Thunderbird Shared Profile Decline
Thunderbird Shared Profile Decline
A few years ago I moved from Outlook to Thunderbird. My computer runs dual-boot and with Thunderbird set up on both systems I simply directed each to a shared profile folder on a shared drive. This functioned well before, just like it had with Outlook. I took a break from one bootable partition for about a year and have now resumed use, though I’m disappointed by Mozilla’s new approach. Their updated no-shared-profiles policy is causing some confusion.
I want to check if it’s possible to share profiles even when instances are on separate partitions. I was reassured that with the default installation and settings, I could simply move my most recent active Thunderbird profile folder to the standard location and restart everything easily, keeping all data intact while having identical but separate instances.
My main concern is that even though I’ll keep using IMAP with the option to keep server messages for retrieval by both instances, I’m assuming each message fetch will be treated as new and unread, no matter if it was previously downloaded on the other side.
Am I right in my expectations and could there be another way to recreate the old shared profile? I haven’t found any clear guidance yet.
Thank you for your interest. With Thunderbird v68, only one instance can access the same profile at any time, even if just one is active. To avoid conflicts, I use two separate installations on different partitions of the same drive, ensuring they never run together. When both were linked to the same profile, it worked perfectly. My goal is to keep Thunderbird running on both partitions while maintaining synchronization. I can set up identical IMAP profiles for each, but I worry that downloaded messages from one instance might be marked as unread by the other, which could cause minor issues. I also recently copied the shared profile to the default folder, but it doesn’t seem to work properly—some accounts are flagged as unique to a specific partition, making it hard to manage without re-entering details. I’m looking for a more straightforward solution.
Have you reached out to Thunderbird to discuss or investigate the issue?
It’s probable that Thunderbird set the restriction for security concerns, though only they can clarify their reasoning.
Supporting a security workaround might breach Forum guidelines.
Even if a solution exists, it could be considered challenging.
I hope other Thunderbird users have shared their experiences and complaints.
Reach out to Thunderbird—they might offer their approved or supported resolution.
But avoid publicizing it.
Thank you once more for your response.
I wasn't aiming to bypass any design features. I was simply seeking ideas on the most effective setup to match the performance I appreciated with standard profiles.
Wonder if Thunderbird from PortableApps.com offers a solution?
Consider setting up a 100GB partition for the PortableApps install, naming it P and assigning it a drive letter for both your dual-boot configurations. Then, place PortableApps applications, including Thunderbird, on that P: drive, ensuring both boot setups point to the same portable Thunderbird version.
I don't rely on Thunderbird, yet when using Portable Chrome without a proper shutdown, it appears there may be data corruption. I'm unsure which parts of the data are affected. You might want to verify your dual boot setup by backing up the data regularly. If you're unsure about your dual boot configuration, consider trying a VM instead, which could allow you to run Thunderbird either on the host or in a guest VM, keeping only one copy.
Not ideal, but having a dual-boot setup makes it easier to use the PC for work during the day and personal projects in the evenings, supporting a clear 100% separation between work and personal time. I also want it to run smoothly with minimal interruptions, so the OS is stripped down and only essential apps are running.
I’m looking for either a more robust PC to handle virtual machines and daily tasks or a second machine that fully dedicates resources to my needs.
Thanks again for helping me see things more clearly. I should refresh my knowledge of PC technology and start planning a gift for myself this holiday season.
I wanted to share a positive update. Although Mozilla mentions shared profiles are no longer supported, the key factor seems to be the build/version they use. After updating both TB instances to the latest builds (140.4.0esr), it became possible to link them with the same profile. I was using ESR before and thought the difference wouldn't matter, but I added that detail.