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I have a new internet providor in thunder bird how do I disconnect my (2) old email address's BUT keep my sub folders to my(2) New email address's

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  • 1 has this problem
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  • Last reply by Toad-Hall

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I would like to find the easiest way to move my sub folders from my old email to my new email(Both old&new on thunderbird at the moment)

I would like to find the easiest way to move my sub folders from my old email to my new email(Both old&new on thunderbird at the moment)

Chosen solution

If you are talking about an imap account, it is good idea to get those emails copied because you do not want it to synchronise to an empty server. You cannot move the actual folder from one email address to another. But you can copy the mbox file (shown as folder in Folder Pane) into 'Local Folders' (If imap account, I'm assuming you have downloaded full copies of emails). You must do this with Thunderbird closed via the 'profile name' folder.

You can do this manually (Thunderbird must be closed) or using an addon called 'ImportExportTools NG'.

Manually: In Thunderbird

  • 'Help' > 'Troubleshooting Information'

In 'Application Basics', look for 'Profile' in left column

  • click on the 'Open Folder' button adjacent to it.

This opens a new window showing contents of 'profile name' folder. 'Mail' folder will contain 'Local Folders' mail account, you need to know this when copying mbox files. 'ImapMail' will contain your imap mail accounts.

  • Exit Thunderbird now - this is important.
  • Click on 'ImapMail' folder
  • Click on the imap mail account folder for old imap account.

You will see mbox files (no extension) they contain emails. You will also see .msf files, they are indexing files and do not contain emails. You may also see *.sbd folder. This means you had subfolders. The *.sbd folders may contain mbox files.

  • Copy the mbox files into the 'Mail'/'Local Folders' mail account folder.

I've attached an image that shows copying or drag drop move of mbox files from imap account to Local Folders. Suggest you copy because if anything goes wrong you can repeat the action.

  • Start Thunderbird

All those mbox files will be created as folders in the 'Local Folders' mail account. Check you can read emails. If yes, then you can delete the old imap account.

Using addon extension 'ImportExportTools NG'

How to install addon:

Once installed remember to restart Thunderbird to activate it.

  • Right click on 'Local Folders' mail account name and use 'ImportExportTools NG' >'Import mbox file'
  • Choose from the options depending upon what you want to import.
  • click on 'OK'
  • Locate mbox files in profile name folder.
  • Select an click on 'Open'

Folders will appear in 'Local Folders' mail account.

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All Replies (6)

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Chosen Solution

If you are talking about an imap account, it is good idea to get those emails copied because you do not want it to synchronise to an empty server. You cannot move the actual folder from one email address to another. But you can copy the mbox file (shown as folder in Folder Pane) into 'Local Folders' (If imap account, I'm assuming you have downloaded full copies of emails). You must do this with Thunderbird closed via the 'profile name' folder.

You can do this manually (Thunderbird must be closed) or using an addon called 'ImportExportTools NG'.

Manually: In Thunderbird

  • 'Help' > 'Troubleshooting Information'

In 'Application Basics', look for 'Profile' in left column

  • click on the 'Open Folder' button adjacent to it.

This opens a new window showing contents of 'profile name' folder. 'Mail' folder will contain 'Local Folders' mail account, you need to know this when copying mbox files. 'ImapMail' will contain your imap mail accounts.

  • Exit Thunderbird now - this is important.
  • Click on 'ImapMail' folder
  • Click on the imap mail account folder for old imap account.

You will see mbox files (no extension) they contain emails. You will also see .msf files, they are indexing files and do not contain emails. You may also see *.sbd folder. This means you had subfolders. The *.sbd folders may contain mbox files.

  • Copy the mbox files into the 'Mail'/'Local Folders' mail account folder.

I've attached an image that shows copying or drag drop move of mbox files from imap account to Local Folders. Suggest you copy because if anything goes wrong you can repeat the action.

  • Start Thunderbird

All those mbox files will be created as folders in the 'Local Folders' mail account. Check you can read emails. If yes, then you can delete the old imap account.

Using addon extension 'ImportExportTools NG'

How to install addon:

Once installed remember to restart Thunderbird to activate it.

  • Right click on 'Local Folders' mail account name and use 'ImportExportTools NG' >'Import mbox file'
  • Choose from the options depending upon what you want to import.
  • click on 'OK'
  • Locate mbox files in profile name folder.
  • Select an click on 'Open'

Folders will appear in 'Local Folders' mail account.

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Once email are in 'Local Folders' mail account. You can leave them in that location so you do not confuse which email address received what emails. It might be a good idea at this point to create a backup of your 'profile' as there is only one copy whether it be in 'Local Folders' or on the server.

Alternative (after creating backup) Create new folders in new imap account and make sure you are subscribed to see them, so they are both on server and in Imap account. Then you can 'copy' small batches of emails from Local Folders mail account into that imap folder to get emails put onto server. Repeat for various folders. Note: this will use some of your server quota, so it might not be the best solution if you have a lot of emails.

Check emails can be seen on server in webmail account viewed via a browser. If all is ok, then you have the choice of removing them from Local Folders.

Toad-Hall modificouno o

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don't fully understand I know the new email is imap as far as closing with profile folder don't really understand I did find it.The folders i'm talking about are loaded with emails,I know the long would be to recreate folders under new email and then go in old folder highlight w/cntlr A and copy to new folder,but thats alot of time.as far as the old email i think it was pop but not sure(spectrum-twc)

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How to find out if it was POP or IMAP. Right click on old mail account name in Folder Pane and select 'Settings'. Select 'Server Settings' Top right it will say if it is POP or IMAP account.

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Yes it's POP(old email)

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A Pop account will have mbox files.


re:as far as closing with profile folder don't really understand I did find it. In Thunderbird

  • 'Help' > 'Troubleshooting Information'

In 'Application Basics', look for 'Profile' in left column

  • click on the 'Open Folder' button adjacent to it.

See first image below

Note: 'Help' can located in the 'Menu app icon' or on the 'Menu Bar' toolbar.

A new explorer window opens showing contents of profile name folder. The 'profile name' folder by default is usually called 'xxxxxxxx.default' where the x's are letters and numbers. The second image below shows the contents of a typical 'profile name' folder. You will see it has a 'Mail' folder. when you click on the 'Mail' folder it will list all the pop mail accounts and also 'Local Folders' mail account. See third image showing contents of a typical 'Mail' folder. It has five pop mail account folders. It might also have a smart mailboxes folder which you can ignore. When you click on the pop mail account folder you will see mbox files etc as previously explained. See fourth image showing typical contents of a pop mail account folder.

At this point you Exit Thunderbird so it is not running. This is important because you cannot copy stuff whilst Thunderbird is running and using those files.

Then you copy all the mbox files and paste them into the 'Local Folders' mail account which you can see in the third image below. I would have two windows open, one showing the pop mail account files and another showing the 'Local Folders' - like I showed in the image supplied in previous comment. Then you can copy and paste with ease.