Join the Mozilla’s Test Days event from Dec 2–8 to test the new Firefox address bar on Firefox Beta 134 and get a chance to win Mozilla swag vouchers! 🎁

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

Main window blank, all accounts gone after upgrade to 68.3.1 on OSX Catalina SOLVED by deleting global-messages-db.sqlite

  • 7 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 12 views
  • Last reply by MarkJr

more options

I upgraded to 68.3.1 because the global search window (the one that searches across all boxes) never worked since I switched laptops to OSX Catalina. Instead of fixing the problem, I now see a completely blank window. If I click on "About Thunderbird" it is perpetually stuck on "Applying Update".

This is after several reboots. It sounds similar to this thread: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1268403

However that is a Windows install.

When I start to compose a new message, none of my identities / accounts are available in the "From" pulldown.

Going into Tools -> Account Settings does nothing.

If I go into File -> Get New Messages For, I do see my list of accounts.

I upgraded to 68.3.1 because the global search window (the one that searches across all boxes) never worked since I switched laptops to OSX Catalina. Instead of fixing the problem, I now see a completely blank window. If I click on "About Thunderbird" it is perpetually stuck on "Applying Update". This is after several reboots. It sounds similar to this thread: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1268403 However that is a Windows install. When I start to compose a new message, none of my identities / accounts are available in the "From" pulldown. Going into Tools -> Account Settings does nothing. If I go into File -> Get New Messages For, I do see my list of accounts.
Attached screenshots

Modified by Wayne Mery

Chosen solution

SOLVED via another thread,

sfhowes said

Apart from Enigmail issues, the problem of the disappearing profile after the update is often fixed by deleting the global sqlite file: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1277737

see: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1277603

Read this answer in context 👍 0

All Replies (7)

more options

1. visit help > troubleshooting > about:profiles - how many profiles are listed and what are their names?

2. is thunderbird properly installed? in other words, is it running from the .dmg download file, or is it running from the applications folder?

more options

Wayne Mery said

1. visit help > troubleshooting > about:profiles - how many profiles are listed and what are their names?

Going to Help -> Troubleshooting Information doesn't do anything, the windows just remain blank.

2. is thunderbird properly installed? in other words, is it running from the .dmg download file, or is it running from the applications folder?

It is definitely running from the applications folder. I deleted and reinstalled it just in case.

Also, when I move the ~Library/Thunderbird directory to make it look like a fresh install, it seems to be working. I'd have to re-add all my email accounts and start with new profiles I guess.

So it must be something in my profiles data that is causing this.

Modified by MarkJr

more options

If your system isn't using the correct profile (where the data is stored) you can get to the profile manager another way. I'm not a Mac person so this might take a couple iterations. 1. open terminal window 2. do /Applications/Thunderbird.app/Contents/MacOS/thunderbird-bin -profilemanager --allow-downgrade

Thunderbird will open with profile manager. Typically, the profile at the top of the list will be the default profile that had your data.

more options

Problem solved?

more options

Hi, sorry about that interval. Been using Postbox since this posting but it has its own issues that drive me a little crazy.

So I tried this, your command line got it right, it brought up two profiles:

default and default-release

neither works

I think at this point I will run this command, use it to create a new profile, re-add all my accounts, then re add all my filter rules.

In other words, rebuild my config from scratch

I saw a new version today but that upgrade didn't work either.

Thanks again.

more options

Restore your profile from backup and downgrade back to 60.9.1 until tbird gets their sh*t together. Can't believe they released something so broken.

Disable upgrade feature as well until it's fixed.

more options

Chosen Solution

SOLVED via another thread,

sfhowes said

Apart from Enigmail issues, the problem of the disappearing profile after the update is often fixed by deleting the global sqlite file: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1277737

see: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1277603