IMAP mail messages

Imap messages are saved on the server so they are not necessary to backup.

POP Mail Messages

POP mail messages are stored on your computer locally and may also be stored on the server depending on your e-mail program settings. You may wish to save your POP mail to a text file to make sure no messages are lost during the transition.

If you're not sure whether Mozilla Thunderbird was originally set up as POP or IMAP on your computer, follow these steps:

1. Open Thunderbird and click on Tools, then click on Account Settings.
2. Click on and highlight Server Settings on the left side.
3. Look over to the right side and see what it says for the Server type.
4. If the Server type is IMAP, then it is not necessary to backup you e-mails.
5. If Server type is set to POP, then you will need to backup your local e-mail folders.
6. Click OK to close out Account Settings.

To save Thunderbird POP mail to a text file:

1. You will need to find the local mail folders on the computer.
2. Save the local mail folders to your USB keychain, external Hard Drive, or burn to a CD.
3. Setup Thunderbird on a different computer as a POP account.
4. Save your local email folders to the same place on the new computer.

To find out where your local mail folders are located in Thunderbird:

1. Open Thunderbird.
2. Click on Tools.
3. Choose Account Settings.
4. Click on Server Settings on the left side.
5. In the lower right corner you will see the Local Directory.
6. Copy the location of the local directory by highlighting the entire line, right clicking, and choosing copy.
7. Click on the Windows Start button.
8. Choose Run.
9. Paste the Local directory into the Open box and hit OK.
10. This will open up an Explorer window with all of your local mail folders inside. Copy and paste these into the new computer.