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

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

How to move all Thunderbird 68.8.1 data from Mac to Thunderbird 68.8.0 Ubuntu

  • 1 reply
  • 1 has this problem
  • 19 views
  • Last reply by esbmast

esbmast
esbmast
more options

I am migrating everything I have from Mac OS 10.13 to Linux (Ubuntu 20.04). I am currently running Thunderbird 68.8.1 on the Mac. I have years of Thunderbird data, currently running version, account set-ups, etc, that I need to migrate to Thunderbird 68.8.0 on Ubuntu 20.04.

I would like to know how I can properly move the data/profile from the Mac to Ubuntu.

I have copied the whole Thunderbird directory from my Mac to my Ubuntu home directory. I have tried the following: remove the ~/.thunderbird directory, copy the Mac Thunderbird directory to ~/.thunderbird, move the ~/.thunderbird/Profiles/<active-profile>.default up a level to ~/.thunderbird, remove the ~/.thunderbird/Profiles directory, fix up (edit) various directory references in ~/.thunderbird/<active-profile>.default/prefs.js to correct for Mac-Linux file location differences, also changed the app-version reference in the prefs.js to 68.8.0 (from the Mac's 68.8.1), fix up (edit) the profile Path= references in ~/.thunderbird/profiles.ini, similarly fix up (edit) the Default= reference in ~/.thunderbird/installs.ini

When I restart Thunderbird, it complains about the profile and wants me to create a new one.

What is the best way for me to accomplish this move? I don't see any recent articles mentioning this particular move: Mac to Linux.

Thanks, Evelyn

I am migrating everything I have from Mac OS 10.13 to Linux (Ubuntu 20.04). I am currently running Thunderbird 68.8.1 on the Mac. I have years of Thunderbird data, currently running version, account set-ups, etc, that I need to migrate to Thunderbird 68.8.0 on Ubuntu 20.04. I would like to know how I can properly move the data/profile from the Mac to Ubuntu. I have copied the whole Thunderbird directory from my Mac to my Ubuntu home directory. I have tried the following: remove the ~/.thunderbird directory, copy the Mac Thunderbird directory to ~/.thunderbird, move the ~/.thunderbird/Profiles/<active-profile>.default up a level to ~/.thunderbird, remove the ~/.thunderbird/Profiles directory, fix up (edit) various directory references in ~/.thunderbird/<active-profile>.default/prefs.js to correct for Mac-Linux file location differences, also changed the app-version reference in the prefs.js to 68.8.0 (from the Mac's 68.8.1), fix up (edit) the profile Path= references in ~/.thunderbird/profiles.ini, similarly fix up (edit) the Default= reference in ~/.thunderbird/installs.ini When I restart Thunderbird, it complains about the profile and wants me to create a new one. What is the best way for me to accomplish this move? I don't see any recent articles mentioning this particular move: Mac to Linux. Thanks, Evelyn

Chosen solution

OK, I figured this out. I was missing a step, following the hints in: https://thunderbirdtweaks.blogspot.com/2019/09/i-lost-my-profilemail-on-update-to.html

I had to start thunderbird twice, once to set my old Mac profile as the default profile, and the second time as './thunderbird -allow-downgrade'.

-Evelyn

Read this answer in context 👍 0

All Replies (1)

esbmast
esbmast Question owner
more options

Chosen Solution

OK, I figured this out. I was missing a step, following the hints in: https://thunderbirdtweaks.blogspot.com/2019/09/i-lost-my-profilemail-on-update-to.html

I had to start thunderbird twice, once to set my old Mac profile as the default profile, and the second time as './thunderbird -allow-downgrade'.

-Evelyn