Cannot import my exported 'Local Folder' filed emails via Tools Import function after Windows 11 upgrade
I just upgraded my desktop pc from Windows 10 to 11, and before the upgrade I used the Tools Export function to export my complete Thunderbird profile, so I could import it after the upgrade. Unfortunately the export file cannot be read on my upgraded pc using the Import function - Thunderbird gives me error messages every time, that suggest the exported folder might be corrupted or invalid.
My IMAP emails are fine, as I have set those accounts up from scratch and the folders have now populated with all the emails - the problem is all my filed emails, dating back many years, which were all stored manually in a filing system under Local Folders.
I tried manually copying across the individual files from the extracted back-up folder into my live Thunderbird profile and then reopened Thunderbird...which worked to some extent...as in, all the folders are there, but no emails are showing! It shows no messages under each folder, even though if you look under the Profile you can see that the email files exist.
I tried various ways to bring them in, including zipping one of the folders and trying to import from the zip file (which also brought in a folder but no emails) but even though the email files are clearly there under my profile, Thunderbird shows 0 messages in all my Local Folders. It's as though it is unaware the files exist, so I suspect it needs them to be formally imported somehow?
I would hate to lose the emails, as they document important information and purchases etc over many years, along with archived emails for my charity work, social events, etc. As I said, I can see the files are there but simply copying the files to my profile has only worked to the extent the filing 'structure' is visible, Thunderbird doesn't display any of the emails.
I have included two images...one of my Thunderbird Local Folders as they currently look, and the other showing the backed up files existing in my Profile, which I hope are helpful.
Can anyone help please? I am running a desktop PC on Windows 11. Thanks, David.
All Replies (5)
Hello there
Yes in the past we also had mozbackup for it, this was clearly a good product or tool, yes the late hours that are now can indeed bring about something and consider a tool for an add on. I hope your processor and motherboard still keep running.
Greetings Firefox volunteer🎅🏼.
Googlethunderbird said
Hello there processor renewed and motherboard also is there any blame for these two if I may ask?A sloppy ssd? Greetings Firefox volunteer 🎅🏼.
No blame - they just weren't compatible with Windows 11...CPU was too old and it was missing the TPM. The thing I did wrong was assume the Tools/Export routine would produce a file that could be imported after the upgrade...I think the Profile file was too large and it basically got corrupted somehow as part of the Export function. In hindsight just taking a copy of the profile that I could copy back in would have avoided the issue. I basically lost most of the emails stored in 'Local Folders' (i.e. saved outside the email accounts).
Googlethunderbird said
Hello there Yes in the past we also had mozbackup for it, this was clearly a good product or tool, yes the late hours that are now can indeed bring about something and consider a tool for an add on. I hope your processor and motherboard still keep running. Greetings Firefox volunteer🎅🏼.
mozbackup is unmaintained and not recommended.
a) If there is something here that warrants a bug report for the export function please submit one. https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/enter_bug.cgi?product=Thunderbird
b) Not just for Thunderbird, as you probably now realize, when moving to a system where the original files will get wiped out, it is safest to do two backups using different methods for each. Better still to test the restore before wiping out the original files.
Many thanks Wayne.
Yes, I think the export function doesn't work...I checked two exports I did last year and the same thing applied there, the zipped file was corrupted. It might be because of the large size of the profile (above 10Gb in all instances), but thanks for the link - I will submit a report when I get a little time this week.
Also, very valid points on the back-up methods...as you will be aware I learnt that the hard way.
Best wishes.
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