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If you use Windows OS then by default Thunderbird would have created the profiles in this location:

• C:\Users\<Windows user name>\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\<Profile name>\

You would need to make sure you can see hidden files.

The 'profile name' folder is typically like this: xxxxxxxx.default where the x's are letters and numbers. In the 'profile name' folder there will be a 'Mail' folder - click on it and it contains all the 'pop mail account name' folders and 'Local Folders' mail account. Click on the 'pop mail account name' folder to see contents. You will see mbox files - they do not have an extension and they contain emails. they have the same name as the folder name you are accustomed to seeing in the Folder Pane.

Question: Do you see the pop mail account name folder ? If yes, does it contain those mbox files? Do the mbox files have a good size ? If yes: Do you want to recreate that pop mail account again? If yes: Make a careful note of that pop mail account name folder because you are going to need to point to it later on.

In Thunderbird Create a new existing mail account. Menu app icon > New > Existing mail account Enter you name, email address and password Select to remember password Click on 'Continue'. Make sure the setting are for a 'POP' account then click on 'Create account'

Now before you do anything - check all the various options in the Account Settings are correct then point the new pop account to look at the old pop account. In Account Settings > 'Server Settings' for the pop account bottom right - look for 'Local directory:' and click on 'Browse' button It will open a window showing you the contents of that new empty pop maila ccount name folder. Go up directory to the 'Mail' folder so you can see the list of pop accounts (and Local Folders) Select that 'pop mail account name' you saw before. click on 'Select Folder' button

Now restart Thunderbird.

Example image showing the contents of a pop mail account Ignore most of the red text as it is not relevant at this point. The image will show you what mbox files look like so you can check that you still have those emails lurking.