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How to disable but not remove an e-mail account

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  • Last reply by Dandelion

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I recently terminated one of my old Juno accounts.

I want to set it so that Thunderbird no longer attempts to log in to that account, while keeping (not removing) the account so that I may continue to access the large collection of e-mails I have stored in that account.

Right now Thunderbird keeps informing me it cannot successfully log in to the account, and I want it to stop trying. How to do this?

Thanks,

Dandelion

I recently terminated one of my old Juno accounts. I want to set it so that Thunderbird no longer attempts to log in to that account, while keeping (not removing) the account so that I may continue to access the large collection of e-mails I have stored in that account. Right now Thunderbird keeps informing me it cannot successfully log in to the account, and I want it to stop trying. How to do this? Thanks, Dandelion

Chosen solution

If this is a pop mail account have you tried these settings:

  • Right click on pop juno account name in Folder Pane and select 'Settings'
  • Select 'Server Settings'
  • uncheck 'check for new messages at startup'
  • uncheck 'Check for new messages every x mnutes'
  • uncheck 'Automatically download new messages'

Restart Thunderbird.

Alternative option: Use the 'Local Folders' mail account as the email storage for the old juno account. Once verified that all emails are copied into Local Folders mail account, you can remove the old juno account.

As this would probably mean moving a lot folders and emails, I would suggest you do it using either an addon tool called 'ImportExportTools NG' or manually via the profile folder.

If using 'ImportExportTools NG' addon:

How to install addon:

Right click on 'Local Folders' mail account and select 'ImportExportTools ng' > Import mbox file If folder has subfolders then: select second option 'Import one or more mbox files with their subdirectory'

Check all is ok - you can read emails before removing the original account.

Manually: In Thunderbird

  • Help > Troublehooting Information
  • Under 'Application Basics' - about 8th in list - Profile Folder - click on 'Open Folder'

A new window opens showing the contents of your 'profile name' folder

  • Exit Thunderbird now - this is important

You will see a 'Mail' folder and it contains pop mail account folders and the 'Local Folders' mail account folder. The 'ImapMail' folder contains imap account folders.

  • Open the 'Local Folders' mail account folder in a new window to see contents.
  • Then open the juno mail account folder to see contents.

The juno mail account should contain mbox files; they have no extension and have the same name as the folder you normally see in Folder Pane. The mbox files contain emails. You will also see *.msf files. These are index files used by Thunderbird. They do not contain emails. You may also see *.sbd folders. These are created when you have subfolders and they contain mbox files and maybe *.sbd folders.

  • You need to get copies of all mbox files and all *sbd folders and paste them into the 'Local Folders' mail account folder.

See image below as a guide.

When finished start Thunderbird and folders with emails should appear in 'Local Folders' mail account. Check emails are ok and then you can remove the old juno mail account.

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Seçilmiş Həll

If this is a pop mail account have you tried these settings:

  • Right click on pop juno account name in Folder Pane and select 'Settings'
  • Select 'Server Settings'
  • uncheck 'check for new messages at startup'
  • uncheck 'Check for new messages every x mnutes'
  • uncheck 'Automatically download new messages'

Restart Thunderbird.

Alternative option: Use the 'Local Folders' mail account as the email storage for the old juno account. Once verified that all emails are copied into Local Folders mail account, you can remove the old juno account.

As this would probably mean moving a lot folders and emails, I would suggest you do it using either an addon tool called 'ImportExportTools NG' or manually via the profile folder.

If using 'ImportExportTools NG' addon:

How to install addon:

Right click on 'Local Folders' mail account and select 'ImportExportTools ng' > Import mbox file If folder has subfolders then: select second option 'Import one or more mbox files with their subdirectory'

Check all is ok - you can read emails before removing the original account.

Manually: In Thunderbird

  • Help > Troublehooting Information
  • Under 'Application Basics' - about 8th in list - Profile Folder - click on 'Open Folder'

A new window opens showing the contents of your 'profile name' folder

  • Exit Thunderbird now - this is important

You will see a 'Mail' folder and it contains pop mail account folders and the 'Local Folders' mail account folder. The 'ImapMail' folder contains imap account folders.

  • Open the 'Local Folders' mail account folder in a new window to see contents.
  • Then open the juno mail account folder to see contents.

The juno mail account should contain mbox files; they have no extension and have the same name as the folder you normally see in Folder Pane. The mbox files contain emails. You will also see *.msf files. These are index files used by Thunderbird. They do not contain emails. You may also see *.sbd folders. These are created when you have subfolders and they contain mbox files and maybe *.sbd folders.

  • You need to get copies of all mbox files and all *sbd folders and paste them into the 'Local Folders' mail account folder.

See image below as a guide.

When finished start Thunderbird and folders with emails should appear in 'Local Folders' mail account. Check emails are ok and then you can remove the old juno mail account.

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Hello Toad-Hall,

Your first solution worked like a charm. I knew I needed to fiddle with something in account settings. Just didn't know exactly what.

Thank you muchly for your help.

Dandelion