We're calling on all EU-based Mozillians with iOS or iPadOS devices to help us monitor Apple’s new browser choice screens. Join the effort to hold Big Tech to account!

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.

No prefs.js file

  • 2 replies
  • 0 have this problem
  • 4 views
  • Last reply by dsheehantr

dsheehantr
dsheehantr
more options

I am using the current version of Thunderbird, I have been noticing for awhile now that changes I make to my profiles (adding new email accounts or changing smtp servers) are not being saved. In looking at my profile folder. I noticed several prefs-xx.js file but no prefs.js file. The last pref-xx file I have is from 2022 and it stopped at prefs-32. My question where did the prefs.js file go and how do I get it back.

Thanks Dan

I am using the current version of Thunderbird, I have been noticing for awhile now that changes I make to my profiles (adding new email accounts or changing smtp servers) are not being saved. In looking at my profile folder. I noticed several prefs-xx.js file but no prefs.js file. The last pref-xx file I have is from 2022 and it stopped at prefs-32. My question where did the prefs.js file go and how do I get it back. Thanks Dan

All Replies (2)

david
david
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

Those multiple copies are indicators that Thunderbird has been periodically interrupted when doing updates, causing a new copy to be created. I think you can (with TB not running) rename the one with highest number to prefs.js and remove the other ones. Restart thunderbird and then exit to verify that it didn't create a prefs-1.js.

dsheehantr
dsheehantr Question owner
more options

I was finally able to solve the problem ! This is probably the explanation for several reports of changings to being saved. What happened was somehow my prefs.js file was set to read only. It would not display in windows explorer so it appeared to be missing. The way I corrected this was the following:

1 Locate the Thunderbird Profile Location from Thunderbird Help 2 Exit Thunderbird 3 Enter CMD from Windows Search Bar 4 Change directory to Thunderbird Profile 5 Use the Attrib command: Attrib -s -h -r prefs.js 6 Leave the CMD window open 7 Restart Thunderbird and make the changes you want 8 Exit Thunderbird 9 Go back to your CMD window Dir command: Dir prefs.js 10 You should see a new write date and time on your prefs.js file which means your changes have been saved