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Can I save old emails in Local folder, thus removing from IMAP & GMAIL?

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  • Last reply by CSTLM

CSTLM
CSTLM
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I have over 20,000 emails. They are neatly saved in separate folders (projects). My overall desire is to remove them from Gmail & IMAP and saving them on my external drive. My secondary desire is to have the ability to be able to access them (read), reply to them and forward them if absolutely necessary. Will moving them to my LOCAL FOLDER allow me those options?

if moving them to the LOCAL folder is a good option, what are the exact steps I should follow?

I have over 20,000 emails. They are neatly saved in separate folders (projects). My overall desire is to remove them from Gmail & IMAP and saving them on my external drive. My secondary desire is to have the ability to be able to access them (read), reply to them and forward them if absolutely necessary. Will moving them to my LOCAL FOLDER allow me those options? if moving them to the LOCAL folder is a good option, what are the exact steps I should follow?

Chosen solution

You can certainly move them to the Local Folders account in Thunderbird. The safest procedure is to right-click on Local Folders (at the bottom of your folder pane) and select 'new folder': create as many new folders as you wish. Then select the messages in your Gmail account folders and copy-and-paste them into the local folders you have just created. When you are satisfied they are all there you can delete them from Gmail. But: 1) Be aware that once they are in your local folders they are no longer on the Gmail server, so you don't have that backup. I think you are probably aware of the need to maintain your own backup copy but I thought I should mention it anyway. 2) That procedure moves the messages to folders within your Thunderbird profile and I don't know where that is on your machine. You mention an external drive: is that where you keep your profile normally? I believe that, by default, the profile is located on the internal hard disk, though it may vary from one setup to another. The best way forward for you might be to move the messages within your profile, as described, and then make a backup copy of the whole profile folder on an external drive?

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amanchesterman
amanchesterman
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Chosen Solution

You can certainly move them to the Local Folders account in Thunderbird. The safest procedure is to right-click on Local Folders (at the bottom of your folder pane) and select 'new folder': create as many new folders as you wish. Then select the messages in your Gmail account folders and copy-and-paste them into the local folders you have just created. When you are satisfied they are all there you can delete them from Gmail. But: 1) Be aware that once they are in your local folders they are no longer on the Gmail server, so you don't have that backup. I think you are probably aware of the need to maintain your own backup copy but I thought I should mention it anyway. 2) That procedure moves the messages to folders within your Thunderbird profile and I don't know where that is on your machine. You mention an external drive: is that where you keep your profile normally? I believe that, by default, the profile is located on the internal hard disk, though it may vary from one setup to another. The best way forward for you might be to move the messages within your profile, as described, and then make a backup copy of the whole profile folder on an external drive?

CSTLM
CSTLM Question owner
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Thank you amanchesterman!

I followed your instructions and they worked PERFECTLY! Unfortunately, while waiting for a response I tried the "Move To" option on a folder that had 600 emails....UGH!!!... Fortunately, all 600 had the same reference in the Subject...... Crisis averted!!!!

To answer your concern....Yes I did change my Thunderbird profile, but I chose to use my much larger (under used) internal "D" drive.

Your Suggestion.... Thank you! I will definitely copy the profile folder to my external drive. :-)

Hints & Tips:

- When creating your new sub-folders in Local Folders, I found that using the same name I used in Gmail was helpful.

- Do not be tempted to use the Select All > Move To option. All that does is move the emails from your Gmail/IMAP sub-folder to your new Local sub-folder. The "Move To" option does not delete emails from IMAP. Those same emails will remain in "ALL MAIL". Just remember: Select your Gmail/IMAP sub-folder > Copy-and-Paste to your new Local sub-folder > Double check for accuracy > Then go back and delete the Gmail/IMAP emails you have satisfactorily copied.

- Be patient!.... This process takes a while. Allow the computer to move all of your Gmail/IMAP emails and their attachments to your new Local folder.

- When working with IMAP, its best to work online.

- LOCAL FOLDERS are not on IMAP, therefore it is possible to duplicate emails during the Copy-and-Paste process. Don't worry, just download Thunderbird Remove Duplicate Emails (ADD-ON).

Aloha & Thanks again amanchesterman!!