How I use the same Thunderbird mail account on different computers w/o "losing" info.

THERESA

Customer Service
Is there a way to use the same Thunderbird account on two computers?

I have two computers that I use. When I open my Thunderbird on one computer and check my mail, it downloads it to that computer. If I open my Thunderbird from the other computer after that, the emails that I opened on the first computer don't show up. They are "locked' on the other computer. Is there a way to not "lose" them from computer to computer? I usually re-send things I want to the same account and then re-open on the other PC. Talk about a pain in the arse!! :mad:
 

EQ Admin

EQ Forum Admin
Staff member
Hello,

If it is an option my first recommendation would be to use an IMAP connection. An IMAP connection to your e-mail lets multiple e-mail clients connect to your account on the mail server but leaves the e-mail on the server until you delete it.

If IMAP is not an option then you will want to use POP and have one or more of the computers configured to leave e-mail on the server. If you have a "primary" and "secondary" computer you can leave the primary as is, and set the secondary computer to leave e-mail on the server. In Mozilla Thunderbird you can go to Tools -> Account Settings -> Server Settings and check the "Leave Messages on Server" box.

-Raymond
 

Big Dan

EQ Forum Moderator
Re: How I use the same Thunderbird mail account on different computers w/o "losing" i

If you're unable to use IMAP it's not very convenient. This is why I'm using Gmail as my mail client instead of Thunderbird.

I've been thinking of using Dropbox (http://www.getdropbox.com/) to sync the thunderbird profile folder between computers that should work. I'll have to play with it over the weekend.
 

yukon

Valued Member
Re: How I use the same Thunderbird mail account on different computers w/o "losing" i

What I always did in the past was elect one PC to be primary and one to be secondary. The secondary would be set to always leave a copy of the messages on the server. The primary would be set to leave messages for one (or two or three if your mail server admin will grant you enough space).

The downside is you always get both messages delivered to both machines. The upside is, you will generally have all your mail on both machines. Although I normally used this method with MS Outlook and Outlook express, and Eudora, it relies upon commands that are part of the POP RFC, and should work well with any decently written POP client such as Thunderbird.
 

Big Dan

EQ Forum Moderator
Re: How I use the same Thunderbird mail account on different computers w/o "losing" i

I hadn't thought of that Yukon. Great tip! I always make things so complicated. :eek:
 
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