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.

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

Can Thunderbird retain all my emails even after my ISP deletes my email account?

  • 2 tontu
  • 1 am na jafe-jafe bii
  • 1 view
  • i mujjee tontu mooy user1474979

more options

I have downloaded Thunderbird and have synced it to my primary ISP email account. This account contains some 6k emails. However I want to end my ISP account soon. Can Thunderbird retain all 6k emails I already have even after my ISP deletes my email account entirely? Many thanks.

I have downloaded Thunderbird and have synced it to my primary ISP email account. This account contains some 6k emails. However I want to end my ISP account soon. Can Thunderbird retain all 6k emails I already have even after my ISP deletes my email account entirely? Many thanks.

Saafara biñ tànn

Hello Airmail,

Thank you very much for your swift reply. I have made a new folder under the Thunderbird Local Folders account and copied all 6k emails there. I have clicked on a few of these in the new folder; the header and content are both visible.

I shall close the account with my ISP tomorrow!

Many thanks again Airmail.

Jàng tontu lii ci fi mu bokk 👍 0

All Replies (2)

more options

That depends. If using IMAP messages are on the providers server. Lose touch with the server, lose the mail. POP mail stores messages on your local drive but they are still associated with the email account. If you remove the account from Thunderbird the messages go also.

The best practice in both cases is to make folders under the Thunderbird Local Folders account and copy your messages there. Now they are on your local drive and not tied to any email service or provider. After you copy the messages to local folders make sure you have the entire message vs just the message headers and can open and read them before deleting the originals or discontinuing service with your provider.

more options

Saafara yiñ Tànn

Hello Airmail,

Thank you very much for your swift reply. I have made a new folder under the Thunderbird Local Folders account and copied all 6k emails there. I have clicked on a few of these in the new folder; the header and content are both visible.

I shall close the account with my ISP tomorrow!

Many thanks again Airmail.