When I get my new PC I wish to use Thunderbird (still) for my email system.
When I set up my email account in the new PC will my existing contacts and current/saved emails still be available within the features. Or, will I have to export my contacts to a file then import them back into the new PC email system?
Thanks for help.

mariner26 - 2021-04-08 17:03:00

Use a program called Mozbackup. Run its "backup profile" on your old PC and copy the file it makes to your new computer. Run restore on your new PC and direct it to your backup file.
Save contacts, emails, setups and themes. etc..

pheonix - 2021-04-08 17:08:00

Can also use the same program if you are using Firefox as well.

pheonix - 2021-04-08 17:09:00

I find this way handy and also never fails, https://tinyurl.com/k93j427h

swivel - 2021-04-08 18:55:00

OK - thanks folks. So, the account I currently have on "old" PC won't have stored record of my email contacts (with my email provider) that will magically appear when I first open up Thunderbird on new PC.

mariner26 - 2021-04-08 19:16:00

Depends. You can often upload the email contacts list to your providers web based email portal. However you'd still have to input all the connection details into the new version on the new computer. But the backup/reinstall programs suggested here do more than that they'll also backup your username/passwords/settings and etc and reinstate them onto the new device.

Edited by nice_lady at 7:47 pm, Thu 8 Apr

nice_lady - 2021-04-08 19:39:00

mariner26 wrote:

OK - thanks folks. So, the account I currently have on "old" PC won't have stored record of my email contacts (with my email provider) that will magically appear when I first open up Thunderbird on new PC.

If you do what is put in the link, Emails, contacts etc will all be there on the new PC

swivel - 2021-04-08 20:27:00

mariner26 wrote:

Or, will I have to export my contacts to a file then import them back into the new PC email system?
Thanks for help.

Mozbackup is the easiest way, it will backup both contacts and mail, save to a flash drive then restore back once you have Thunderbird installed.

You can do this the other way by copying the profile but that requires a bit more skill.

lythande1 - 2021-04-09 19:27:00

if your email is set as IMAP, (common for yahoo, gmail etc) then you shouldn't need to do any of this. Just configure the email account on the new PC and everything should sync. But if you're using a POP account, that's when backup etc may be required. It would be worth confirming first as you could save yourself a help of work. You can check this by going to 'Account Settings' in Thunderbird (from Tools), and then click on "Server Settings" to confirm the Server Name. Hope this helps

cookee_nz - 2021-04-09 21:42:00

Your contacts might require the backup tool. The address book has an Export and Import function already built in, but it's expecting to Import from some other application. You'd think they would have enabled this to be used as a backup/restore feature for Thunderbird but maybe that's being too logical. Personally, I just copy the entire Profile folder (I have several email accounts) but that is a bit of an unwieldy process. I have to migrate to a new PC myself soon so might look at the suggested utility.

cookee_nz - 2021-04-09 22:46:00

Good, more, comments.
Thanks for ideas and referrals.

mariner26 - 2021-04-10 08:38:00