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: Import Failed Unexpectedly

  • 3 majibu
  • 1 ana tatizo hili
  • 36 views
  • Last reply by Matt

LN108
LN108
more options

Sadly, my old Windows 10 PC crashed, and I'm migrating to a new computer. I have a backup of the old default profile folder (9k7faw1z.default), but not of the entire Profiles folder. I have tried to import this old default profile using the import function in my new Thunderbird install on my new Windows 11 computer.

Alas, I get the error message "Import failed unexpectedly; more information may be available in the Error Console." I looked in the error console, and it's empty.

Is there a better way to import my old data from my old default profile folder? It's 3GB of valuable data and I'll be in a pickle if I can't access it.

Thanks very much.

Sadly, my old Windows 10 PC crashed, and I'm migrating to a new computer. I have a backup of the old default profile folder (9k7faw1z.default), but not of the entire Profiles folder. I have tried to import this old default profile using the import function in my new Thunderbird install on my new Windows 11 computer. Alas, I get the error message "Import failed unexpectedly; more information may be available in the Error Console." I looked in the error console, and it's empty. Is there a better way to import my old data from my old default profile folder? It's 3GB of valuable data and I'll be in a pickle if I can't access it. Thanks very much.
Attached screenshots

All Replies (3)

Matt
Matt
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

I will assume you did not get your copy of Thunderbird in the app store, but downloaded it from thunderbird.net

Open Thunderbird on your new computer. Close the welcome stuff and cancel out of everything a new install entails.

Open the troubleshooting information on the help menu. Navigate to the show profile folder button and press it. close Thunderbird. copy the contents of the 9k7faw1z.default folder, including any sub folders into the folder opened in the windows file explorer. It will probably have a name ending in "default release" Start Thunderbird once to copy is complete.

It should "just work"

LN108
LN108 Mwenye swali
more options

Thanks very much, Matt. This did "just work", except that it didn't restore my local folders. Where would I find them? Any way to migrate them?

Matt
Matt
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

Check in the local folders account that the local directory that is set is in the new profile location. Something in the past may has seen is set to the absolute location on your old machine