As you have been using webmail for a while, you will probably have lots of various folders with emails. POP mail accounts can only get access to the server Inbox, so it would mean a lot of messing about moving emails into the webmail server Inbox, making sure Thunderbird pop mail account is set to 'Leave messages on server' and then download. Then resort everything back into the various folders. In webmail account, I suggest you select to use '''IMAP''' forwarding. then create an IMAP mail account for the email address in Thunderbird. This will offer you a remote view of all folders on the server. '''How to create a mail account:''' File > New > Existing mail account or Menu icon > New Messages > Existing mail account * Enter name * Enter email address * enter password (same one you use to access webmail) * click on 'Continue' thunderbird will try to locate configuration settings. Make sure IMAP has been selected and all looks correct and click on 'done' to create the mail account. If you need to alter anything or Thunderbird cannot locate settings, use the 'Manual Conf ig' button to manually enter details and then use the 'retest' button to check. when all is good, click on 'Done'. IMAP mail accounts see a remote view of the folders on the server. You subscribe to see any folder you choose. Headers only are downloaded and when you select to see an email, the rest of the message is downloaded to a temporary cache to facilate viewing. These emails are not copied and stored in Thunderbird. So, you cannot read emails if in offline mode. However, if you synchronise those subscribed folders, then a copy is downloaded to your thunderbird profile folder. You can read emails even in offline mode. It is also easy to backup the profile folder or individual emails as .eml files. Offline mode means Thunderbird is not connecting to the internet even if the computer is connected to internet. This link tells you all about synchronising folders. * https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/imap-synchronization Remember - if you delete from either webmail or via Thunderbird, the email will get deleted from both. This is because the folders are one and the same. If you ever get a corrupted folder in Thunderbird, it could cause issues like deleted emails which would effect emails stored on server. So please create a backup after downloading. I know it sounds a bit dramatic, but it is merely common sense and hopefully will never be needed. So, it is a good idea to back up your thunderbird profile folder after setting up imap mail account and synchronising folders. Backup info: * http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_backup * http://kb.mozillazine.org/IMAP_backup