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Can Thunderbird retain all my emails even after my ISP deletes my email account?

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  • Paskiausią atsakymą parašė user1474979

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I have downloaded Thunderbird and have synced it to my primary ISP email account. This account contains some 6k emails. However I want to end my ISP account soon. Can Thunderbird retain all 6k emails I already have even after my ISP deletes my email account entirely? Many thanks.

I have downloaded Thunderbird and have synced it to my primary ISP email account. This account contains some 6k emails. However I want to end my ISP account soon. Can Thunderbird retain all 6k emails I already have even after my ISP deletes my email account entirely? Many thanks.

Chosen solution

Hello Airmail,

Thank you very much for your swift reply. I have made a new folder under the Thunderbird Local Folders account and copied all 6k emails there. I have clicked on a few of these in the new folder; the header and content are both visible.

I shall close the account with my ISP tomorrow!

Many thanks again Airmail.

Skaityti atsakymą kartu su kontekstu 👍 0

All Replies (2)

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That depends. If using IMAP messages are on the providers server. Lose touch with the server, lose the mail. POP mail stores messages on your local drive but they are still associated with the email account. If you remove the account from Thunderbird the messages go also.

The best practice in both cases is to make folders under the Thunderbird Local Folders account and copy your messages there. Now they are on your local drive and not tied to any email service or provider. After you copy the messages to local folders make sure you have the entire message vs just the message headers and can open and read them before deleting the originals or discontinuing service with your provider.

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Chosen Solution

Hello Airmail,

Thank you very much for your swift reply. I have made a new folder under the Thunderbird Local Folders account and copied all 6k emails there. I have clicked on a few of these in the new folder; the header and content are both visible.

I shall close the account with my ISP tomorrow!

Many thanks again Airmail.