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.

Avatar for Username

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

Natao arisiva ity resaka mitohy ity. Mametraha fanontaniana azafady raha mila fanampiana.

How can I copy Thunderbird emails to Thunderbird on another computer

  • 4 valiny
  • 1 manana an'ity olana ity
  • 1 view
  • Valiny farany nomen'i christ1

DanRaymer
DanRaymer
more options

I use T-Bird on my main laptop and regularly save the "Local" folder where T-Bird emails are kept. My main laptop just died and has been sent out for service. While it is gone, I want to access my old emails on my backup computer, without connecting to the server which would immediately download new email to the backup machine, erasing them from the server.

I have Thunderbird on the backup computer and have tried to "Import" from the memory stick with the saved "Local" folder. The only option is to import from Outlook Express.

I also tried to find the "Local" folder on the backup computer but can't find it. Maybe I have to set up T-Bird on my server before that folder is created (?).

I can open the "Local" folder on my memory stick and can see those emails, but the straight-text formatting is almost unreadable.

Is there a way to copy emails from the "Local" folder on my memory stick and open them in T-Bird? Thanks.

I use T-Bird on my main laptop and regularly save the "Local" folder where T-Bird emails are kept. My main laptop just died and has been sent out for service. While it is gone, I want to access my old emails on my backup computer, without connecting to the server which would immediately download new email to the backup machine, erasing them from the server. I have Thunderbird on the backup computer and have tried to "Import" from the memory stick with the saved "Local" folder. The only option is to import from Outlook Express. I also tried to find the "Local" folder on the backup computer but can't find it. Maybe I have to set up T-Bird on my server before that folder is created (?). I can open the "Local" folder on my memory stick and can see those emails, but the straight-text formatting is almost unreadable. Is there a way to copy emails from the "Local" folder on my memory stick and open them in T-Bird? Thanks.

All Replies (4)

christ1
christ1
  • Top 25 Contributor
more options

Install this add-on. https://addons.mozilla.org/thunderbird/addon/importexporttools/

DanRaymer
DanRaymer Tompon'ny fanontaniana
more options

Looks good, downloaded and did installation, found the new Tools, but the item I need, "Import all messages for a directory" is grayed-out and unusable.

Maybe it won't work unless I have T-Bird connected to a server? That's just what I don't want to do.

Any fix for this? It looks like exactly what I need.

DanRaymer
DanRaymer Tompon'ny fanontaniana
more options

I made a dummy email account at gmx.com and set T-Bird to use it. Now the "import all messages..." can be clicked, it has me navigate to the folder with my old T-Bird messages, I select it, but nothing happens.

christ1
christ1
  • Top 25 Contributor
more options

I have never used ImportExportTools, so I can't tell you what import option you need to pick. You may not be able to import everything in one step. The add-on author has a support web site, you may check there.

I made a dummy email account at gmx.com and set T-Bird to use it.

I'm not sure why you'd need a dummy account. You can always import into the 'Local Folders' account.