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Remove downloaded contents from Thunderbird Profile but keep imap email accounts

  • 4 replies
  • 1 has this problem
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  • Last reply by Thomas_1

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Hello Community,

I have been using Thunderbird with 5 imap email accounts and enabled the 'Keep messages in all folders for this account on this computer' setting.

I want to use the 5 imap accounts without the downloaded content from now.

Now I disabled the 'Keep messages in all folders for this account on this computer' setting on all 5 imap email accounts, but the Thunderbird profile folder still has 8 GB. Even after several restarts of Thunderbird.

How can I remove only the downloaded content in the Thunderbird profile folder, but keep my profile with the 5 imap email accounts without reconfiguring all 5 accounts to a new profile?

I don't want to create a new profile because of this.

Thank you very much for your help.

Regards, Thomas

Hello Community, I have been using Thunderbird with 5 imap email accounts and enabled the 'Keep messages in all folders for this account on this computer' setting. I want to use the 5 imap accounts without the downloaded content from now. Now I disabled the 'Keep messages in all folders for this account on this computer' setting on all 5 imap email accounts, but the Thunderbird profile folder still has 8 GB. Even after several restarts of Thunderbird. '''How can I remove only the downloaded content in the Thunderbird profile folder, but keep my profile with the 5 imap email accounts without reconfiguring all 5 accounts to a new profile?''' I don't want to create a new profile because of this. Thank you very much for your help. Regards, Thomas

Chosen solution

Create a folder on the Desktop called 'IMAP'.

In Thunderbird. Menu app icon > Help > More Troubleshooting Information Under 'Application Basics' - half way - Profile Folders - click on 'Open Folder' A new window opens showing contents of 'profile name' folder

Exit Thunderbird now

Click on 'ImapMail' folder click on imap mail account name folder

You will see: mbox files - they have no extension and they contain downloaded emails Move those mbox files to the 'IMAP' folder on desktop. If you have subfolders - they will be in folders with a *.sbd extension. Those .sbd folders may contain mbox files - move the mbox files to 'IMAP' folder on desktop. Leave all the *.msf index files alone. Do not move them.

The purpose of moving all those mbox files is to act as a backup - just in case required.

Start Thunderbird.

Check you can access emails.

If all is ok............ The 'IMAP' folder on desktop could be copied to an external drive and act as a backup of the emails. Then you can delete the 'IMAP' folder if desired or leave as it is.

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All Replies (4)

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re :Now I disabled the 'Keep messages in all folders for this account on this computer' setting

In same area - Account Settings > Synchronisation & Storage, click on the 'Advanced..' button and make sure all the folders and subfolders are not selected.

Restart Thunderbird to ensure account updates are used. Compact all folders.

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Hello,

I did exactly what you suggested, but the Thunderbird profile folder still has 8 GB.

Do you have any idea what I could do?

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Chosen Solution

Create a folder on the Desktop called 'IMAP'.

In Thunderbird. Menu app icon > Help > More Troubleshooting Information Under 'Application Basics' - half way - Profile Folders - click on 'Open Folder' A new window opens showing contents of 'profile name' folder

Exit Thunderbird now

Click on 'ImapMail' folder click on imap mail account name folder

You will see: mbox files - they have no extension and they contain downloaded emails Move those mbox files to the 'IMAP' folder on desktop. If you have subfolders - they will be in folders with a *.sbd extension. Those .sbd folders may contain mbox files - move the mbox files to 'IMAP' folder on desktop. Leave all the *.msf index files alone. Do not move them.

The purpose of moving all those mbox files is to act as a backup - just in case required.

Start Thunderbird.

Check you can access emails.

If all is ok............ The 'IMAP' folder on desktop could be copied to an external drive and act as a backup of the emails. Then you can delete the 'IMAP' folder if desired or leave as it is.

more options

@Toad-Hall : Thank you your solution worked.