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Load Mac Mail Email from Time Machine Backup

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tijoev
tijoev
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I have a new computer that I want to use Thunderbird on. The old emails are from Mac Mail and on a Time Machine backup drive. I need to move the backed up emails into Thunderbird.

The Thunderbird import tool will only work if Mac Mail is set-up. It does not allow any navigation to the backup drive. I have tried copying the .mbox files into Mail > Local Folders. I see a folder with the name but there are no emails.

Is it possible to migrate the backed up emails without first setting up Mac Mail?

Thanks, Joe

I have a new computer that I want to use Thunderbird on. The old emails are from Mac Mail and on a Time Machine backup drive. I need to move the backed up emails into Thunderbird. The Thunderbird import tool will only work if Mac Mail is set-up. It does not allow any navigation to the backup drive. I have tried copying the .mbox files into Mail > Local Folders. I see a folder with the name but there are no emails. Is it possible to migrate the backed up emails without first setting up Mac Mail? Thanks, Joe

All Replies (1)

Zenos
Zenos
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No you need to install Mac Mail. Thunderbird cannot understand or use its backup directly.

You could go about it by installing Thunderbird on the old machine, importing there and then transferring Thunderbird's profile to the new machine. But given that you have a backup, I'd install Mac Mail on the new machine and import from there.

But if you were using IMAP then most of this may not be necessary. Try just adding your email accounts to Thunderbird and see what appears.

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