iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Thunderbird can download a local copy of email from an account that supports IMAP, but that copy is not a fully independent archive: IMAP synchronizes changes, including deletions. To make the setup useful as a backup, let Thunderbird finish downloading mail, open it regularly to fetch updates, export contacts separately, and include Thunderbird’s local data in your computer backups.
How Thunderbird keeps a local copy of your email
When you add an online email account to Thunderbird using IMAP, the app synchronizes messages and folders with the mail server and stores message data on your computer. The described approach applies to online accounts that support IMAP; the worked example in Ask Leo!’s Thunderbird email backup guide uses Outlook.com/Hotmail.
This is useful if you temporarily lose access to the account: messages that have already downloaded may still be available in Thunderbird. But IMAP is synchronization, not a one-way archive. If you delete a message on the server, Thunderbird can synchronize that deletion too. A separate backup of the computer’s Thunderbird data provides another recovery layer.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteSet up Thunderbird to download your email
- Install Thunderbird from its official download site. Avoid third-party download aggregators.
- Add your existing email account. In Thunderbird, choose the option to add an account and enter the account details requested by the current setup screen.
- Use IMAP. Confirm that the account is configured for IMAP rather than a setup that does not keep the desired synchronized local copy. Available options and labels can vary by Thunderbird version and provider.
- Complete the provider’s sign-in and authorization flow. For an Outlook.com/Hotmail account, this may involve signing in through Microsoft’s authorization screen. Authentication requirements vary by provider and can change; follow the current prompts rather than assuming one sign-in method works for every account.
- Let the initial download finish. Keep Thunderbird open and connected while messages and folders synchronize. If the app offers a Download or Sync action for folders, use it to ensure they are fetched.
Once the initial sync completes, open Thunderbird periodically and allow it to finish checking for new mail. If you rarely run the app, its local copy will not include newer messages that arrived while it was closed.
#1 Best Overall
- Easily store and access 2TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Export contacts separately
IMAP account setup synchronizes email, not your contacts. Export contacts from your email provider using its current contacts or address-book tools, then save the exported file somewhere included in your computer backups. The provider’s export steps depend on the service; Thunderbird’s mail setup alone does not create this contacts backup.
Back up Thunderbird’s local data
A local copy on the same computer is still vulnerable if the computer fails, is lost, or is damaged. Use a regular computer backup that includes Thunderbird’s local profile data and the exported contacts file. An external backup drive is one option; an off-site cloud backup can add protection if it includes the Thunderbird data and can restore it. Ask Leo!’s discussion of off-site backup and Thunderbird profile storage describes cloud storage as another copy.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- [Upgraded Version] - This external hard drive features a mirrored logo stripe combined with a striped anti-slip design, and the rounded corners of the casing make it easier to grip. The stripes also have a heat dissipation function, ensuring stable and fast data transfer.
- 【Ultra-thin and quiet】 - The motherboard adopts JMicron 578 noise-free solution, giving you a quiet working environment. Lightweight and portable size designed to fit in your pocket for easy portability.
- 【Ultra-Fast Data Transfers】 - Pairing this external hard drive with JMicron 578 solution USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 interfaces enables blazing-fast data transfer. It boasts theoretical read speeds of up to 125MB/s and write speeds of up to 103MB/s.
- 【Plug and Play】 - With no software to install, just plug it in and the drive is ready to use.The hard disk chip is wrapped with an aluminum anti-interference layer to increase heat dissipation and protect data.
- 【What You Get】 - 1 x Portable Hard Drive, 1 x USB 3.0 Cable, 1 x User Manual, Gift-type shell packaging ,Three-year manufacturer's warranty and free technical support services.
Rank #4
- Easily store and access 4TB of content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive.Specific uses: Personal
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Rank #3
- Easily store and access 1TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive.Specific uses: Personal
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop. Reformatting may be required for Mac
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Rank #2
- Easily store and access 5TB of content on the go with the Seagate portable drive, a USB external hard Drive
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
- Check that the backup process actually captures Thunderbird’s profile data, not just documents or selected folders.
- Keep the contacts export in a folder covered by that same backup.
- Use a backup destination separate from the computer so a single device failure does not destroy both copies.
- Make sure you know how to restore the saved data; a backup is only useful if it can be recovered.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
