Adding gmail to existing Thunderbird account
About a week ago my email server, Windstream, deleted our email account. I use Thunderbird all the time and it (of course) just quit. I am very irritated at Windstream and decided to create a Gmail account. My problem is I have used Thunderbird and my windstream email (us4448@windstream.net) for years and years. Now I cannot use it for sending email...BUT, all my addresses are there plus about 25 files that I used for holding important emails for myself. I do not want to lose those. I am hoping I can just add the gmail address to my existing thunderbird account. I have been looking at support....and I see how to add that email....but I don't want a new Thunderbird account......I want the old one with the new email address. I can't see where it says that the Thunderbird will stay the same with just a different address. I hope you can help. Thank you so much for any help you can give me.
All Replies (6)
You add it and it will not stay the same, it will add another email address on the left, usually, to indicate the new account.
Thank you for your answer......do You mean when I put in a new email address that will wipe out all my folders and addresses?
Modified by us4448
Thank you for your answer.....do you mean if I put in a new email address that it will wipe out all my addresses and folders from the old Thunderbird? Ugh. Was hoping to be able to keep those.
No I was meaning the folders will look more like this
Oh....than I will have folders for each email. I can't remove the email address that Windstream deleted? but, I can add the gmail one and then will have folders under each email? I just don't want to lose the folders.....and all my addresses, but I think I can figure those out....it is the folders I can't figure out how to move to the new gmail account....Thank you for the help.
All your Address Books are still in Thunderbird as they have nothing to do with any mail account.
If you have a gmail email address and you want to access it via Thunderbird then you need to create a mail account for that email address in Thunderbird. Before you create the gmail mail account - I suggest you logon to the gmail webmail account using a browser and in 'Settings' > 'Labels' section uncheck the option to allow the 'All Mail' folder imap access. It will stop you seeing that folder in Thunderbird.
It is best to set up as IMAP using Oauth so cookies must be enabled.. Make sure Thunderbird is allowed to save cookies.
- Select 'Menu app icon' > 'Preferences'
- In 'Preferences' left Pane select 'Privacy & Security'
- Select checkbox 'Accept cookies from sites'
In Thunderbird. Menu app icon > New > Existing Mail Account Enter Name Enter gmail email address Enter Password - same one you use to access gmail webmail account. Select checkbox to remember password click on 'Continue' Thunderbird checks for server settings. By default it sets up as IMAP using OAuth when all ok click on Done. You will get a prompt from Gmail to enter password to allow thundrebird access - they are just checking you really are you. Then a token will get stored in the password Manager.
This gmail mail account will appear below the windstream mail account, It has it's own set of folders and you can choose to create new folders and subscribe to see folders created in the gmail webmail account.
For the Windstream old account in Thunderbird - suggest you create suitable folders in the 'Local Folders' mail account and get copies of emails moved from the Windstream account folders into 'Local Folders' mail account for storage. Copy batches of emails - not too large and take your time - assuming you have full copies downloaded you should be able to move them into Local Folders mail account and still be able to read emails.
Once this is done, you can then remove the windstream mail account.
Modified by Toad-Hall