We're calling on all EU-based Mozillians with iOS or iPadOS devices to help us monitor Apple’s new browser choice screens. Join the effort to hold Big Tech to account!

Avatar for Username

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

Copying message file in Local Folders

  • 3 replies
  • 0 have this problem
  • Last reply by david

Norio
Norio
more options

If I copy a message file of Local Folders from the Thunderbird profile on one computer to the corresponding path on another computer, will Thunderbird process it correctly?

I see my e-mails in Local Folders are stored in this file, /home/norio/.thunderbird/<random>.default-release/Mail/Local\ Folders/<subfolder_name>.sbd/Inbox If I copy this file to the same path (except rewriting <random> string) on another computer by OS's commands (like cp and rsync), will the messages show up in Thunderbird on the destination computer?

I see many back-up and recovery articles that instructs the users to copy the entire profile directory and copy it to the new computer. I wonder if I can copy only a message file, so that I don't have to overwrite the entire settings and messages on the destination computer.

If I copy a message file of Local Folders from the Thunderbird profile on one computer to the corresponding path on another computer, will Thunderbird process it correctly? I see my e-mails in Local Folders are stored in this file, /home/norio/.thunderbird/<random>.default-release/Mail/Local\ Folders/<subfolder_name>.sbd/Inbox If I copy this file to the same path (except rewriting <random> string) on another computer by OS's commands (like cp and rsync), will the messages show up in Thunderbird on the destination computer? I see many back-up and recovery articles that instructs the users to copy the entire profile directory and copy it to the new computer. I wonder if I can copy only a message file, so that I don't have to overwrite the entire settings and messages on the destination computer.

Chosen solution

Yes, that works. Do it with windows file explorer (if using Windows) and it works. If a message file, no need to also copy the xxx.sbd folder.

Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (3)

david
david
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

Chosen Solution

Yes, that works. Do it with windows file explorer (if using Windows) and it works. If a message file, no need to also copy the xxx.sbd folder.

Helpful?

Norio
Norio Question owner
more options

david, thank you for your reply. It worked. Below is a log for someone who wants to know more.

I wanted to have the messages in a subfolder under "Local Folders." So, I created this subfolder in Thunberbird by right-clicking on "Local Folders." I looked at the path, /home/norio/.thunderbird/<random>.default-release/Mail/Local\ Folders/ but <subfolder_name.sbd> has not been created. (This might be because I didn't restart Thunderbird.) So, while Thunderbird still running, I created <subfolder_name.sbd> by mkdir command in Linux and copied the message file Inbox under this new directory. I restarted Thunderbird, and messages appeared under "Local Folders/<subfolder_name>". New file /home/norio/.thunderbird/<random>.default-release/Mail/Local\ Folders/<subfolder_name.sbd>/Inbox.msf was created automatically.

Helpful?

david
david
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

Thanks for the detailed feedback, as I'm sure others will experience this. :)

Helpful?

Ask a question

You must log in to your account to reply to posts. Please start a new question, if you do not have an account yet.