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local folders missing on Mac OS Big Sur 11.0 using Thunderbird 45.8, After migrating my files to my new Mac

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  • Igcine ukuphendulwa ngu atErik

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Hi After migrating my files to my new Mac the local folders won't show up in Thunderbird 45.8. Does anyone know how to fix this? Thank you.

Hi After migrating my files to my new Mac the local folders won't show up in Thunderbird 45.8. Does anyone know how to fix this? Thank you.

Okulungisiwe ngu Wayne Mery

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THUNDERBIRD = TB.

TB uses different TB-profile folders/sub-folders , those contains all emails,data,settings,etc,etc.

all TB-profile sub-folders are inside/under this "Profiles'" folder, here: "~/Library/Thunderbird/Profiles/" that is usually located here: MacHDD volume: "/Users/<YourMacOsUserName>/Library/Thunderbird/Profiles/" that ...\Thunderbird\Profiles\ folder contains multiple sub-folders , those sub-folders are various TB profile folders, a TB profile folder looks like this : "xxxxxxxx.profile-name" ( where x in xxxxxxxx is random alphanumeric characters/letters/numbers, etc ) ( the "xxxxxxxx" is profile-folder-ID part , and "profile-name" is profile's name part )


you MUST make a backup/copy of that .../Thunderbird/Profiles/ folder in your Desktop. then do whatever step you prefer or appropriate. ( your old Mac computer , or your "Time-Machine"-software backup will also contain TB-profile folders )


AV = Anti-Virus . FW = Firewall . SS = Security-Suite software.

• some AV/SS creates insecure proxy/gateway for scanning/checking emails, but there are other secure way to scan/check emails. • user may have to Disable AV/FW/SS software, OR, enable+add+allow EXCEPTIONS in it (use your exact "mail-server" name/address).

• if that does not solve, then see below:


• in NEW MAC , you have to reinstall TB in below exact way:

• use "Activity Monitor" tool/app in macOS, & completely STOP/KILL any running thunderbird. • download exact same version of TB , that you were using in OLD MAC . get DMG installer file. • get older version TB's DMG file from a linked page, that link is shown here , then press Ctrl+F to find the link "Download Thunderbird Installers"

• in Finder , copy (Ctrl+C) "/Applications/Thunderbird.app" , then goto Desktop , click on empty area once , press Alt+Cmd+V to move the app into Desktop, temporarily.

• double-click on DMG file, new volume will appear in "Finder" > go into it > select Thunderbird or Thunderbird.app > press Ctrl+C. • go inside "Finder" , click on "Applications" once in left side > click on GEAR button in menu bar > select > Copy .

• start "Terminal" tool/app in macOS: • use only one command from below TWO commands. • start TB with below command in this/below way once-only, to choose specific/earlier TB-profile: "/Applications/Thunderbird.app/Contents/MacOS/thunderbird-bin" -P • OR, start TB with below command: /usr/bin/open -n -a "/Applications/Thunderbird.app" --args -P

• a small window will appear from TB, showing you list of available TB-profile(s) , choose earlier TB-profile or choose any profile , Do not select the option "Continue to use this as default profile". TB will start with your chosen TB-profile, check & find out if this profile is uptodate or not , (does it have all older data/settings/emails,etc or not). if it is , remember the "xxxxxxxx.profile-name" portion, next time when you run TB again with same command , in profile window select the option to remember your choice & choose correct profile, as default folder. profile choosing window will show only profile-name portion , it will not show the alphanumeric "xxxxxxxx" portion.

• exit/close TB.

• start TB again with below any one command (out of two commands) in this/below way once-only, to choose specific/earlier & correct TB-profile: "/Applications/Thunderbird.app/Contents/MacOS/thunderbird-bin" -P • OR, start TB with below command: /usr/bin/open -n -a "/Applications/Thunderbird.app" --args -P • after profile choosing window appears, this time choose the correct profile-name and also select the option "Continue to use this as default profile", etc.

• TB will start , wait for it do initial operations. then close it.

• now you can click on Thunderbird or Thunderbird.app icon inside /Applications folder to start Thunderbird = TB.

• you may/should disable auto-update in TB. ( when everything is back to normal as before, then you can update/upgrade, etc )


and by the way, all of your "Local Folders" are here: MacHDD volume: "/Users/<YourMacOsUserName>/Library/Thunderbird/Profiles/xxxxxxxx.<profile-name>/Mail/Local Folders/" you can copy-paste all contents inside these into another profile , but some sub-fodler's name will not or may not remain intact , you may+will have to test emails inside it & rename sub-folder if necessary . after transfer Local-Folders , you will need to restart the TB.


EXTRA INFO for other/related problems/solutions: • Disabled auto-update of TB : inside the linked page , click on the topside 1st link to goto the auto-update disable instruction page into another website. • Regain old data(in Windows, by using: downgrade process, or second-TB, or manual file-transfer,etc). • Downgrade TB in macOS: downgrade by using second-TB , upgrade TB. • ATT-Yahoo related settings for TB. • Yahoo related settings for TB. • Microsoft related settings for TB. • Convert mab based Address-Book into other format.