Backup Thunderbird Emails Locally: Complete Backup Guide

What Does “Backup Thunderbird Emails Locally” Mean?

Backing up Thunderbird emails locally means saving copies of your emails on your computer, an external drive, or offline storage. So you can restore them later if needed. Thunderbird already stores your data in a profile folder, which contains: Emails, Attachments, Account settings, and Address book. This profile is the primary backup source.

Why You Should Export Thunderbird Emails to Local Storage

• It helps to prevent data loss due to a system crash.
• This backup protects against accidental deletion.
• Keep a copy before migrating or reinstalling.
• It helps to save IMAP emails offline.
• Moreover, maintain business or legal records.

Where Thunderbird Stores Emails (Important Step)

Thunderbird saves all data in a profile folder. Default Locations:

• Windows: C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles
• Mac: ~/Library/Thunderbird/Profiles/
• Linux: ~/.thunderbird/

Method 01: Backup Thunderbird Emails Locally Using the Built-In Export Feature

Thunderbird has a native export option that bundles your data into a ZIP file. This is a clean, simple option if your profile size is manageable (under 2GB works well with this method). Steps:

1. Open Thunderbird.
2. Click on the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines) at the top right corner.
3. Then, go to Tools and then click Export.
4. Thunderbird will create a ZIP archive of your profile data and prompt you to save it somewhere.
5. In the end, save it to your local drive or external storage.

To restore: Open Thunderbird, go to Tools > Import, and point it to the ZIP file. Your data will come back exactly as it was. Important Note: This method is great for quick, occasional backups. It’s not ideal for very large mailboxes because compressing a huge amount of emails into a ZIP file can take a very long time.

Method 02: Manually Save Thunderbird Emails Locally 

This is hands down the best and most complete backup method. It saves everything, all accounts, all emails, all attachments, all settings, all filters, calendars, and contacts in one go. Here’s how to do it:

1. Close Mozilla Thunderbird completely. This is important. If Thunderbird is running while you copy the profile, some files may be locked or incompletely copied. Always close it first.
2. Press Windows + R, type %AppData%, and hit Enter. This opens the Roaming folder directly.
3. Find the Thunderbird folder in the list. Right-click on it and choose Copy.
4. Go to your backup destination — this could be another folder on your computer, an external hard drive, or a USB drive — and paste it there.

To restore it: If you ever need to restore your emails on the same or a new computer, install Thunderbird fresh, close it. Then replace the new (empty) profile folder with your backed-up one. Thunderbird will start with all your accounts and emails exactly as they were. Remember from the Mozilla Support Community: “Everything is in the profile. Copying [the profile folder] includes everything. Two reminders — do the copy when Thunderbird is not running. In restoring, install Thunderbird first and exit before copying the backup.”

Method 03: Save Individual Emails Manually (For Specific Messages)

Sometimes you don’t need a full backup; you just want to save a handful of important emails. Steps to follow:

1. Open Thunderbird and find the email(s) you want to save.
2. Right-click on an email (or select multiple with Ctrl+Click or Shift+Click).
3. After that, choose Save As from the menu.
4. Lastly, pick your save location and click OK.

Limitations of the Manual Method

• Manual backup takes a lot of time when dealing with large mailboxes. You have to locate folders, copy files, and verify everything on your own.
• The process is not straightforward. It includes multiple steps, and missing even one can result in an incomplete backup.
• You cannot leave the process halfway. It requires careful handling from start to finish to avoid errors or data loss.
• With the manual method, you are restricted to Thunderbird’s default format. You cannot directly save emails in formats like PST, MSG, or PDF with attachments.

Best Way to Backup Thunderbird Emails Locally

The DRS Thunderbird Email Backup Tool is a quick, reliable, and hassle-free process. It allows users to backup your Thunderbird emails on a local PC or webmail. This tool offers several advanced features, like Preview, Remove Duplicates, Date Filter, and more. With its simple interface, every user can easily use it. No technical skill is required. Additionally, this tool is highly compatible with all Windows and Mac versions. You can easily convert Thunderbird Emails to PDF and other formats.

Simple Steps to Create Thunderbird Email Backup in Local Drive

1. Download and install the DRS Thunderbird Backup Tool.
2. Add your Thunderbird Profile to save your emails.
3. Then, preview and select the Thudnerbird emails. Hit Next.
4. Choose Saving Format from the drop-down list.
5. Lastly, apply basic and advanced features. Click Convert.

Benefits of Using an Automated Tool

• 100% safe and secure backup with multiple features.
• Highly compatible with all Thunderbird versions.
• Offer a Date Filter for selective email migration.
• Ways to Archive Thunderbird Emails and others.
• Simple interface, which means every user uses it.
• Also, a trial version is availble to evaluate its features.

Conclusion

In this technical blog post, we explored several methods to backup Thunderbird emails locally. You can use either the manual method or a professional tool. The manual methods are free to use. However, they contain several limitations. Therefore, it’s best to use the professional tool. This supports bulk backup without any data loss. If you have any questions about the tool, feel free to ask our technical support.

Frequently Asked Questions