re :when the server details are changed in Thunderbird, we lose the emails on the old server

This sounds like an imap mail account which means all emails are stored on server and you point to the server to see a virtual view of emails on server by subscribing to see various folders. Usually, only headers are downloaded and when you select to view an email it is retrieved and stored in a temp folder (not in Thunderbird) to facilitate viewing. If you select to download emails for offline use then a full copy is downloaded and stored in thunderbird imap account in mbox files. See info:

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/imap-synchronization#w_configuring-synchronization-and-disk-space-usage

However, those folders are constantly synchronising with server and will reflect whatever is stored on server.

So if you then point to a completely new and empty server then you would expect to not see anything because there is nothing there until new mail arrives.

Suggest you quickly point back to old server settings and hope you still have access to server.

Then make sure you download copies into Thunderbird for offline use. Then in Offline mode, create some folders in 'Local Folders' mail account and get copies of emails into 'Local Folders' mail account. the fodlers in 'Local Folders', they are mbox files stored on your computer and do not synchronise with anything, Once you can see and read emails in 'Local Folders', you can then point the imap account to look at the new server.

Then perform a backup of your 'profile name' folder.

If you normally download full copies for offline use and store them in Thunderbird, and you created a backup of 'profile name' folder prior to changing all the server details, then it is possible to import those mbox files back into 'Local Folders' mail account using an addon called; ImportExporttools.

• https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/addon/importexporttools/

Did you create IMAP mail accounts ?

Yes, we did Toad-Hall said

Did you create IMAP mail accounts ?

Thanks Toad-Hall. Your suggestion sounds sensible. We will try that and get back to you

Toad-Hall said

re :when the server details are changed in Thunderbird, we lose the emails on the old server This sounds like an imap mail account which means all emails are stored on server and you point to the server to see a virtual view of emails on server by subscribing to see various folders. Usually, only headers are downloaded and when you select to view an email it is retrieved and stored in a temp folder (not in Thunderbird) to facilitate viewing. If you select to download emails for offline use then a full copy is downloaded and stored in thunderbird imap account in mbox files. See info:

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/imap-synchronization#w_configuring-synchronization-and-disk-space-usage

However, those folders are constantly synchronising with server and will reflect whatever is stored on server. So if you then point to a completely new and empty server then you would expect to not see anything because there is nothing there until new mail arrives. Suggest you quickly point back to old server settings and hope you still have access to server. Then make sure you download copies into Thunderbird for offline use. Then in Offline mode, create some folders in 'Local Folders' mail account and get copies of emails into 'Local Folders' mail account. the fodlers in 'Local Folders', they are mbox files stored on your computer and do not synchronise with anything, Once you can see and read emails in 'Local Folders', you can then point the imap account to look at the new server. Then perform a backup of your 'profile name' folder. If you normally download full copies for offline use and store them in Thunderbird, and you created a backup of 'profile name' folder prior to changing all the server details, then it is possible to import those mbox files back into 'Local Folders' mail account using an addon called; ImportExporttools.

• https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/addon/importexporttools/