How to backup a Thunderbird Profile
Mail stored on the mail server (Figure 1) is backed up by LTS on a regular basis, but mail messages you store in Local Folders (Figure 2) reside on your hard drive and are your responsibility to back up. As part of your regular backup routine (you do have one, right?), be sure to include your Local Mail, which is stored in your Thunderbird profile, along with address books and user settings. Here's how to backup your Thunderbird profile.
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Figure 1 Figure 2
Step 1: Close Thunderbird completely.
Step 2: Configure Windows Explorer so you can locate the profile folder.
The location of the Thunderbird mail profile is hidden by default. To reveal hidden files and folders, open Windows Explorer click Tools > Folder options then click the View tab. Under advanced settings for Files and Folders, click the radio button for Show hidden files and folders and click OK.
Step 3: Locate your Thunderbird profile
Using Windows Explorer, browse to the following location. This is where your Local Mail, address books and user settings are stored.
C:\Documents and Settings\YourUserID\Application Data\Thunderbird\Profiles
It's a good idea to check the size of the folder you are about to back up. Right-click the Profiles folder, then left-click Properties. Be sure you have enough room on your backup media for this folder.
Step 4: Copy the Profiles folder to your backup media
Copy the entire Profiles folder to your backup media.
Related documents: Customizing and Using Thunderbird 1.0
Customizing and Using Thunderbird 1.5
Last updated: May 9, 2007