expect it to just appear. 3. User assumes some sort of device synchronization that does not occur. Cloud computing has a lot to answer for.

So exactly what did you do? then we can start working forward to correct whatever is necessary.

Problem started with having to reset my computer due to a problem. When I reloaded Thunderbird my storage folder was gone. When I look at Trouble shooting info - profile folder and set up another profile using aytt3f3c.default-release and another tnntejsx.default changing the set as default nothing changes.

When I look at file explorer it takes me to those files, see screen shot attached.

As an aside, when I reloaded Thunderbird i didnt know there was a check box this was automatically checked saying delete all email older the 14 days, so im not a happy camper