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.

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

Wannan tattunawa ta zama daɗaɗɗiya. Yi sabuwar tambaya idan ka na bukatar taimako.

After moving old profile to new machine, thunderbird states that it cannot use the profile because it is in use and to close thunderbird, but it is closed.

  • 2 amsoshi
  • 1 yana da wannan matsala
  • 1 view
  • Amsa ta ƙarshe daga pgensinger

more options

I am moving Thunderbird to a new machine and want to move the old profile. After installing Thunderbird, I copied the profile and using the "thunderbird.exe -p" command added the old profile. When I start Thunderbird, I get the following error message; "Thunderbird cannot use the profile "profile name" because it is in use. To continue, close instances of Thunderbird or chose a different profile" But Thunderbird is not running and I cannot get this to work. Please help!

I am moving Thunderbird to a new machine and want to move the old profile. After installing Thunderbird, I copied the profile and using the "thunderbird.exe -p" command added the old profile. When I start Thunderbird, I get the following error message; "Thunderbird cannot use the profile "profile name" because it is in use. To continue, close instances of Thunderbird or chose a different profile" But Thunderbird is not running and I cannot get this to work. Please help!

All Replies (2)

more options

Assuming you use a Windows OS when creating the backup. Access profile name folder. In the same folder where you can see 'Mail' folder. Scroll down. Locate and Delete the following file.

  • 'parent.lock'

Then try to start Thunderbird.

more options

Toad-Hall,

Thanks for your reply; it turned out to be a corrupt "profile" file. I restored an older one and it worked with a few missing emails. Good thing I backed up the older computer first.