[3 Simple Ways] How to Backup Thunderbird Profile
Key Takeaways of Thunderbird Profile Backup:
- Thunderbird profile is a folder that contains your emails, passwords, contacts, settings, etc.
- Backing up your Thunderbird profile means you can restore your data in case of emergencies or system crashes.
- Three simple backup methods for Thunderbird profiles are backup copies, backup with the export tool, and backup automatically with third-party software.
Mozilla Thunderbird is an open-source email client that lets you access multiple email accounts, calendars, tasks, notes, and more within one interface. It is a powerful application that is highly customizable, secure, and easy to use. Millions have used it over the years.
The Mozilla Thunderbird profile is a folder that Thunderbird created on your computer, which saves all the data from your email accounts, passwords, contacts, settings, and other configurations. So, the Thunderbird profiles are essential for keeping your important emails, passwords, contacts, and settings safe.
In case of a system crash or accidental data deletion, backup Mozilla Thunderbird profiles can be used to restore lost data. Without backup copies, you will have to manually re-enter your emails and passwords one by one if something goes wrong, which will be very time-consuming. If you change to a new device or factory reset your PC, you can reinstall Thunderbird without losing emails and other data.
It will be too late to back up Thunderbird profiles once you lose data, so backup regularly and in multiple ways to ensure your data is safe and sound. This post from Qiling covers three simple ways to tell you how to find the existing profile folder and back up your Mozilla Thunderbird profile folder and settings.
- 📢Announcement
- All three methods talked about in the post are applied to Mozilla Thunderbird 68.4.1 which is running on Windows 11/10/8/7, and Mac OS X 10.9 or later, or LINUX operating system. No matter what OS you use, you can find your solution here.
Locate Mozilla Thunderbird Profile Folder Before Backup
Before profiles backup, you need to find the specific location of the existing profile folder, which includes all related information of your Thunderbird account, like Thunderbird data settings, configurations, emails, etc. Here are the tips on how to find your Thunderbird profile folder storage location or AppData folder/application data folder on different operating systems.
C:\Users\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\
~/Library/Thunderbird/Profiles/
~/Library/Application Support/Thunderbird/Profiles/
~/Library is the home folder of Macintosh systems
~/.thunderbird/
🍟Before we start
Many people may immediately think of copy and paste when it comes to effectively backing up Thunderbird data profile folder. Of course, copying and pasting is an effective way to save a copy of your profile folder. In addition, we have two other simple methods that can help you back up your profile easily.
| Workable Solutions | Step-by-step Troubleshooting |
|---|---|
| Method 1: Copy and Paste - Manual | Locate your profile folder on your computer hard drive...Full steps |
| Method 2: Export Thunderbird Account Settings - Manual | Start Thunderbird and select "Tools" from the top menu bar....Full steps |
| Method 3. Use Backup Software - Automatically | To initiate a backup, click the Select backup contents option....Full steps |
- Tip
- It is best to store the backup on an external storage device or a Cloud server. Even if your computer has a problem and the data is lost, you can quickly restore the data.
Method 1. Manually Copy and Paste
This method is the most straightforward way to back up profiles. All you need to do is locate your profile folder and open folder on your computer hard drive, copy it, and paste it to a safe backup location such as an external hard drive or cloud storage.
❤️Kind Tip: Thunderbird profile folder location can be found in the above content.
If you want to restore the email account or change to another device, just copy and paste the backup to the location you wanted, and you can use your profile like before. Here are the detailed steps:
Step 1. Go to C:\Users\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\.
Step 2. Right-click your profile folder, which might have the format xxxxxxxx.default, and select Copy.
Step 3. Right-click the target location, such as an external hard drive, and select Paste.
Method 2. Export Thunderbird Account Setting Manually
Another backup method is to use the Thunderbird built-in Export tool to export the profile folder to a ZIP file. It allows you to back up your profile information, including accounts, emails, settings, etc. If you want to use the built-in tool to make the process easier, then Thunderbird export settings is a good choice.
- Warning
- This way is only applicable for a profile smaller than 2GB. If your folder is larger than 2 GB, try method 3, it will ensure a complete and smooth Thunderbird backup.
Follow the steps to back up your profile folder with the Export tool:
Step 1. Start Thunderbird and select "Tools" from the top menu bar.
Step 2. Click the "Export" option, and it will show "Export accounts, messages, address books, and settings to a ZIP file." You need to click the blue Export button.
Step 3. Choose a location where you want to save the backup folder and give it a name.
Step 4. Finally, click "Save" to finish the backup process.
When you need to restore or migrate the profile to another device, unpack the backups, and move all files to the new location, and you can use your previous Thunderbird account on new device without losing any data.
📖You may be interested:
Method 3. Thunderbird Profile Backup Automatically 🔥
Both above two are manual solutions to save a copy of your profile saves.
If you want a more convenient backup solution, then automatic scheduled backup software can be helpful.
Qiling Disk Master Pro is a Windows backup and recovery software that provides backup and restore functions for your computer system, files, folders, partitions, and disks. You can set a daily, weekly, monthly, or upon an event scheduled plan to back up profiles. It supports multiple backup locations, including internal & external hard drives, Cloud services, NAS, and security zone.
It is an excellent tool to back up Thunderbird emails or profiles. Its simple UI design just requires several simple clicks to set an automatic backup and eliminate the hassle of manual operation. Qiling Disk Master also supports incremental backup, meaning it can back up only changed data ever since the last backup, which is very suitable for those who need to handle large quantities of emails every day. Download this robust tool to make your work easier.
Here is the guide on how to backup profile with Qiling Disk Master:
Step 1. To initiate a backup, click the Select backup contents option.
Step 2. There are four data backup categories, File, Disk, OS, and Mail, click File backup.
Step 3. On the left, both local and network files will be shown. You may extend the directory to pick the backup files.
Step 4. Follow the on-screen instructions and choose a location to store the backup.
Click Options to encrypt the backup with a password in Backup Options, then click Backup Scheme to specify the backup schedule and start the backup at a certain event. There are also other additional choices you may choose to tailor the backup process to your requirements.
Step 5. The backup may be stored on a local disk, Qiling' online service, or NAS.
Step 6. Qiling Disk Master enables customers to back up data to a third-party cloud drive as well as its own cloud drive.
If you want to back up data to a cloud drive provided by a third party, choose Local Drive, scroll down to add Cloud Device, and then add and log in to your account.
Step 7. Click Proceed to begin the backup process. The backup job will be presented as a card on the left side of the panel after it has been finished. Right-click the backup job to handle it further.
Thunderbird Export Email – Create A Backup of Thunderbird Email
Do you want to know about the Mozilla Thunderbird email export process in detail? We are going to show you here how you can get a backup of your emails using this built-in function. We will also guide you about the best alternative to this program.
The Wrap Up
Now, you should have a clearer backup plan for your profiles. Whether you want to back up manually or with backup software automatically, these three simple methods can help you backup Thunderbird profile in no time. Remember to store the backup somewhere safe and check it regularly!
Qiling Disk Master Pro will save you lots of effort and time to back up Mozilla Thunderbird profiles or profile folders. It is an all-in-one backup and recovery solution that helps backup folders and protect your data from being damaged or lost. It can also help you back up Thunderbird emails and restore Thunderbird emails. Download and give it a try!
FAQ on Backup Thunderbird Profile
1. Can I copy the Thunderbird profile folder to a new computer?
Yes, you can. Find the Thunderbird folder location on your computer according to the post's instructions and copy it to an external storage device, like a USB. Then, connect the USB to the new computer, and paste the Profile to the new computer.
2. How do I back up and restore Thunderbird?
To backup Mozilla Thunderbird or profile folder, you can use copy and paste, the Thunderbird export tool, or Qiling Disk Master Pro. For restore, you need to locate the backup file on your computer hard drive or external storage device, then click "Import" in the Tools menu of Thunderbird. Select "Export Accounts, Messages..." and choose the backup file to finish restoring.
3. How do I transfer my profile from one computer to another?
To transfer a profile folder from one computer to another, you can use a backup tool like Qiling Disk Master, to help you create a backup of your profile on the source PC and then restore it on the target PC.
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