How can I change my email address server settings on Thunderbird on Windows 10 without losing any emails?
How can I change my email address server settings on Thunderbird on Windows 10 without losing any emails?
I have multiple emails each with multiple folders and subfolders, but only one email address is changing server settings. The email address is staying the same. I don't want to lose any of them.
Thank you for your help! - ToSt
All Replies (15)
Imap or pop - how is set that account on TB now (before changing it)?
pop. Thanks for your help!
It is a pop server now and will be moving to an Office 365 email, but connecting TB to it. The email address is exactly the same. See current settings below. I appreciate your help.
First rename your present account name (add an "old" maybe at the end?) so you can keep both configuration on TB if you need for a while to have both settings in TB. Please note I have mentioned account name but not email address or your name or something else... :)
If that account is already set on office 365 then you can add that account also for office 365 server. If you will use imap for office365 server then you will can not use same TB folders where the new messages will go. If you will use pop then also for that account you can set the path of email folders to be the old one already set in TB. So you can see your present path where those emails are saved in your computer go that "old" email account, server settings, scroll down to "local directory" where you will see the path to that real OS folder - it's actually right there on your screenshot the path... :)
p.s. as your screenshot from above contains personal information I will recommend you to delete that picture from your post... :)
Hi! I appreciate your help. I clicked on the X on the picture. It asked if I wanted to delete it, and I clicked yes. Then it goes around in circles. I've tried it 3 times. It doesn't stop circling, even after 5 minutes. Any tips?
The current path doesn't work for the new email address. I tried using it and putting in the new password. My tech support person won't give me the path until I can guarantee I can do the transition without losing any emails. I will ask if it is imap or pop. I'll get back with you on that part. Thank you so much!! - ToSt
I came back to check, and the picture appears to be gone! Good news.
OK, you can use another folder (even if it's pop) and after you will see all is OK then you can copy the mails to the "old TB folder" and after that change path on the new account to "old windows folder for same old account"
I'm not sure I understand. The old server is pop. I will rename the old server to old. I believe the new one will be imap. So I make a new server setting for it. Then, I make folders on the new one to match the old server. Then use ctrl + A to copy the emails from the old server and Ctrl + V to paste them into the new same-named folder I've created on the new server??
If new server will be IMAP then you can not use (safely) same TB folder... Only if you will set pop you will can use same folder. So then, for IMAP, old emails can be saved on "local folders" or anywhere local in TB.
I greatly appreciate your help. I don't understand - what are "local folders" ?
"Local Folders" should be on your TB the last "account" - which is a special account with no identities associated... If that folder point to "old path" then you will have there old emails
I see it. That's my third email address (I have 3, not including the new one that isn't set up yet). It has nothing to do with the new or old email. It is a totally different email address. The old emails would be on the top account, which would have my email address that I would need to re-name to old before bringing in the new emails to the same email address (we don't want the same email address in there twice. Correct?
Renaming in TB that account cover 2 things: -1st you will probably not be able to add a new account with same email address if the account name (which will be generated by TB) will be the same. So renaming it (adding something) will avoid such issues -2nd when you will send an email, after all is moved to office 365, you should be careful to select the new account or for the "old" settings you will probably can not send emails anymore
I would: -open mail folder (path for "old" account) and copy its content on a backup folder (same hdd/ssd on another partition maybe?) right before to set the new imap account -after the new imap account will be set I would set "local folders" with path to that backup folder -if all data will be found in TB then I will also delete the "old account" from TB to avoid any issues
- I don't know how to copy its content on a backup folder (same hdd/ssd on another partition maybe?). How do you copy all those folders and subfolders with the emails in it? - I need to keep the "local folders" set to it's current email account because I have a lot of important information stored in there. So I can't point that to the old volunteer data. I need to get the volunteer content into the new volunteer account. I'm trying to merge the old content into the new content, not the personal content (local folders). - After all the data is successfully copied, as I described above, then I will delete the "old account". I appreciate your patience and help with this complex situation!
The copy action suggested by me is a copy on your windows operating system. As you say local folders store some emails from other accounts then yes, you should not replace the path of local folders indeed - sorry, I've missed to ask you if the local folders store something or not :(
So then you need a manual approach... (there might be some add-ons to help but I don't know any) 1st - in TB on local folders create a TB sub-folder called "Old Emails" and in it create another sub-folder called "test" 2.a. if you want you can copy in an with TB all TB folders where are stored those old emails to TB sub-folder "Old Emails" (and then at point 1 you don't need to create anymore "test" one) But this might take long time... 2.b. I will though copy with Windows those files - open paths where old/new folders are 2.b.1. first open old email path: TB/account settings/that-old-account ->server settings/scroll down to local directory - there is the path. 2.b.2 Then open also the new path: TB/account settings/Local Folders -> local directory path - open it and go to windows folder "Old Emails.sbd" (on which there should be a "file" named "test" with no extension). Now Close TB 2.b.3. Now copy all files and folders from 2.b.1 (your old emails) inside of 2.b.2 "Old Emails.sbd" 2.b.4. Close your internet connection (disable/deactivate) and open TB - you should see on "Old Emails" (above point "1st") those old emails downloaded till that moment. If all OK now you can reactivate your internet connection but note that new mails received on "old email account" will not automatically copy to this new TB folder with Old Emails (so you might set a filter or manually copy them).
After the old email account will not work anymore you will have all your old emails on this TB folder and you will can delete from TB that old account (it will not delete those copied above).
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