Recover user data missing after Thunderbird update

Thunderbird Thunderbird Last updated: 46% of users voted this helpful

If Thunderbird starts up without your messages, addresses, passwords and other settings, check whether your data is available in a different profile. This can happen because Thunderbird creates a dedicated profile for each Thunderbird installation starting with Thunderbird version 68.

To recover your Thunderbird data and settings from another profile when Thunderbird is open:

Access the Troubleshooting information window using one of the following procedures:

  • Click the menu button TB68_Hamburger_Menu_Button_Win, click Help and select Troubleshooting information.
  • On the menu bar, click the Help menu and select Troubleshooting information.

If the Thunderbird menu bar is not visible, press the Alt key on your keyboard to temporarily make it visible.

TB68_Help_Menu_1_Win o TB68_Help_Menu_2_Win

On the Troubleshooting Information page that opens, click the about:profiles link.

TB68_About_Profiles_Link_Win

This will open the About Profiles page.
TB68_About_Profiles_Page_Winabout:profiles macOSFx52_about-profiles-linux

This page should list at least one profile and could list many. The profile that Thunderbird is currently using will have this: This is the profile in use and it cannot be deleted.

Please do not delete any profiles. Don't use any Remove buttons.

If you have another profile listed on this page, it may contain your missing profile data. You can click the Launch profile button to open another Thunderbird window using that profile. If the other profile doesn't contain your missing data, simply close that new window. If it does contain the missing data, you can set it as the profile that Thunderbird will open by default. Click the Set as default profile button for that profile, and Thunderbird will use it automatically the next time you open Thunderbird.

For more information about managing Thunderbird profiles, see Profile Manager - Create and remove Thunderbird profiles.

These fine people helped write this article:

Illustration of hands

Volunteer

Grow and share your expertise with others. Answer questions and improve our knowledge base.

Learn More