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

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

doing a completely fresh install of Thunderbird

  • 3 valiny
  • 0 manana an'ity olana ity
  • 1 view
  • Valiny farany nomen'i Matt

more options

I would like to wipe all traces of my Thunderbird installation off my computer--profiles, etc.--and start all over. I have tried deleting the Thunderbird "Profiles" folder, downloading T-bird anew, and installing it afresh. It will not start; I get the error message "missing profile." But THAT WAS THE POINT. I don't want to use the old profile or retrieve any of my old emails. I wasn't born with that profile, but now it's the only one Thunderbird will allow me to use.

How do I start from scratch, as if I had never installed T-bird before?

Thanks,

 GAS
I would like to wipe all traces of my Thunderbird installation off my computer--profiles, etc.--and start all over. I have tried deleting the Thunderbird "Profiles" folder, downloading T-bird anew, and installing it afresh. It will not start; I get the error message "missing profile." But THAT WAS THE POINT. I don't want to use the old profile or retrieve any of my old emails. I wasn't born with that profile, but now it's the only one Thunderbird will allow me to use. How do I start from scratch, as if I had never installed T-bird before? Thanks, GAS

All Replies (3)

more options

profiles are stored in a Thunderbird\profiles\Profile name folder structure.

The file that designates the profile that is in use is stored in the Thunderbird part of the folder structure, so you delete the Thunderbird folder and it's sub folders, not just the profiles folder several levels lower in the folders.

more options

Thank you, Matt, but that hasn't given me what I want. I want to scrub every trace of my current Thunderbird installation from my machine and start afresh.

I've re-posed the question in another question, so if you see it and have some advice, I'd appreciate it.

Gary

more options

Well I see your new question has received a lot of ecommendations.

gstring1940 said

Thank you, Matt, but that hasn't given me what I want. I want to scrub every trace of my current Thunderbird installation from my machine and start afresh. I've re-posed the question in another question, so if you see it and have some advice, I'd appreciate it. Gary

If you got the Thunderbird somewhere other than the Microsoft store.

In windows file manager type %appdata% in the location bar. Select the Thunderbird folder and delete it.

Done. Which is basically what I told oyu before. But I tried to explain it. Sorry about that.