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how to backup and restore multiple profiles

  • 24 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 2 views
  • Last reply by Toad-Hall

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I understand how to backup and restore thunderbird..But when I do restore my account with multiple profiles it shows it one time only when I close the program and reopen ony one profile will show with information

I understand how to backup and restore thunderbird..But when I do restore my account with multiple profiles it shows it one time only when I close the program and reopen ony one profile will show with information

All Replies (20)

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are you backing up the profiles.ini file in the root Thunderbird folder in windows appdata folder. (windowskey +R, type %appdata% and enter to locate the appropriate appdata folder)

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Matt said

are you backing up the profiles.ini file in the root Thunderbird folder in windows appdata folder. (windowskey +R, type %appdata% and enter to locate the appropriate appdata folder)

On my old pc..which I have thunderbird..program works great..I have 3 email address..or maybe it is called profiles..I have tried every way to back it up..when I copy the back up over to my new pc..it shows up initially..but after I close the program and reopen..it will only show 1 email/profile with my emails..and the other 2 will show but no emails..thank you for any help

Modified by scustalow

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re :I have 3 email address..or maybe it is called profiles..

Each email address as shown in the left Folder Pane is a mail account. If you can see them all at once then they are all in the one 'profile'.

To copy from one computer to another. Thunderbird must be closed on both computers:

Access location of stored profile on old computer: C:\Users\<Windows user name>\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\<Profile name>\ On old computer: Copy the 'Thunderbird' folder to an external storage device as backup. This will copy everything.

On new computer: Access: C:\Users\<Windows user name>\AppData\Roaming folder In the 'Roaming' folder there will be a default 'Thunderbird' folder. As you do not intend to use it - delete it.

Then paste the copied 'Thunderbird ' folder from backup storage device into the 'Roaming' folder. Start Thunderbird and it will use the one you have just copied over.

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I will try again..but usually..it sees it at the first start..but when I close and reopen..it only sees the one with emails..and lists to other 2 with out emails

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Tried again..it works on the initial start up..but when I close and reopen..only the first email address on the left has emails in it.. the other ones are listed but no email in their folder

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I even tried a fresh install..

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might be one of those insolvable problems huh?

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Does the new pc have to be connected to the internet?

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scustalow said

Does the new pc have to be connected to the internet?

Yes it does. I am guessing your accounts are IMAP and failure to connect to the internet is causing problems with display of the account contents.

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but wouldn't the emails that are now on the old pc when copied to the new pc stay there even if not connected to the internet?

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If you are talking about an imap mail account then you may only have downloaded headers, so it will need the internet in order to allow you to see the emails as they are stored on the server.

If you have an imap mail account that has fully downloaded emails then you should see them. note: it is possible to fully download emails. On old pc whcih is connected to internet, synchronise all folders for offline use to fully download copies of emails. If you can then go into offline mode and see emails they are downloaded into Thunderbird. Then exit Thunderbird (TB must be exited on both pc's) and copy 'Thunderbird' folder from old to new pc.


If you are talking about a pop mail account then they should be visible.

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after I do copy the back up and bring up thunderbird..it shows all the fist time..but after I close and restart it..only one email address have the emails..the other 2 only have the email address..no emails


Toad-Hall said

If you are talking about an imap mail account then you may only have downloaded headers, so it will need the internet in order to allow you to see the emails as they are stored on the server. If you have an imap mail account that has fully downloaded emails then you should see them. note: it is possible to fully download emails. On old pc whcih is connected to internet, synchronise all folders for offline use to fully download copies of emails. If you can then go into offline mode and see emails they are downloaded into Thunderbird. Then exit Thunderbird (TB must be exited on both pc's) and copy 'Thunderbird' folder from old to new pc. If you are talking about a pop mail account then they should be visible.
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Just to be sure, in the menu across the top, go to View|Folders and make sure it's set to All.

If you don't have this menu, press and hold the alt key, then tap V to open the View sub-menu, then select All.

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In thunderbird?


Zenos said

Just to be sure, in the menu across the top, go to View|Folders and make sure it's set to All. If you don't have this menu, press and hold the alt key, then tap V to open the View sub-menu, then select All.
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could my problem just be my pc?

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scustalow said

In thunderbird? Zenos said
Just to be sure, in the menu across the top, go to View|Folders and make sure it's set to All. If you don't have this menu, press and hold the alt key, then tap V to open the View sub-menu, then select All.

Absolutely.

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Yes..I just don't understand..after I copy the backup the first time I open thunderbird..it works..then when I close it and reopen only one email profile and emails are there..why wouldn't the program not save it ?

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any more thoughts on my problem?

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No other options for help?

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Please logon to the webmail account (using a browser) of each email address which has missing emails. Q:Do you see folders and emails in the webmail account? Check that you have selected to use imap forwarding. (I am assuming that you want to use IMAP)

Q:please confirm for both accounts :

  • you can logon to webmail account using a browser
  • see server folders and all emails
  • Imap Forwarding (not POP) has been selected.

In Thunderbird If it is imap: Right click on the account name with missing emails and select 'Subscribe' a window opens with a list of folders. Q: Do you see a list of server folders ? If yes, select all the folders you want to see and click on 'Subscribe' button. click on 'OK'

  • Right click on the account name with missing emails and select 'Settings'
  • Select 'Server Settings' for account
  • Select 'Check for new messages at startup'
  • Select: 'check for new messages every 20 minutes'
  • select 'Allow immediate server notification when new messages arrive'


  • select 'Synchronisation & Storage' for account
  • Select 'keep messages for this account on this computer'
  • click on 'Advanced'
  • Confirm all folders are listed and selected.
  • click on OK

Under 'Disk Space' section

  • select 'Synchronise all messages locally regardless of age'
  • select 'don't delete any messages'
  • click on 'OK to save and close Account Settings.

Send an email from the good visible account to each of the other email addresses. After a short while that email should get downloaded to each imap maila ccount. Does this occur ?

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