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

Importing old email folders from backup hard drive

  • 3
  • 0
  • 122 views
  • Nzaghachi ikpeazụ nke david

more options

Hi, I am trying to import some old T-Bird email folders backed up in 2014 on an external hard drive. Since then I had a computer failure and rebuilt my T-Bird account but now I am looking for pre-crash emails. From the backup profile I can dig down to the Local Folders in the Mail and they are all there but when I try to import as a new local folder (even if I rename it as that's not important) a new empty T-Bird folder shows up in the side bar. Someone also suggested that I could just click on "open" under T-Bird as the default directly from the ext hard drive but that creates an empty T-Bird import folder. I also tried compressing as a zip file and importing but that doesn't seem to work either. Any insight/advice would be appreciated!

Hi, I am trying to import some old T-Bird email folders backed up in 2014 on an external hard drive. Since then I had a computer failure and rebuilt my T-Bird account but now I am looking for pre-crash emails. From the backup profile I can dig down to the Local Folders in the Mail and they are all there but when I try to import as a new local folder (even if I rename it as that's not important) a new empty T-Bird folder shows up in the side bar. Someone also suggested that I could just click on "open" under T-Bird as the default directly from the ext hard drive but that creates an empty T-Bird import folder. I also tried compressing as a zip file and importing but that doesn't seem to work either. Any insight/advice would be appreciated!

Asịsa ahọpụtara

My approach would be to use Windows File Explorer (assuming you use Windows) to copy the files from old profile to the Mail\Local Folders folder.

Gụọ azịza a na nghọta 👍 2

All Replies (3)

more options

Asịsa Ahọpụtara

My approach would be to use Windows File Explorer (assuming you use Windows) to copy the files from old profile to the Mail\Local Folders folder.

more options

Hi David, Thanks for your reply. unfortunately I'm on a Mac... :/

more options

Well, the same solution should apply. I presume the Mac has a file manager and, with Thunderbird not running, locate the old folders on the external drive and copy to the Mail\Local Folders folder on the Mac. You can find the specific location by clicking help>troubleshootinginformation, scrolling down to 'profile folder' and click 'open folder' - that places you in the profile and the Mail folder should appear.