Adding Thunderbird account to another computer.
I upgraded to a new Linux OS. I want to reinstall the email accounts I had on the old system and which I still have on another machine. I can't find where to access my existing Thunderbird account. When I started with Thunderbird a few years ago, I gave a gmail address as the username. When I opened Thunderbird on this clean install, I was prompted to "Use your current email address". That sent me to Google and instructions on setting up another gmail account. I want to move away from Google. When I look in Profiles, it's different from in the computer that still has all my accounts. How can I copy everything in my Thunderbird account to the empty app I now have? Please don't tell me I have to manually install each email account, one at a time, with all the settings, just like adding a new account. Isn't there an easier way?
All Replies (3)
I'm presuming the old computer was also running Linux OS, so if different please let me know as instructions would vary.
NOTE: It is important that whatever version was used on old computer eg: 78.10.1 is exactly the same version you must use in new Linux. If this is not possible and the old computer version is newer than the Linux version (not so likely...but...) then after copying relevant files and folders you need to start thunderbird using the Profile Manager and allow downgrade instruction. Access the Terminal and type in: thunderbird -P --allow-downgrade Then select profile and click on 'start Thunderbird'
Ideally, it is easier if both versions on both computers are the same.
The default location where Thunderbird stores them on Linux is:
~/.thunderbird/<Profile name>/
However, if you're using a third party build from Debian or Ubuntu, those builds store your profile folder here:
~/.mozilla-thunderbird/<Profile name>/
The 'profile name' folders usually called something like this: 1324abd6.default
On old computer launch TB in whatever profile is the current default Help > Troubleshooting information Under 'Application Basics' - Profile Folder - click on 'Open Directory', to open the current profile folder. Go up directory Exit Thunderbird now. copy the .thunderbird (or .mozilla-thunderbird) folder to external drive for moving.
On new Linux, launch TB in whatever profile is the current default Help > Troubleshooting information Under 'Application Basics' - Profile Folder - click on 'Open Directory', to open the current profile folder. Go up directory Exit Thunderbird now. Delete the .thunderbird (or .mozilla-thunderbird) folder, but note it's name. Paste in the copied .thunderbird (or .mozilla-thunderbird) folder and modify name to match what was there originally.
Start Thunderbird.
On my desktop computer I had Ubuntu 16.04, which came with Thunderbird installed. I already deleted everything there, saving to an external drive only the personal folders in the Home directory. I neglected to save the .thunderbird folder, thinking everything would reappear with a login on the new system. I don't know what version of Thunderbird that was. I installed Ubuntu 20.04, which comes with Thunderbird 78.8.1 (64bit) included. After trying to get it open, I now have only the gmail account whose address I used for a username. Should that be removed? I don't see how to do that. On my laptop computer I have Ubuntu 18.04 with Thunderbird 68.10.0 (64bit). The profile name there is different from the one in 20.04. Could I install that version of Thunderbird on the other computer and have all mail in the laptop be in the desktop, and then upgrade Thunderbird there to the version Canonical has packaged, or would that still entail establishing a new profile with new preferences, customizations, etc.? Was I incorrect in assuming that my profile settings would carry across devices? Given that it involves different versions of everything, might it be better to start over as if I didn't already have Thunderbird? I'm not familiar with working in a terminal, and would like to avoid that if possible. I guess the lesson here is don't delete anything unless you're sure you won't need it. Thank you for your help.
RE: I'm not familiar with working in a terminal, and would like to avoid that if possible. ................On my laptop computer I have Ubuntu 18.04 with Thunderbird 68.10.0 (64bit). The profile name there is different from the one in 20.04. Could I install that version of Thunderbird on the other computer and have all mail in the laptop be in the desktop, and then upgrade Thunderbird there to the version Canonical has packaged,
To avoid using terminal, you would need to use the same version as on laptop.
On laptop: Exit Thunderbird and access the 'profile name' folder ~/.thunderbird/<Profile name>/ or ~/.mozilla-thunderbird/<Profile name>/ Depending upon Linux type it could be one or the other.
The 'profile name' folder will contain a load of files and folders that look similar to the image below. As there is quite a few I've had to put three windows into one image to show all of them. You need to copy All of those files and folders - all the contents of the 'profile name' folder - to an external drive.
On other desktop:
Start afresh
Exit Thunderbird if running
Delete the ~/.thunderbird folder.
Uninstall current version of Thunderbird
install 68.10.0 (64bit).
Get it from this link:
http://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/thunderbird/releases/68.10.0/linux-x86_64/
Choose language version eg: en-GB is English British
then download and install thunderbird-68.10.0.tar.bz2 file
Run so it auto creates a new 'profile name' folder Now Exit Thunderbird before adding anything.
Access the ~/.thunderbird/<Profile name> folder so you can it's contents. It will have a load of folders and files that look very similar to the ones you 'copied' off laptop. Delete all the contents of 'profile name' folder. Then paste in all the 'copied' files and folders, so replacing what you deleted with everything from laptop.
Start Thunderbird.
Allow it to download messages etc so all is ok.
At this point I would create a backup. Exit Thunderbird.
Access the ~/.thunderbird/ and copy that .thunderbird folder to external drive - put it in a folder called something like 'TBIRD-68-10-0', so it is easy to know what version you backed up.
When upgrading to 78* all the .mab files get converted to .sqlite files. Then start thunderbird, allow it time to ensure all checks with server etc are completed. Help > About Thunderbird It should offer to upgrade. Click on button to upgrade and at prompt restart Thunderbird.
