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Changed folder name and lost all emails within that folder tree.

  • 4 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 24 views
  • Last reply by SNAPJACK

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Changed the name of a folder in Local Folders. All 60 subfolders and 309 files are gone. I looked at the profile and they seem to be there. Is there a way to get them back without risk to the rest of my emails? The file tree is quite large at 2,661 Files, 685 Folders.

Changed the name of a folder in Local Folders. All 60 subfolders and 309 files are gone. I looked at the profile and they seem to be there. Is there a way to get them back without risk to the rest of my emails? The file tree is quite large at 2,661 Files, 685 Folders.
Attached screenshots

Chosen solution

I'm presuming you renamed 'Equipment and Hand Tools' folder to say: '1-Equipment and Hand Tools' folder please correct me if I'm wrong.


In Profile folders. In the 'Orders, Warranty, Rebates.sbd' folder Is there an mbox file called '1-Equipment and Hand Tools' mbox file has no extension. There should also be a '1-Equipment and Hand Tools.msf' file.

It would be helpful if you posted an image which shows all files and folders and sizes in these folders:

  • 'Orders, Warranty, Rebates.sbd' folder
  • '1-Equipment and Hand Tools.sbd' folder
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All Replies (4)

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As you appear happy in the file system... close Thunderbird and delete the file foldertree.json and restart Thunderbird. That will force a reread instead of use of the cache when displaying the folder tree.

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Followed your instructions. Unfortunately the emails have not appeared in the folder tree. All the other emails seem to be there. Sometimes things do not work out and that is just the way it goes. Provided images. Thank you so much for your time and effort. Merry Christmas to You and Yours!

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Chosen Solution

I'm presuming you renamed 'Equipment and Hand Tools' folder to say: '1-Equipment and Hand Tools' folder please correct me if I'm wrong.


In Profile folders. In the 'Orders, Warranty, Rebates.sbd' folder Is there an mbox file called '1-Equipment and Hand Tools' mbox file has no extension. There should also be a '1-Equipment and Hand Tools.msf' file.

It would be helpful if you posted an image which shows all files and folders and sizes in these folders:

  • 'Orders, Warranty, Rebates.sbd' folder
  • '1-Equipment and Hand Tools.sbd' folder
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Actually, I renamed '1-Equipment and Hand Tools' to 'Equipment and Hand Tools'. After your last post I created the folder '1-Equipment and Hand Tools', then closed and restarted Thunderbird. The folder populated itself. All the emails are there.

My decision was based on your input as: 1. Your first directive to delete 'foldertree.json' and then restarting Thunderbird. 2. How the name change was perceived by reviewing the images and mentioning the missing 'mbox' file extension in the last post.

It clicked - since Thunderbird is refreshing itself on startup that if I recreate the missing folder it might repopulate itself. It did. Apparently something was lost during the renaming process. I also remember a periodic compaction process. I have had some issues with folder and file structure after a compaction before. But to be fair it could have just been 'Happy Fingers Me'.

Nevertheless without your input the issue would not have been resolved.

Thank you very much. You have made my Day and New Year much better.