Avatar for Username

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

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

Can I use the same default folder/accounts with two startup drives - Mac

  • 1 reply
  • 0 have this problem
  • 11 views
  • Last reply by sfhowes

andrew129
andrew129
more options

I have two startup drives on our Mac. One uses an older OS (10.11) and one uses 10.15. I have to have the two startup drives because of software limitations; a number of applications we use can't be upgraded to work with more current OS options.

We use Thunderbird for our email accounts, keeping track of at least 40 different addresses for personal and work purposes, and have been happy with how it works. This is installed on the "older" system start-up drive.

I would like to install Thunderbird on the more updated drive too but was wondering if I can, somehow, just point Thunderbird to the existing default folder on the other drive? The goal is, when I. use the new system, that I can continue where I left off with Thunderbird. Using the same default folder would mean, hopefully, that any changes/updates would continuously show up in whichever OS I'm using.

I'm hoping this makes sense. . . .anyone know if it can be done without copying the folder somewhere else? I want the one folder to serve both Thunderbirds so that it's always current.

Thanks for any advice.

I have two startup drives on our Mac. One uses an older OS (10.11) and one uses 10.15. I have to have the two startup drives because of software limitations; a number of applications we use can't be upgraded to work with more current OS options. We use Thunderbird for our email accounts, keeping track of at least 40 different addresses for personal and work purposes, and have been happy with how it works. This is installed on the "older" system start-up drive. I would like to install Thunderbird on the more updated drive too but was wondering if I can, somehow, just point Thunderbird to the existing default folder on the other drive? The goal is, when I. use the new system, that I can continue where I left off with Thunderbird. Using the same default folder would mean, hopefully, that any changes/updates would continuously show up in whichever OS I'm using. I'm hoping this makes sense. . . .anyone know if it can be done without copying the folder somewhere else? I want the one folder to serve both Thunderbirds so that it's always current. Thanks for any advice.

All Replies (1)

sfhowes
sfhowes
  • Top 25 Contributor
more options

The last version of TB for OS X 10.11 is TB 78, but for 10.15, TB 115 is the current release. If you install 78 on both drives you might be able to share the profile with the help of Profile Manager. The drawback, of course, is that 78 is not updated, and might not work with some providers that require modern security or authentication standards. If you install 115 on 10.15, it will be difficult to share the profile with 10.11, but if the accounts are set up as IMAP on both drives, mail will be synced between the two without the need to share a profile.