Remove downloaded contents from Thunderbird Profile but keep imap email accounts
Hello Community,
I have been using Thunderbird with 5 imap email accounts and enabled the 'Keep messages in all folders for this account on this computer' setting.
I want to use the 5 imap accounts without the downloaded content from now.
Now I disabled the 'Keep messages in all folders for this account on this computer' setting on all 5 imap email accounts, but the Thunderbird profile folder still has 8 GB. Even after several restarts of Thunderbird.
How can I remove only the downloaded content in the Thunderbird profile folder, but keep my profile with the 5 imap email accounts without reconfiguring all 5 accounts to a new profile?
I don't want to create a new profile because of this.
Thank you very much for your help.
Regards, Thomas
Réiteach roghnaithe
Create a folder on the Desktop called 'IMAP'.
In Thunderbird. Menu app icon > Help > More Troubleshooting Information Under 'Application Basics' - half way - Profile Folders - click on 'Open Folder' A new window opens showing contents of 'profile name' folder
Exit Thunderbird now
Click on 'ImapMail' folder click on imap mail account name folder
You will see: mbox files - they have no extension and they contain downloaded emails Move those mbox files to the 'IMAP' folder on desktop. If you have subfolders - they will be in folders with a *.sbd extension. Those .sbd folders may contain mbox files - move the mbox files to 'IMAP' folder on desktop. Leave all the *.msf index files alone. Do not move them.
The purpose of moving all those mbox files is to act as a backup - just in case required.
Start Thunderbird.
Check you can access emails.
If all is ok............ The 'IMAP' folder on desktop could be copied to an external drive and act as a backup of the emails. Then you can delete the 'IMAP' folder if desired or leave as it is.
Read this answer in context 👍 1All Replies (4)
re :Now I disabled the 'Keep messages in all folders for this account on this computer' setting
In same area - Account Settings > Synchronisation & Storage, click on the 'Advanced..' button and make sure all the folders and subfolders are not selected.
Restart Thunderbird to ensure account updates are used. Compact all folders.
Hello,
I did exactly what you suggested, but the Thunderbird profile folder still has 8 GB.
Do you have any idea what I could do?
Réiteach Roghnaithe
Create a folder on the Desktop called 'IMAP'.
In Thunderbird. Menu app icon > Help > More Troubleshooting Information Under 'Application Basics' - half way - Profile Folders - click on 'Open Folder' A new window opens showing contents of 'profile name' folder
Exit Thunderbird now
Click on 'ImapMail' folder click on imap mail account name folder
You will see: mbox files - they have no extension and they contain downloaded emails Move those mbox files to the 'IMAP' folder on desktop. If you have subfolders - they will be in folders with a *.sbd extension. Those .sbd folders may contain mbox files - move the mbox files to 'IMAP' folder on desktop. Leave all the *.msf index files alone. Do not move them.
The purpose of moving all those mbox files is to act as a backup - just in case required.
Start Thunderbird.
Check you can access emails.
If all is ok............ The 'IMAP' folder on desktop could be copied to an external drive and act as a backup of the emails. Then you can delete the 'IMAP' folder if desired or leave as it is.
@Toad-Hall : Thank you your solution worked.