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How do I move Firefox and Thunderbird profiles to new computer?
September 12, 2024

Posted on 09/12/2024 12:53:34 PM PDT by Angelino97

I've been using a Windows 7 laptop. I recently bought a Windows 11 laptop.

I moved the AppData/Roaming/Thunderbird/Profiles folder, and the AppData/Roaming/Mozilla/Firefox/Profiles folder to a hard drive, then moved them onto the new laptop, copying over the old folders in that location.

Trouble is, the Thunderbird on the new laptop doesn't recognize my stored emails. Nor does Firefox recognize the bookmarks.

What am I doing wrong?


TOPICS: Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: notforthissite; paulbot; vanity

1 posted on 09/12/2024 12:53:34 PM PDT by Angelino97
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To: Angelino97

Did you go to “import” (or import from another browser) option under file menu?
You might have to browse to the saved location of the files when prompted


2 posted on 09/12/2024 12:58:35 PM PDT by z3n (Kakistocracy)
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To: z3n

The Import option on the new Firefox only gives me the option of importing from MS Edge, which is already on the system. It has no Browse option.


3 posted on 09/12/2024 1:02:01 PM PDT by Angelino97
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To: Angelino97
Be sure to copy all those files into a new folder. Then try importing them to Edge, which you needn't ever use, then import them to the new Firefox.

Don't know if that'll work, but it's worth a try and should only take a few minutes.

4 posted on 09/12/2024 1:08:22 PM PDT by Trot (really good word processor)
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To: Angelino97
If you use the sync option in Firefox everything will come back when you load it on another PC. Nice feature

In Thunder bird export to a USB or folder on your PC. Import the file on the new one.

Just reloaded my computer yesterday and both functions worked great.

5 posted on 09/12/2024 1:09:43 PM PDT by TangoLimaSierra (⭐⭐To the Left, The Truth is Right Wing Violence⭐⭐)
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To: Trot
Okay, I've solve the problem.

I uninstalled Firefox, then reinstalled it. During the reinstallation, this time if gave me the option of importing from either MS Edge or from an HTML File

So I picked that option, was able to browse into my hard drive and find an HTML File labeled Bookmarks in the Profile folder.

So apparently, all the Bookmarks are on a single HTML file.

But I still have the problem of getting Thunderbird to recognize my emails.

6 posted on 09/12/2024 1:18:49 PM PDT by Angelino97
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To: Angelino97

Thunderbird/Tools/Import, gives 4 or 5 options including import from other TB profile.


7 posted on 09/12/2024 1:23:34 PM PDT by BlackbirdSST (Trump or Bust! Long live the Republic.)
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To: Angelino97

I couldn’t even install Thunderbird on my Windows 11 machine.


8 posted on 09/12/2024 1:45:37 PM PDT by kiryandil (Kraft durch Freude! - The Kamunist and The Walzrus )
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To: BlackbirdSST

I’m trying something new. I’ve learned that Thunderbird allows you to Export files to a Zip file. I’ve done so, and put it on a flash drive. Now I’ll try to get the new Thunderbird to import it.


9 posted on 09/12/2024 1:46:29 PM PDT by Angelino97
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To: kiryandil

That’s odd. My Thunderbird installation went easily on Windows 11.


10 posted on 09/12/2024 1:50:49 PM PDT by Angelino97
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To: Angelino97
I've been using a Windows 7 laptop. I recently bought a Windows 11 laptop.

I moved the AppData/Roaming/Thunderchicken/Profiles folder, and the AppData/Roaming/Mozilla/Firefox/Profiles folder to a hard drive, then moved them onto the new laptop, copying over the old folders in that location.

What I do is: 1)run Firefox and Thunderbird once, to let it set up the appdata folders. 2)delete the contents of the new Profiles folder. 3)paste the contents of the old Profiles folders into the new, now empty, profiles folders.

11 posted on 09/12/2024 2:22:13 PM PDT by Lee N. Field ("And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise" Gal 3:29)
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To: Lee N. Field
The only thing I did different, I copied the old Profiles folder atop the new Profiles folder. I thought that would work. It didn't.

Firefox is solved. Not Thunderbird.

12 posted on 09/12/2024 2:44:53 PM PDT by Angelino97
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To: BlackbirdSST

I tried importing from the old TB profile which I had copied from the hard drive. It created a new folder called Thunderbird Import, but the folder was empty.


13 posted on 09/12/2024 2:46:21 PM PDT by Angelino97
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To: BlackbirdSST
Well, the zip didn't work.

My old Thunderbird Exported my old Profile to a Zip folder, but both Windows 7 and 11, and the new TB, are unable to open it, claiming the Zip folder is Invalid."

14 posted on 09/12/2024 2:47:55 PM PDT by Angelino97
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To: Angelino97

You might want to try MozBackup 1.5.1 Backup/Restore freeware for multiple Mozilla products. It’s 12 years old, but still seems to work fine on my Win11 desktop to save occasional backups for FireFox 130.0 (64-bit) and Thunderbird 115.15.0 (64-bit).

I have used it in the past to transfer profiles from an old computer to a new new computer and “restore” them to new FF and TB installs.

YMMV

https://mozbackup.jasnapaka.com/


15 posted on 09/12/2024 3:47:26 PM PDT by FRactional
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To: Angelino97

I don’t know, have you checked thunderbirds website for ideas? That would be my next step.


16 posted on 09/12/2024 3:47:39 PM PDT by BlackbirdSST (Trump or Bust! Long live the Republic.)
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To: FRactional; Angelino97

Yes. I had forgot about that tool. I have used it in the past with success.


17 posted on 09/12/2024 3:49:26 PM PDT by BlackbirdSST (Trump or Bust! Long live the Republic.)
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To: Angelino97
A back up program such as Macrium Reflect FREE Edition Choose free (for personal, noncommercial use) should be able to back up files and restore them where you want.
18 posted on 09/12/2024 5:58:15 PM PDT by daniel1212 (Turn 2 the Lord Jesus who saves damned+destitute sinners on His acct, believe, b baptized+follow HIM)
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