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Lolu chungechunge lwabekwa kunqolobane. Uyacelwa ubuze umbuzo omusha uma udinga usizo.

Importing an old "INBOX" file, from the app data folder, to my Gmail account, using Thunderbird

  • 3 uphendule
  • 0 zinale nkinga
  • 8 views
  • Igcine ukuphendulwa ngu Josef

Josef
Josef
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I have an INBOX file (no file extension) that I want to be imported to Gmail. The emails in the file are from the same Gmail account, but Google started deleting these emails because I was running out of storage. I tried using the import tool, but it wouldn't import any of the IMAP emails, only local mail. I also tried using an import extension, that was recommended for IMAP/"INBOX" files, but it wouldn't work. My Thunderbird is the incorrect version for it I think. These emails were from when I was using Thunderbird on Linux, but I am now using Thunderbird on Windows. Anyone got any idea how I can import these to Gmail? I can read the emails on the file on Notepad but it's 16 million+ lines, so obviously easier to export. The file is currently under the directory "F:\RANDOMGUY400-PC RESTORE\.thunderbird\70qiifp5.default-release\ImapMail\imap.gmail.com"

I have an INBOX file (no file extension) that I want to be imported to Gmail. The emails in the file are from the same Gmail account, but Google started deleting these emails because I was running out of storage. I tried using the import tool, but it wouldn't import any of the IMAP emails, only local mail. I also tried using an import extension, that was recommended for IMAP/"INBOX" files, but it wouldn't work. My Thunderbird is the incorrect version for it I think. These emails were from when I was using Thunderbird on Linux, but I am now using Thunderbird on Windows. Anyone got any idea how I can import these to Gmail? I can read the emails on the file on Notepad but it's 16 million+ lines, so obviously easier to export. The file is currently under the directory "F:\RANDOMGUY400-PC RESTORE\.thunderbird\70qiifp5.default-release\ImapMail\imap.gmail.com"

All Replies (3)

david
david
  • Top 10 Contributor
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I am no IMAP guru, but IMAP accounts sync from server-to-PC. If you attempt to use that profile 'as is', Thunderbird may delete the messages. My suggestion would be to copy the message folders to Mail/Local folders while Thunderbird isn't running, as that would save the messages.

sfhowes
sfhowes
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Copy INBOX to the Mail/Local Folders location of the profile folder, with TB closed. Restart TB and confirm the folder appears under Local Folders in the Folder Pane, and the folder's messages are readable.

The next step, to upload the messages to an IMAP Inbox or any other folder, is not straightforward. See this topic: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1400416

Josef
Josef Umnikazi wombuzo
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Thanks, after copying the INBOX file to the local mail folder, I was able to read what was inside, and find that all the emails within (from what I saw) were already in my Gmail, so there's no need to import them. It may have been synced after emails had been deleted, or no emails were deleted, contrary to what Google told me. Thanks for all your help people.