Thunderbird is a great open source email client but it doesn’t have build-in backup tool to backup emails, address book, settings and extension that already installed. For advanced user backing up Thunderbird emails can be achieved by copying the profiles directory to another and zip it for archieving. To restore it all you need is copy back the profiles to Thunderbird directory.

This tutorial will show you how easy to create backup from Thunderbird and restore it.

Fortunately Thunderbird backup tasks can be automated using MozBackup software. MozBackup allows you to backup your email, address book, extension, general settings, saved password and SSL certificate with ease. You can download MozBackup here: http://mozbackup.jasnapaka.com/

 

Latest version of MozBackup when this article written is 1.5.1, here is the screenshot on how to make backup and restore it:

Create Backup

Welcome Window

Select operation that you want to execute, since we want to create backup choose “Backup a profile” and select “Mozilla Thunderbird” from the application list then click Next.

Next step is selecting the profile where your email is located, usually it’s called default. In case you want to backup your email from Thunderbird portable then you have to click on the Portable button and locate where your Thunderbird portable profiles located. Select where you want to save the backup file by clicking on Browse button. Click Next to continue and you’ll be asked whether you want to protect the backup with a password or not, if you select Yes you’ll be prompted with a pop up window requesting a password for the backup file.

 

The next window is backup options, generally the default suggestion on this window is everything you need for backup so you can click Next to proceed.

This window show the backup progress.

Backup is finished. Click on Finish to close the window.

Restore Backup

Run again MozBackup and this time select “Restore a profile” and select “Mozilla Thunderbird” from the application list. Click Next to continue.

In this tutorial I’m restoring the backup to Thunderbird portable, so what I do is click on the Portable button and locate the profile directory on Thunderbird portable then select “Portable profile” on the profiles selection and click Next to continue.

On this screen you can select what you want to restore. Click the Next button to start the restore process, you’ll be asked for confirmation, click Yes to proceed.

Restore is finished and you should have your emails restored.

To download MozBackup visit: http://mozbackup.jasnapaka.com/