Lost my personal Local Folders
While I was doing a manual backup, I closed TB and then accidentally moved (versus copied) the Mail\Local Folders directory out from under my profile. Later I opened TB before I realized the mistake. I closed TB and moved the \Local Folders directory contents back. However on reopening TB it only shows the default junk, trash, Outbox, and Sent Items folder and their multi-year contents - but refuses to show any of my personal folders under the \Local Folders. (I even tried creating a new dummy local subfolder in TB, closed TB, moved the real contents under it, and on reopening TB and not seeing them, I tried repairing the dummy subfolder and still no luck.) How can I get it to rescan and recognize those folders?
Chosen solution
it is a very bad idea to have your Thunderbird profile in a location that is "synchronized" with a cloud provider. I am assuming the action occurred where ever you placed the backup, but I though I would mention it anyway. The connections to the cloud are simply to slow to not cause problems
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While I was doing a manual backup, I closed TB and then accidentally moved (versus copied) the Mail\Local Folders directory out from under my profile.
It is recommended to backup the entire Thunderbird profile. https://support.mozilla.org/kb/profiles-where-thunderbird-stores-user-data#w_backing-up-a-profile
However on reopening TB it only shows the default junk, trash, Outbox, and Sent Items folder and their multi-year contents - but refuses to show any of my personal folders under the \Local Folders.
Local Folders is a built-in account, and it get's recreated automatically. Check the 'Local directory' setting for your 'Local Folders' account. At the top right of the Thunderbird window, click the menu button > Options > Account Settings > Local Folders > Local directory
Copy the entire path set for your 'Local Folders' and paste it into your reply. Does it match the folder you copied back after moving it in error?
Modified by christ1
Christ1, Thanks for the reference, I normally do backup the whole profile - but yesterday was just stupid on my part.
The path was C:\Mail\john\Mail\Local Folders, which did match the folder I copied back.
I did find at least a partial (95%) solution and explanation. The no extension files (as in "example.") files in the root of Local Folders somehow where deleted. The folder I accidental moved to was tied to a cloud account. On recovering from the cloud those files with TB closed, then reopening TB my structure, including subfolders, magical appeared. I believe a feature of the cloud account may have uploaded to the cloud, then deleted the local copy of the files (as a space savings feature).
Chosen Solution
it is a very bad idea to have your Thunderbird profile in a location that is "synchronized" with a cloud provider. I am assuming the action occurred where ever you placed the backup, but I though I would mention it anyway. The connections to the cloud are simply to slow to not cause problems