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Importing Archived Gmail Messages Into Thunderbird

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  • Last reply by sfhowes

Thomas Davis
Thomas Davis
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I recently upgraded my OS from WIN 8.1 to WIN 10.0. Previously, I had installed Thunderbird in order to download my Gmail messages etc and import them to TB locally for archival purposes. When I upgraded to WIN 10.0, it was a clean install so TB and all the data was deleted. I have backups of the Gmail files I previously imported to TB but it seems the instructions are not clear on how to get them back into TB locally. I want to be able to search and read these emails when needed, since I deleted them from the Gmail server

I recently upgraded my OS from WIN 8.1 to WIN 10.0. Previously, I had installed Thunderbird in order to download my Gmail messages etc and import them to TB locally for archival purposes. When I upgraded to WIN 10.0, it was a clean install so TB and all the data was deleted. I have backups of the Gmail files I previously imported to TB but it seems the instructions are not clear on how to get them back into TB locally. I want to be able to search and read these emails when needed, since I deleted them from the Gmail server

Chosen solution

If the original gmail files are .mbox files, copy them into the Mail/Local Folders location of the profile folder, with TB closed, remove the .mbox extension, then restart TB and find the folders under Local Folders in the Folder Pane.

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sfhowes
sfhowes
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Chosen Solution

If the original gmail files are .mbox files, copy them into the Mail/Local Folders location of the profile folder, with TB closed, remove the .mbox extension, then restart TB and find the folders under Local Folders in the Folder Pane.

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Thomas Davis
Thomas Davis Question owner
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Thank you so much. One more quick (?) question, tangentially related: what is the safe way to change the local folder location? Thank you in advance

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sfhowes
sfhowes
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Copy Mail/Local Folders to the desired location, with TB closed, then Account Settings, select Local Folders in the left pane, Browse... to the new location of Local Directory.

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Moving_your_mail_storage_location_-_Thunderbird

See also https://addons.thunderbird.net/en-us/thunderbird/addon/localfolder/

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