Backing up your emails in Thunderbird

It's easy to back up your mail in Thunderbird. It's a good idea to first ensure that the program is up to date.

Update Thunderbird

Clicking About Thunderbird brings up this window, and automatically checks for updates

1. Open Thunderbird
2. Click Help
3. Click About Thunderbird
4. If updates are available they will be downloaded automatically. Wait for the download to complete.
5. When the updates are ready, click the Restart Thunderbird to Update button.

If your account is set up as IMAP

• click Edit
• Click Account Settings >
• Click Synchronization & Storage
• Under Message Synchronising tick the box labelled Keep messages for this account on this computer.
• Click the online/offline icon in the lower left corner to go offline.
• Wait for a minute and click it again to go online.
• Your emails will be downloaded in full.

Back up your profile folder

Thunderbird export tool

Your profile folder contains all your emails, contacts, etc.

• Click the main menu button.
• Click Tools
• Click Export
• Click Open profile folder to check the size of your profile.
  • If your profile smaller than 2GB:
    • Close the profile folder, and click Export in the Export Tool.
    • Save the exported zip file somewhere safe.
  • If your profile is larger than 2GB:
    • Take note of the folder name. It will most likely end in default-release.
    • Move one folder up, and select your profile folder.
    • Copy the folder and paste it somewhere safe.