If the email address remains the same, you should be okay. In creating the new account be sure to set initially to NOT retrieve new messages. Then copy the folders from original account to overlay the just-created ones. The popstate.dat file should continue to monitor downloads ok.

Hi David.

Thank you for the prompt response. If I understand you correctly, I will have to create a new account and then copy all my folders from my current account to the new one. What I was wondering is if there was a way to edit/modify some existing profile entries to relect the address changes. That way, I would not have to create a new account and risk the copying. I thought a major portion of the changes would relate to the info referenced in the account settings. Is that just wishful thinking on my part?

<Edited to make the lines wrap.>

If you just edit the existing account, the setup itself will overwrite your folders. Copy the folders elsewhere prior to setting up the new account to be safe. Then, you can copy back after the new account is established.

That isn't what I was hoping to hear but I guess it makes sense. I also have a large number of folders under LOCAL FOLDERS. I'm assuming those would not be impacted so I don't have to worry about backing them up and copying them back?

That isn't what I was hoping to hear but I guess it makes sense. I also have a large number of folders under LOCAL FOLDERS. I'm assuming those would not be impacted so I don't have to worry about backing them up and copying them back?

Correct.

If you just edit the existing account, the setup itself will overwrite your folders. Copy the folders elsewhere prior to setting up the new account to be safe. Then, you can copy back after the new account is established.

I prefer to suggest export using the import export tools. https://addons.thunderbird.net/en-US/thunderbird/addon/importexporttools-ng/?src=ss

It has the advantage of checking the currency of the mail in the folder with the server as part of the export, and is less prone to silent background failures that can occur when dealing with thousands of IMAP mail at one time.

Export to Mbox format handles whole folders at a time and breaks any connection the mail has to the IMAP server, without the user needing to be aware of what is a local store and what is not.

Import is limited to local folders which means there is a copy in Thunderbird, and an external copy should there be any issues moving mail from the local folders to the new account.

Matt, Thank ylou for the reply. You referenced an IMAP setup but mine is POP - doesn't that make a difference?

I am getting ready to go forward with the provider change as mentioned above. I found a page that seems to point to a different approach than the one described above. Would someone please take a look and see if it is a valid option for me. Here is the link: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/new-email-address

You want to move your existing email address to a new email provider. The support article you mentioned above describes how to get a new email address. That's an entirely different scenario, and hence not relevant for what you're trying to achieve.

Hi Christ1

 Thanks for getting back to me.  Does this section not cover what I am attempting to do:

Configuring an existing email account

If you already have a Mailfence or a Gandi account (or any other type of accounts), you can skip the process of creating a new account and move on to configuring an existing account, by clicking on Skip this and use my existing email. These pages provide more details about the setup of an existing email address in Thunderbird:

   How to use Mailfence with Thunderbird
   Configuring Gandi Mail for Thunderbird
   Automatic Account Configuration in Thunderbird (for any other email address) 

To abort the account configuration process, click I think I'll configure my account later.

Does this section not cover what I am attempting to do:

This is essentially the same as what david already told you in the very first reply to this topic. The wording may be a little confusing though. When the support article talks about "creating a new account", it means creating a new account with an email provider, e.g. like Gandi. What david meant with "creating the new account" in the first reply to this topic actually is to setup the existing account with the new email provider in Thunderbird, in addition to the existing account with the old email provider.

I thought I was confused before, now I know I'm completely confused. David had me "creating" a new account and then copying my current/original folders over to overlay the ones that were just created. That implies to me that I am creating an entirely new account, in other words I would have two accounts on TB. In your last statement refining David's comment, you also refer to two accounts but it is the existing one pointing to both HEPs. Sorry if I'm coming across as dense but I'm really at a loss.

David had me "creating" a new account and then copying my current/original folders over to overlay the ones that were just created. That implies to me that I am creating an entirely new account, in other words I would have two accounts on TB.

If that wording works better for you, then let's leave it at that. Technically you do have an account with an email provider. You don't have an account with Thunderbird, because Thunderbird isn't an email provider, but just an email client. Also see https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/thunderbird-faq#w_what-is-my-thunderbird-email-address

If my comments were too confusing, then simply ignore them.

Christ1 please bear with me on this. I am currently on version 115.6.1 . I go to Tools - Account Settings. There I see 'Account Name'. This section describes my current HEP settings. I go to Account Actions in bottom left hand corner, drop down menu says 'Add Mail Account'. I assume this is where I would be adding another entry for my new HEP. This would create a new 'Account Name' with its set of the basic file folders. Then I would have to copy over the file folders from the first 'account'. I believe this action is what would fulfil David's suggestion. I am going to assume my interpretation is correct. If it is, then this is what I do not want to do unless there is no other way. My entire effort is to see if there is a way the first 'Account Name' entries can be modified to accommodate my new HEP, thereby avoiding the creation of a new 'account' entry with its necessary copying, then deletion of the original and renaming of the new 'account'. For the sake of argument, I realise there is really only 1 account and it is with the HEP. The choice of words in TB seem to have us at odds in trying to find the answer to whether or not there is a way to modify the HEP info section. Does any of this make sense? BTW, thanks for your patience.

I'm not sure why you keep asking the same question over and over again. Everything you need to know has already been explained in this topic. There is nothing else I can add.

Thanks for your time.