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Transfer my Thunderbird Local Folders to an external drive

ajota.carvalho
ajota.carvalho
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To gain space in my laptop’s internal disc I tried to transfer my Thunderbird Local Folders to an external disk (D:) and proceeded as follows: 1. In D: I created a folder: THUNDERBIRD 2. I copied the folder C:\Users\Hp Probook\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\9o8u1km9.default-release to the folder created in 1. 3. In Thunderbird/Local Folders/Settings, I browsed and selected the folder created in D:\THUNDERBIRD\9o8u1km9.default-release

Then, the contents of Local Folders is a list of files with extensions such as: .bak, .sqlite, .json. txt...

Now, I wonder how to get back the original stored mails. I will be very grateful for any advice.

To gain space in my laptop’s internal disc I tried to transfer my Thunderbird Local Folders to an external disk (D:) and proceeded as follows: 1. In D: I created a folder: THUNDERBIRD 2. I copied the folder C:\Users\Hp Probook\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\9o8u1km9.default-release to the folder created in 1. 3. In Thunderbird/Local Folders/Settings, I browsed and selected the folder created in D:\THUNDERBIRD\9o8u1km9.default-release Then, the contents of Local Folders is a list of files with extensions such as: .bak, .sqlite, .json. txt... Now, I wonder how to get back the original stored mails. I will be very grateful for any advice.
Attached screenshots

Chosen solution

In Thunderbird/Local Folders/Settings, I browsed and selected the folder created in D:\THUNDERBIRD\9o8u1km9.default-release

You set the 'Local Directory' for the 'Local Folders' account to a folder which is a copy of your profile directory.

Then, the contents of Local Folders is a list of files with extensions such as: .bak, .sqlite, .json. txt...

Thunderbird is showing you exactly what you told it to show - the contents of a copy of your profile.

Now, I wonder how to get back the original stored mails.

Set the 'Local Directory' for the 'Local Folders' account to the correct path: D:\THUNDERBIRD\9o8u1km9.default-release\Mail\Local Folders

Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (2)

christ1
christ1
  • Top 25 Contributor
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Chosen Solution

In Thunderbird/Local Folders/Settings, I browsed and selected the folder created in D:\THUNDERBIRD\9o8u1km9.default-release

You set the 'Local Directory' for the 'Local Folders' account to a folder which is a copy of your profile directory.

Then, the contents of Local Folders is a list of files with extensions such as: .bak, .sqlite, .json. txt...

Thunderbird is showing you exactly what you told it to show - the contents of a copy of your profile.

Now, I wonder how to get back the original stored mails.

Set the 'Local Directory' for the 'Local Folders' account to the correct path: D:\THUNDERBIRD\9o8u1km9.default-release\Mail\Local Folders

ajota.carvalho
ajota.carvalho Question owner
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Many thanks for the very clear tip!