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Backing up Gmail on Thunderbird

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  • Last reply by Howster

Howster
Howster
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Hi, I want to backup my Gmail on Thunderbird so all the email is held locally on my PC with the intention of closing the Gmail account in month or so. I have added the Gmail account to latest Thunderbird in my Windows 10 PC and I see if I delete an email from Gmail.com that same email deletes in my Thunderbird inbox. Is there a way to download all the emails but keep a copy so that if emails are deleted remotely at Gmail.com they aren't deleted from the Thunderbird inbox. I ultimately want to close my Gmail account and delete the data but be able to access the local copies using Thunderbird going forward should I need some old info. Thanks

Hi, I want to backup my Gmail on Thunderbird so all the email is held locally on my PC with the intention of closing the Gmail account in month or so. I have added the Gmail account to latest Thunderbird in my Windows 10 PC and I see if I delete an email from Gmail.com that same email deletes in my Thunderbird inbox. Is there a way to download all the emails but keep a copy so that if emails are deleted remotely at Gmail.com they aren't deleted from the Thunderbird inbox. I ultimately want to close my Gmail account and delete the data but be able to access the local copies using Thunderbird going forward should I need some old info. Thanks

Chosen solution

go here https://takeout.google.com/settings/takeout?pli=1

Use Google takeout to get you gmail data in the MBOX format. It might take some days for them to email you the link. Download the data files. Open Thunderbird Goto the troubleshooting information on the help menu Select the show button for the profile folder in the troubleshooting information. Close down Thunderbird it must not be running for the next step. In the windows file explorer window that opens open the mail folder and then the "local folders" folder. Save all your data files into the local folders folder. Rename your files so any files like inbox.mbox are called inbox. (Make sure they end in a .)

Restart Thunderbird and you mail will be in the local folders in Thunderbird.

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All Replies (2)

Matt
Matt
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Chosen Solution

go here https://takeout.google.com/settings/takeout?pli=1

Use Google takeout to get you gmail data in the MBOX format. It might take some days for them to email you the link. Download the data files. Open Thunderbird Goto the troubleshooting information on the help menu Select the show button for the profile folder in the troubleshooting information. Close down Thunderbird it must not be running for the next step. In the windows file explorer window that opens open the mail folder and then the "local folders" folder. Save all your data files into the local folders folder. Rename your files so any files like inbox.mbox are called inbox. (Make sure they end in a .)

Restart Thunderbird and you mail will be in the local folders in Thunderbird.

Howster
Howster Question owner
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Thanks Matt.