Thunderbird (TB) notes

The Thunderbird configuration (settings, local mailboxes, address books, etc...) is stored by default in the user's Windows directory. It's a good idea to move it to another known place, in order to be able to back it up or move it to another computer!
If you are using Linux, go the the Thunderbird and Firefox on Linux page

Prerequisite

You need to be able to see Windows' hidden directories in order to access the configuration directory

Open a Windows' window by double-clicking on the computer icon

Windows XP: Select Tools => Folders' options => Display

Windows 7: Select Organize => Folders and search options => Display

Windows 10

Enable Display hidden files and folders

Moving the TB configuration directory to a specific directory

Make sure TB is not running!

Go to the TB directory

Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\<your_login>\Application Data\Thunderbird

Windows 7: C:\Users\<your_login>\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird

Windows 10: C:\Users\<your_login>\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird

Locate the TB configuration directory in the Thunderbird\Profiles directory (a sub-directory named <random_string>.default)

Copy <random_string>.default to a fixed and known location on the computer, preferably a sub-directory of the manually created user DATA FOLDER and give a meaningful name to the directory

We suggest the following copy/rename: <random_string>.default\ => <disk:>\Users\<your_login>\Thunderbird\Profiles\<your_login>_TB\

Edit the Thunderbird\profiles.ini file so that TB knows where to look for the new location of its configuration directory

IsRelative=1
=> IsRelative=0

Path=Profiles\<random_string>.default
=> Path=<disk:>\Users\<your_login>\Thunderbird\Profiles\<your_login>_TB

Start TB and check that everything is the same as before

Later, when things seem to work correctly, remove the original Thunderbird\Profiles\<random_string>.default directory!

Restoring a TB configuration directory

You have copied a TB configuration from another computer and want to use it! We assume that the restored TB directory is:

<disk:>\Users\<your_login>\Thunderbird\Profiles\<your_login>_TB

Start and exit TB, in order to have it initialize its default configuration

Go to the configuration directory:

Windows 7: C:\Users\<your_login>\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird

Windows 10: C:\Users\<your_login>\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird

Remove the the Thunderbird\Profiles\<random_string>.default\ directory that was created when you started TB for the first time on this computer

Edit the Thunderbird\profiles.ini file so that TB knows where to look for the new location of its configuration directory

IsRelative=1
=> IsRelative=0

Path=Profiles\<random_string>.default
=> Path=<disk:>\Users\<your_login>\Thunderbird\Profiles\<your_login>_TB

Start TB and check that everything is OK and that you have access to your existing mailboxes and settings

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