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!

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

How to move all Thunderbird 68.8.1 data from Mac to Thunderbird 68.8.0 Ubuntu

  • 1 tontu
  • 1 am na jafe-jafe bii
  • 1 view
  • i mujjee tontu mooy esbmast

more options

I am migrating everything I have from Mac OS 10.13 to Linux (Ubuntu 20.04). I am currently running Thunderbird 68.8.1 on the Mac. I have years of Thunderbird data, currently running version, account set-ups, etc, that I need to migrate to Thunderbird 68.8.0 on Ubuntu 20.04.

I would like to know how I can properly move the data/profile from the Mac to Ubuntu.

I have copied the whole Thunderbird directory from my Mac to my Ubuntu home directory. I have tried the following: remove the ~/.thunderbird directory, copy the Mac Thunderbird directory to ~/.thunderbird, move the ~/.thunderbird/Profiles/<active-profile>.default up a level to ~/.thunderbird, remove the ~/.thunderbird/Profiles directory, fix up (edit) various directory references in ~/.thunderbird/<active-profile>.default/prefs.js to correct for Mac-Linux file location differences, also changed the app-version reference in the prefs.js to 68.8.0 (from the Mac's 68.8.1), fix up (edit) the profile Path= references in ~/.thunderbird/profiles.ini, similarly fix up (edit) the Default= reference in ~/.thunderbird/installs.ini

When I restart Thunderbird, it complains about the profile and wants me to create a new one.

What is the best way for me to accomplish this move? I don't see any recent articles mentioning this particular move: Mac to Linux.

Thanks, Evelyn

I am migrating everything I have from Mac OS 10.13 to Linux (Ubuntu 20.04). I am currently running Thunderbird 68.8.1 on the Mac. I have years of Thunderbird data, currently running version, account set-ups, etc, that I need to migrate to Thunderbird 68.8.0 on Ubuntu 20.04. I would like to know how I can properly move the data/profile from the Mac to Ubuntu. I have copied the whole Thunderbird directory from my Mac to my Ubuntu home directory. I have tried the following: remove the ~/.thunderbird directory, copy the Mac Thunderbird directory to ~/.thunderbird, move the ~/.thunderbird/Profiles/<active-profile>.default up a level to ~/.thunderbird, remove the ~/.thunderbird/Profiles directory, fix up (edit) various directory references in ~/.thunderbird/<active-profile>.default/prefs.js to correct for Mac-Linux file location differences, also changed the app-version reference in the prefs.js to 68.8.0 (from the Mac's 68.8.1), fix up (edit) the profile Path= references in ~/.thunderbird/profiles.ini, similarly fix up (edit) the Default= reference in ~/.thunderbird/installs.ini When I restart Thunderbird, it complains about the profile and wants me to create a new one. What is the best way for me to accomplish this move? I don't see any recent articles mentioning this particular move: Mac to Linux. Thanks, Evelyn

Saafara biñ tànn

OK, I figured this out. I was missing a step, following the hints in: https://thunderbirdtweaks.blogspot.com/2019/09/i-lost-my-profilemail-on-update-to.html

I had to start thunderbird twice, once to set my old Mac profile as the default profile, and the second time as './thunderbird -allow-downgrade'.

-Evelyn

Jàng tontu lii ci fi mu bokk 👍 0

All Replies (1)

more options

Saafara yiñ Tànn

OK, I figured this out. I was missing a step, following the hints in: https://thunderbirdtweaks.blogspot.com/2019/09/i-lost-my-profilemail-on-update-to.html

I had to start thunderbird twice, once to set my old Mac profile as the default profile, and the second time as './thunderbird -allow-downgrade'.

-Evelyn