Thunderbird File Locations

DLGang · 03-23-2015, 01:21 PM

Ok, I can't figure out where my thunderbird emails are stored. I tried searching some key words and came up blank. I feel really stupid because I should be able to find them. Does anybody have a specific suggestion on where to look or how to identify where those files are at? Thanks.

The goal here is to back up my emails on CD/DVD storage so I can keep a permanent record of my emails.

(I can find the /.thunderbird by using ctrl-H but I still don't see my email files)

pwalden · 03-23-2015, 02:02 PM

Code:

$ ls $HOME/.thunderbird/
appreg  Crash Reports  profiles.ini  w1mh8wfk.default

The directory will contain a random named directory with all your files in it.

Code:

$ ls .thunderbird/w1mh8wfk.default/Mail/
Local Folders  mail.comcast-1.net  mail.comcast.net

DLGang · 03-23-2015, 02:13 PM

First, thank you for responding.

I can find those folders. However, I don't see files that look like my mail in those folders. In fact, I have something like 1000 emails. I am using Gnome (windowed) and not the command line ... I could navigate from BASH or something if I have to. If I am going to back up my mail then I assume I need to know where my mail is?

pwalden · 03-23-2015, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DLGang

I can find those folders. However, I don't see files that look like my mail in those folders. In fact, I have something like 1000 emails. I am using Gnome (windowed) and not the command line ... I could navigate from BASH or something if I have to. If I am going to back up my mail then I assume I need to know where my mail is?

What do you see when you ls $HOME/.thunderbird/<yourmangleddirectoryname>?

If you are trying to use a file browser, you have to change preferences to view hidden files like .thunderbird.

Doug G · 03-23-2015, 07:05 PM

If your thunderbird is configured for IMAP, your mails are stored on the server, and the mail body text may or may not be cached on your local computer. For selective message backups, you can drag & drop messages out of thunderbird to a file system directory, then back up that directory to other media.

DLGang · 03-24-2015, 10:08 PM

pwalden: I will double check that and try and get back soon but I'm pretty sure I cntrl-H when I was looking

Doug G: I am using pop mail ... which I verified by logging in online and seeing the emails were properly moved to my pc

273 · 03-25-2015, 03:02 PM

In the "Mail" directory you should see directories named, in some way, after your email accounts -- within these are various files containing things like the Inbox and Sent Items.