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.

error: Thunderbird profile cannot be loaded

  • 1 reply
  • 1 has this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by atErik

dhender
dhender
more options

I use Ubuntu and installed Thunderbird. But I get an error message: "Your Thunderbird profile cannot be loaded. It may be missing or inaccessible." Please advise me how to fix this.

I use Ubuntu and installed Thunderbird. But I get an error message: "Your Thunderbird profile cannot be loaded. It may be missing or inaccessible." Please advise me how to fix this.

All Replies (1)

atErik
atErik
more options

TB-profile in Linux (ubuntu,etc) can be in slightly different folders, but general location is here: "~/.thunderbird/" or here: "~/.mozilla-thunderbird-<profile-name>/"

the "~" aka $HOME directory is usally here: "/Users/<LinuxUserName>/"

so mentioned TB-profile is actually here: "/Users/<LinuxUserName>/.thunderbird/"


you will find TB-profile sub-folders "xxxxxxxx.profile-name" either under above mentioned two location, or under "Profiles" sub-folder.

try to use exact same version of TB what you were using earlier. if you find "*.mab.bak" files inside TB-profile folder, rename them back to "*.mab".

files/folders that uses dot "." as 1st char/symbol, are hidden files/folders , so in your File-Browser software : select the option to Unide them 1st or Show hidden files. if you press Ctrl+H in file-browser , then hidden files will be shown , another press of Ctrl+H will toggle the view mode & hide them.

disable auto-update in TB.

once/when mail-accounts, settings, etc are working fine, then export Contacts from TB-Address-Book into CSV,txt, etc file. update/upgrade TB into latest series/version of TB. import contacts from CSV/txt,etc file.


see macOS & windows based info pages linked in below, then you can apply similar pattern in linux.


More/Related Info: • Regain old data , in Windows : by using downgrade process, or by using a Second-TB, or by using manual file-transfer,etc). • Downgrade TB in macOS: downgrade by using second-TB , upgrade/downgrade TB. • Convert MAB/mork based Address-Book into other format. • Disabled auto-update of TB : inside the linked page , click on the topside 1st link to goto the auto-update disable instruction page into another website.

Modified by atErik