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relocate thunderbird files Mac desktop. Answer: not a good idea

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  • Last reply by andynic

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I use Thunderbird on Mac OS X El Capitan and also High Sierra. I want to relocate the standard location of Thunderbird's files from <ussername>/Library/Thunderbird Rather than in Library, I'd rather have tree on the desktop, i.e in <username>/Desktop/Thunderbird I can move the directory tree, but how do I let the software "know", i.e. change the pathname to the Thuderbird directory tree. Thanks for you help, Andynic

I use Thunderbird on Mac OS X El Capitan and also High Sierra. I want to relocate the standard location of Thunderbird's files from <ussername>/Library/Thunderbird Rather than in Library, I'd rather have tree on the desktop, i.e in <username>/Desktop/Thunderbird I can move the directory tree, but how do I let the software "know", i.e. change the pathname to the Thuderbird directory tree. Thanks for you help, Andynic

Modified by Wayne Mery

Chosen solution

Neither of those things is a good idea. you will end up with data loss at a minimum and probably see all sorts of oddities. Thunderbird doers not cope well with any of that sync stuff. Something about having file in the GB range changing every time you move, delete or get mail. Basically the network can not update the files fast enough to keep up so versioning goes to hell on a hand basket.

The preferred approach is to use caldav calendar, IMAP mail accounts and synchronized contacts. ( although the providers beyond google that offer standards based sync are few.)

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What do you hope to achieve placing a whole heap of non user access files on your desktop, other than clutter. The Thunderbird profile folder contains no files that should be accessed in any way other than with Thunderbird

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Either on the desktop o rin the Documents folder. That way I can use iCloud Drive to synchonize Thunderbird on my iMac with my Thunderbird on my Macbook -- mail, calendar, tasks, etc.

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Chosen Solution

Neither of those things is a good idea. you will end up with data loss at a minimum and probably see all sorts of oddities. Thunderbird doers not cope well with any of that sync stuff. Something about having file in the GB range changing every time you move, delete or get mail. Basically the network can not update the files fast enough to keep up so versioning goes to hell on a hand basket.

The preferred approach is to use caldav calendar, IMAP mail accounts and synchronized contacts. ( although the providers beyond google that offer standards based sync are few.)

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Thank you for that, Matt. Will now mark this solved.