How to combine two profiles into one, or move the email account from one profile into the other profile so as to preserve all account settings, messages, etc?
I am using Thunderbird 60.9.1 (32-bit). I have two profiles, each with one email account. I would like to combine the two profiles so that I can access either email account without having to close Thunderbird and reopen it in a different profile. Alternatively, I would like to move one email account into the other profile so as to combine them. And of course I want to preserve all the settings, email messages, etc, for each account. How can I do this, and if there is more than one way, what is the best way?
All Replies (13)
Open TB in one profile and add the account from the other profile from File/New/Existing Mail Account. If the other account is set up as IMAP, the mail will sync as soon as it's added. If it's POP or the other profile has folders in Local Folders you wish to transfer, export the folders with ImportExportTools NG as mbox files, in the other profile, and import them in the combined profile with the same add-on, but import them to Local Folders, even the POP folders. That way, both accounts are in the same profile, and mail from the other account is accessible in LF.
The same export/import process will also work for address books and calendars.
Thank you. I downloaded and installed ImportExportTools NG, but I do not see a menu option to export folders as mbox files. What should I do?
Right-click a folder, ImportExportTools NG, Export folder, Export folder (zipped), Export folder with..., all of these commands export mbox files.
Thank you. I did not know that. I have followed the instructions in your first response and successfully added the account from one profile to the other, then imported the folders from the one profile into the combined one. So I'm good to go. Thank you.
sfhowes
I'm trying to get all my folders, etc.. from one laptop to another. They both have TBird installed and thus I have two profiles.
I have set up the e-mail accounts in both profiles so I'm good there. I just want to move the Local Folders and saved e-mails from one laptop to another.
I did a csv export for the address book and spent a lot of time fixing old entries and had a good import of that.
Will try calendar this evening.
BTW - Using Windows 10 Pro and I'm on the Thunderbird Beta channel so currently running v 76.0b1
I tried to install the Import/Export/Tools NG, but it is not yet compatible with v 76.0b1
Suggestions?
Cheers,
Nolan K. Texas
nolanktx said
sfhowes I'm trying to get all my folders, etc.. from one laptop to another. They both have TBird installed and thus I have two profiles. I have set up the e-mail accounts in both profiles so I'm good there. I just want to move the Local Folders and saved e-mails from one laptop to another. I did a csv export for the address book and spent a lot of time fixing old entries and had a good import of that. Will try calendar this evening. BTW - Using Windows 10 Pro and I'm on the Thunderbird Beta channel so currently running v 76.0b1 I tried to install the Import/Export/Tools NG, but it is not yet compatible with v 76.0b1 Suggestions?
Copy the mbox files - the large files named after a folder and with no extension - from the source computer to the Mail/Local Folders location of the target computer, while TB is closed. The folders should appear under Local Folders in the Folder Pane when TB is restarted. The source mbox files are in Mail/Local Folders, Mail/<popservername> and ImapMail/<imapservername> in the profile folder. Help/Troubleshooting, click Open Folder to open the profile folder.
Put comment with quote ... below.
Modified by nolanktx
BTW - Using Windows 10 Pro and I'm on the Thunderbird Beta channel so currently running v 76.0b1 I tried to install the Import/Export/Tools NG, but it is not yet compatible with v 76.0b1 Suggestions?
Copy the mbox files - the large files named after a folder and with no extension - from the source computer to the Mail/Local Folders location of the target computer, while TB is closed. The folders should appear under Local Folders in the Folder Pane when TB is restarted. The source mbox files are in Mail/Local Folders, Mail/<popservername> and ImapMail/<imapservername> in the profile folder. Help/Troubleshooting, click Open Folder to open the profile folder.
Just did a trial run of one folder. First time I had not properly read your note to remove the file extension.
Did that and my trial folder and it's 3 sub-folders now appear in the profile on the other laptop. Thank you so very much.
Next question: How do I get all the e-mail messages under each folder moved over?
FWIW ... I'll be keeping the older laptop around and hopefully it won't be too long before the Import/Export/Tools NG will be updated for the newer Beta 76.0b1.
I might also hold off on the next update for a spell as well.
Cheers,
Nolan K. Texas
A folder that has a subfolder, indicated by a .sbd folder, also has mbox files in the .sbd, and can be copied the same way. It might even work by copying the entire folder tree. Ignore the .msf files that have the same name as the mbox - they are rebuilt when TB restarts. Avoid copying mass numbers of messages from Local Folders to IMAP folders.
sfhowes Top 10 Contributor said
A folder that has a subfolder, indicated by a .sbd folder, also has mbox files in the .sbd, and can be copied the same way. It might even work by copying the entire folder tree. Ignore the .msf files that have the same name as the mbox - they are rebuilt when TB restarts. Avoid copying mass numbers of messages from Local Folders to IMAP folders.
Well ... I'm doing quite well in getting the Local File "folders" moved over, but not having luck with the files or e-mails that are in each respective folder.
I've even tried the *.msf files and removed the ".msf", but still no joy.
I'm sure I'm not doing something quite right.
Cheers,
Nolan K. Texas
Ignore the .msf files - they contain no message bodies. The mbox files in account subfolders, e.g. Mail/pop.gmail.com or ImapMail/imap.mail.yahoo.com, are similar - they are large and have no extension, and are named Inbox, Sent, Templates etc.
sfhowes Top 10 Contributor said
Ignore the .msf files - they contain no message bodies. The mbox files in account subfolders, e.g. Mail/pop.gmail.com or ImapMail/imap.mail.yahoo.com, are similar - they are large and have no extension, and are named Inbox, Sent, Templates etc.
I've already handled/moved the pop and imap mail accounts from the old to the new laptop.
I'm just trying to move the folders/sub-folders and all e-mails I've saved in "Local Folders"
I might be understanding something here, but am giving it a go.
Cheers,
Nolan K. Texas
sfhowes
Just want to express my appreciation for your help.
For whatever reason not all the folders are/were visible without an extension. Even some of the new folders I've created on the destination laptop are not visible.
But ... no matter I've been able to get the bulk of my data ID'd and moved and will finish up the few remaining this morning.
Thanks again for your help.
Cheers,
Nolan K. Texas