This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

Avatar for Username

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Wo archive tread sia. Meɖekuku bia biabia yeye ne ehia kpeɖeŋu.

Migrating MAC Thunderbird Folders to a more modern MAC already setup with an IMAC connection

  • 3 ŋuɖoɖowo
  • 0 masɔmasɔ sia le wosi
  • 11 views
  • Nuɖoɖo mlɔetɔ sfhowes

leigh.silcock
leigh.silcock
more options

Hi, we have two MACs in our workshop, one elder MAC running Thunderbird with POP connection and lots of local folders, I believe. We have a newer MAC fully setup and running Thunderbird with an IMAP connection - by customer. The customer wishes to transfer his older MACs local folders to the newer MAC without overwriting his profile already setup? I have a MAC- formatted USB stick at the ready, any ideas would be most helpful?

Hi, we have two MACs in our workshop, one elder MAC running Thunderbird with POP connection and lots of local folders, I believe. We have a newer MAC fully setup and running Thunderbird with an IMAP connection - by customer. The customer wishes to transfer his older MACs local folders to the newer MAC without overwriting his profile already setup? I have a MAC- formatted USB stick at the ready, any ideas would be most helpful?

All Replies (3)

leigh.silcock
leigh.silcock Biabia la
more options

Do you need to know relevant version numbers on the two MACs?

leigh.silcock
leigh.silcock Biabia la
more options

And conversely, relevant MACOS version numbers on the 2 MACs?

sfhowes
sfhowes
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

On the old mac, locate the mbox files in the Mail/<popservername> and Mail/Local Folders subfolders, and in .sbd subdirectories. The mbox are the large files with no extension, named after folders, e.g. Sent.

Copy the mbox files, renaming if necessary, to the Mail/Local Folders location in the profile of the new mac, with TB closed. Restart TB to find the folders under Local Folders in the Folder Pane.

Help/Troubleshooting Info, Profile Folder, Show in Finder, to open the profile.

This should work no matter the versions of TB or OS X on the two macs.