2 Questions I need help with in Thunderbird
I have two issues with Thunderbird that I would love some help to fix.
I got a new computer running Windows 11 Home, Version 21H2, 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor, with Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22000.1098.0.
I installed Thunderbird version 102.4.1. on my new computer. It launched and worked fine. I did not set up any email accounts. Thunderbird worked fine until I messed it up trying to bring over the "profile folder" from my old computer, in "Troubleshooting Thunderbird" menu selection, to my new computer in "Troubleshooting Thunderbird" menu selection and then in Explorer. Again my old computer is running Windows 10 Home version 21H1, 64 bit operating system, x64-based processor, Windows Feature Experience Pack 120.2212.4180.0. The line set up is not the same between Windows 10 and 11 in the "Troubleshooting Thunderbird" pull down menu selection. And the file menu path, and the file and folder names in Windows Explorer is different between Windows 10 and 11. I will explain how and why Thunderbird got messed up.
On my old computer, which is running Thunderbird version 102.4.0. I launched Thunderbird and clicked on "open", in "Thunderbird Troubleshooting" file menu, and then clicked on the Profile Folder line which brought me to Explorer . I then closed Thunderbird. I followed the instructions and went back 3 levels on the file path, in Explorer and copied the "Profiles" file and pasted it into my cloud. I then opened Thunderbird on my new computer and went to Troubleshooting and there is no "profile folder selection", like on my old computer. There was a "File History" selection, and just above that another file selection, but I do not remember the name, sorry. However I remembered it was a logical name to be a "Profile Folder" that might work, so I clicked on it and it opened File Explorer. I then closed thunderbird. I went back 3 levels on the file path in explorer, ( again this is in Thunderbird on the new computer), but there was no "profile" folder anywhere in the file path in Explorer. I copied the profile folder from my cloud and pasted it into the "program" file folder in Explorer. Then I tried to launch Thunderbird and it wouldn't load, but it displayed a dialog box that said "Your Thunderbird profile cannot be loaded. It may be missing or inaccessible." I then went into Explorer and searched through folders trying to find the file I had pasted to. I also searched for a another file to paste it to, but couldn't find any folder, that was logical to use. I uninstalled Thunderbird and restarted my computer, and then reinstalled Thunderbird but it still wouldn't launch and still gave me the dialog box "Your Thunderbird profile cannot be loaded. It may be missing or inaccessible." So is there someone out there that can help me fix Thunderbird? PLEASE!!
The other thing I would love someone to help with is this. As I mentioned earlier, the file names and file paths in Windows 10 Home, are different from the file names and file paths in Explorer in Windows 11 Home. So I do not know where to paste the files "Profile "folder into Windows 11 Home. Also the display line names are different under the "Troubleshooting Thunderbird" menu selection, inside Thunderbird, between the Windows 10 Home and Window 11 Home. I need help figuring out what and where files and folders from 10, go into 11 in Explorer, to make Thunderbird transfer profiles, preferences, and set ups, migrate and work properly. So I think the online instructions might need to be updated, too. But there is also the possibility I just don't know what I am talking about or just totally missed something.
Thank you for reading this.
Chosen solution
Thunderbird 102 looks exactly the same on Windows 10 and 11. The layout of the Troubleshooting Information page also looks exactly the same, especially the table under the Application Basics heading. The menu path for accessing the Troubleshooting Information page hasn't changed between Windows 10 and 11 either. It is still accessed by clicking Thunderbird's menu button > Help > More Troubleshooting Information.
Thunderbird 102 has the ability to import a profile. You simply point it to the profile folder, but before we get to that, let's fix Thunderbird not launching on the new computer. No need to uninstall/reinstall it.
First, open File Explorer on the new computer. In the address bar, type %AppData% and press Enter. This will take you straight to the C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming folder for your current Windows user account. We often simply refer to it as AppData\Roaming in short. Inside this folder, you should see a folder named Thunderbird. The AppData\Roaming folder is where you should have landed when you moved up 3 levels while doing the following:
On my old computer, which is running Thunderbird version 102.4.0. I launched Thunderbird and clicked on "open", in "Thunderbird Troubleshooting" file menu, and then clicked on the Profile Folder line which brought me to Explorer . I then closed Thunderbird. I followed the instructions and went back 3 levels on the file path, in Explorer and copied the "Profiles" file and pasted it into my cloud.
Select the Thunderbird folder located in the AppData\Roaming folder and delete it (make sure you Quit Thunderbird first). This is the location where Thunderbird stores its data, and it stays untouched when you uninstall and reinstall Thunderbird, that's why uninstalling/reinstalling Thunderbird doesn't fix issues related to profiles. You can read more about the AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird folder here Profiles - Where Thunderbird stores your messages and other user data
After deleting the AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird folder, launch Thunderbird. It should load just fine, as if you just started it for the first time. A fresh new AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird folder will be created as a result. Cancel the account setup prompt (do not setup any account). Let me know if we are on the same page up to this point. If any of the steps above is not clear, ask for clarification before you proceed any further.
Read this answer in context 👍 0All Replies (4)
Chosen Solution
Thunderbird 102 looks exactly the same on Windows 10 and 11. The layout of the Troubleshooting Information page also looks exactly the same, especially the table under the Application Basics heading. The menu path for accessing the Troubleshooting Information page hasn't changed between Windows 10 and 11 either. It is still accessed by clicking Thunderbird's menu button > Help > More Troubleshooting Information.
Thunderbird 102 has the ability to import a profile. You simply point it to the profile folder, but before we get to that, let's fix Thunderbird not launching on the new computer. No need to uninstall/reinstall it.
First, open File Explorer on the new computer. In the address bar, type %AppData% and press Enter. This will take you straight to the C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming folder for your current Windows user account. We often simply refer to it as AppData\Roaming in short. Inside this folder, you should see a folder named Thunderbird. The AppData\Roaming folder is where you should have landed when you moved up 3 levels while doing the following:
On my old computer, which is running Thunderbird version 102.4.0. I launched Thunderbird and clicked on "open", in "Thunderbird Troubleshooting" file menu, and then clicked on the Profile Folder line which brought me to Explorer . I then closed Thunderbird. I followed the instructions and went back 3 levels on the file path, in Explorer and copied the "Profiles" file and pasted it into my cloud.
Select the Thunderbird folder located in the AppData\Roaming folder and delete it (make sure you Quit Thunderbird first). This is the location where Thunderbird stores its data, and it stays untouched when you uninstall and reinstall Thunderbird, that's why uninstalling/reinstalling Thunderbird doesn't fix issues related to profiles. You can read more about the AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird folder here Profiles - Where Thunderbird stores your messages and other user data
After deleting the AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird folder, launch Thunderbird. It should load just fine, as if you just started it for the first time. A fresh new AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird folder will be created as a result. Cancel the account setup prompt (do not setup any account). Let me know if we are on the same page up to this point. If any of the steps above is not clear, ask for clarification before you proceed any further.
Thank you so much, I could not see the full file path in the header on the new computer so I screwed up. I extended the header box and there it was. I was able to get to the file in the old computer, copied Thunderbird folder, and pasted it in the file on the new computer, WA LA it worked and loaded all three of my email accounts and all my old and new emails.
However something there has been an issue that has not been fixed. If I am away from home, not connected to my ISP directly, I cannot send emails from Thunderbird. I can receive them ok. I am away from home now. I will look at these error codes my ISP sent me and see if I can determine the problem. Thank you very much!!!! Vincent Venero
That's often the case with some ISP-provided email service. You will have to either use a third-party outgoing server (such as Gmail) to send messages when not connected to your ISP's (home) internet service, or access your home computer remotely to send mail via your ISP's outgoing server.
Thank you for all your help I have everything working correctly and I am able to send emails from where I am at. Please note I tried to select "Mark As Solved" in the email your robot sent me but said page is not available. Thanks again!! Vincent Venero