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

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

Using Thunderbird as an Offline Backup Email Reader

  • 3 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by sfhowes

gekiganger
gekiganger
more options

Hello!

I have some old Gmail accounts I don't use anymore and just want the old emails on them stored locally so I don't have to go back to them again.

If I can get all of those emails into a mbox format. Is there a way to use Thunderbird strictly as an offline old email reader? Everytime I start it, it ask for me to enter an account and I'm not sure how to get around that ?

Hello! I have some old Gmail accounts I don't use anymore and just want the old emails on them stored locally so I don't have to go back to them again. If I can get all of those emails into a mbox format. Is there a way to use Thunderbird strictly as an offline old email reader? Everytime I start it, it ask for me to enter an account and I'm not sure how to get around that ?

All Replies (3)

sfhowes
sfhowes
  • Top 25 Contributor
more options

Copy the mail to subfolders of Local Folders, then start TB in offline mode: Preferences/Network & Disk Space, Offline Settings.

gekiganger
gekiganger Question owner
more options

In a default installation of Thunderbird where is this folder located? I see two folders in Profiles (xxxxx.default, yyyyy.default) I don't see a mail folder in either.

sfhowes
sfhowes
  • Top 25 Contributor
more options

You don't need to look in profile folders. Local Folders is shown in the Folder Pane of every TB setup, assuming you haven't renamed it (not recommended). If you've never added a mail account to TB, Local Folders won't be automatically created until a mail account is added, even a fake one.