Transfer thunderbird profile from a Linux PC to a new one.
For weeks, I have been searching everywhere for a definitive method for transferring my Thunderbird 91.8.1 profile to a new PC. There are lots of posts mainly covering windows applications and older versions of Thunderbird. One reoccurring problem seems to be that some installations have 2 profiles. Some have a profile with just a xxxxxxxx.default profile and others have a xxxxxxxx.default-release and a xxxxxxxx.default profile. It would appear that if you have the 2 profiles then the .default-release would be the one you would use for transferring to a new PC. I was wondering if some one could lead me to a current definitive procedure, for transferring a Linux based Thunderbird 91.8.1 profile, from one PC to new Linux PC . What to do if you have the 2 profiles? Can you just delete the yyyyyyyy.default profile?
Perhaps some one could comment on the following procedure that I have cobbled together from the myriad of posts that I have read.
THIS IS MY VERSION (UNPROVEN) Transfer Thunderbird (91.8.1) profile to new PC [v_4]
On your SOURCE computer [Linux Mint Cinnamon 20.3]
1. Connect a device for data transfer, either a USB flash drive, or a USB SSD/HDD drive.
2. Open the Home directory and click the “View tab” then check the box “Show Hidden Files”.
3. You should find a directory called .thunderbird.
4. Open .thunderbird and look for the folder, xxxxxxxx.default-release. Note; the x represents a string of 8 random alpha/numerical text.
5. Right-click on the xxxxxxxx.default-release folder and select Copy.
6. Paste a copy of xxxxxxxx.default-release to your transfer device. Remove it safely from the source computer when done.
7. Uncheck the “Show Hidden Files” tab that you checked in step 2.
Note: a) These steps can also be used to create a backup of your Thunderbird profile folder.
b) In step 4, you may not find a default-release folder. You may see a xxxxxxxx.default or
both. Choose the one that is active.
On your DESTINATION computer [Linux Mint Cinnamon 20.3]
1. Open thunderbird and then close it. A new profile will be created yyyyyyyy.default-release, or .yyyyyyyy.default.
2. Locate and open the backed-up profile folder, xxxxxxxx.default-release.
3. Select all of the folder contents and choose Copy.
4. Locate and open the new profile folder, yyyyyyyy.default-release.
5. Paste the contents of the backed up profile folder into the new profile folder. Choose to overwrite existing files of the same name.
6. Start Thunderbird.
Chosen solution
I have only slight knowledge of Linux, but I will try. First, TB uses only one profile. On installation, it creates an empty one, and people who migrate from one to another PC often copy the old profile (which is the right move), and that leaves the empty, unused, profile just taking up disk space and useless.
So, let's first find the 'real' profile. Click Help>moretroubleshootinginfo, and then scroll down left column to 'Profiles' and click 'about:profiles. That will show you the name of the profile being used. That is the one to copy to the new PC.
On new PC, have TB installed before you make the move (that is why you may see more than one profile). Copy the profile anywhere you wish. Most place in same place as TB normally looks, but that's your choice. I say that because TB determines where the profile is by reading a small text file, profiles.ini, which shows the location. Placing the profile in normal location is often easiest for many people.
Start TB after the copy. When it prompts for email account, click the HOME tab in upper left, then right-click and activate Menu Bar. Then click help>more troubleshootinginformation. Scroll down to Profiles and click about:Profiles. If you moved profile to normal location, it will appear and you can select it. If you moved to a different place, just click the 'create profile' button and - 1:give a name to profile first, then 2:click the browse button to locate wherever you placed it and you're done.
AND, the name of the profile is immaterial. You can rename it if desired.
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I have only slight knowledge of Linux, but I will try. First, TB uses only one profile. On installation, it creates an empty one, and people who migrate from one to another PC often copy the old profile (which is the right move), and that leaves the empty, unused, profile just taking up disk space and useless.
So, let's first find the 'real' profile. Click Help>moretroubleshootinginfo, and then scroll down left column to 'Profiles' and click 'about:profiles. That will show you the name of the profile being used. That is the one to copy to the new PC.
On new PC, have TB installed before you make the move (that is why you may see more than one profile). Copy the profile anywhere you wish. Most place in same place as TB normally looks, but that's your choice. I say that because TB determines where the profile is by reading a small text file, profiles.ini, which shows the location. Placing the profile in normal location is often easiest for many people.
Start TB after the copy. When it prompts for email account, click the HOME tab in upper left, then right-click and activate Menu Bar. Then click help>more troubleshootinginformation. Scroll down to Profiles and click about:Profiles. If you moved profile to normal location, it will appear and you can select it. If you moved to a different place, just click the 'create profile' button and - 1:give a name to profile first, then 2:click the browse button to locate wherever you placed it and you're done.
AND, the name of the profile is immaterial. You can rename it if desired.