How to Move a Thunderbird Profile to Another Linux Computer

Mozilla Thunderbird is a free, open-source desktop e-mail client from Mozilla, developers of the popular Firefox Web browser. Mozilla Thunderbird runs on a variety of operating systems, including Linux. Thunderbird stores your e-mail messages, address book entries, saved e-mail account passwords, settings and other data in its profile directory. You can move your Thunderbird data to another Linux computer by copying the hidden profile directory to the other computer. Thunderbird profiles are even compatible between different operating systems, such as Windows and Linux.

Instructions

1. Click "Places" on the panel at the top of the screen and click "Home."

2. Click "View" and "Show Hidden Files."

3. Right-click the ".thunderbird" folder and click "Copy."

4. Insert a USB flash drive into the Linux computer's USB slot.

5. Click the "Places" menu and click the name of the USB flash drive in the list.

6. Click "Edit" in the USB flash drive window and click "Paste."

7. Click "File" and "Close" in the USB flash drive's window.

8. Right-click the icon of the USB flash drive on the desktop and click "Eject."

9. Remove the USB flash drive from the computer and plug it into a USB slot on another Linux computer.

10. Click the "Places" menu on the other Linux computer and click the name of the USB flash drive in the list.

11. Right-click the ".thunderbird" profile folder on the USB flash drive and click "Copy."

12. Click "Places" and "Home."

13. Click "Edit" in the home window and "Paste."

References

• Mozilla Messaging: Profiles
• GNOME Documentation Library: To Eject Media

Resources

• Mozilla Messaging: Thunderbird