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Keeping Email Already Downloaded From IMAP Gmail

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My life partner died a few months ago. They had an IMAP Gmail email (we use Thunderbird as the local client) and there are several emails that I wish to keep that I need as an administrator of the estate. However, I want to delete the Gmail account as I get too much junk mail. So, If I tell Thunderbird to quit checking an IMAP Gmail account, will Thunderbird maintain (keep) all the messuages it currently has downloaded for that account? If so, then I can tell Thunderbird to quit checking the account, then log into Gmail itself and delete the account and because I have told Thunderbird not to check the account, it won't know the account has been deleted. And I also have used Google Takeout to export the Gmail email in MBOX format just as a precaution.

My life partner died a few months ago. They had an IMAP Gmail email (we use Thunderbird as the local client) and there are several emails that I wish to keep that I need as an administrator of the estate. However, I want to delete the Gmail account as I get too much junk mail. So, If I tell Thunderbird to quit checking an IMAP Gmail account, will Thunderbird maintain (keep) all the messuages it currently has downloaded for that account? If so, then I can tell Thunderbird to quit checking the account, then log into Gmail itself and delete the account and because I have told Thunderbird not to check the account, it won't know the account has been deleted. And I also have used Google Takeout to export the Gmail email in MBOX format just as a precaution.

Chosen solution

Well, my technique uses Windows tools, but it works easily. If you're comfortable using File Explorer, follow these steps: - exit TB - in File Explorer, locate your profile and the ImapMail folder - in that folder, locate your account - each folder is probably two entries, e.g. INBOX and INBOX.msf - COPY the entries and store them under Mail>Local Folders in the Profile. Doing this establishes the messages separate from the account. - restart TB and confirm that all messages are viewable within Local Folders - once you're comfortable with this, you can safely remove the IMAP account.

This assumes all messages are downloaded. If unsure, then PRIOR to doing the above, click File>Offline and follow the prompts to ensure all messages are downloaded.

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Chosen Solution

Well, my technique uses Windows tools, but it works easily. If you're comfortable using File Explorer, follow these steps: - exit TB - in File Explorer, locate your profile and the ImapMail folder - in that folder, locate your account - each folder is probably two entries, e.g. INBOX and INBOX.msf - COPY the entries and store them under Mail>Local Folders in the Profile. Doing this establishes the messages separate from the account. - restart TB and confirm that all messages are viewable within Local Folders - once you're comfortable with this, you can safely remove the IMAP account.

This assumes all messages are downloaded. If unsure, then PRIOR to doing the above, click File>Offline and follow the prompts to ensure all messages are downloaded.