Errors trying to export to Thunderbird

[Plxprs]

Hi there

I am trying to test an export my backed up email account. I run the command below:

maint@dockge:~$ imap-backup utils export-to-thunderbird user@example.com -v

returns

/var/lib/gems/3.0.0/gems/thunderbird-0.3.0/lib/thunderbird/profiles.rb:37:in `initialize': No such file or directory @ rb_sysopen - /home/maint/.thunderbird/profiles.ini (Errno::ENOENT)
	from /var/lib/gems/3.0.0/gems/thunderbird-0.3.0/lib/thunderbird/profiles.rb:37:in `open'
	from /var/lib/gems/3.0.0/gems/thunderbird-0.3.0/lib/thunderbird/profiles.rb:37:in `blocks'
	from /var/lib/gems/3.0.0/gems/thunderbird-0.3.0/lib/thunderbird/profiles.rb:24:in `installs'
	from /var/lib/gems/3.0.0/gems/imap-backup-16.3.0/lib/imap/backup/cli/utils.rb:125:in `thunderbird_profile'
	from /var/lib/gems/3.0.0/gems/imap-backup-16.3.0/lib/imap/backup/cli/utils.rb:80:in `export_to_thunderbird'
	from /var/lib/gems/3.0.0/gems/thor-1.5.0/lib/thor/command.rb:28:in `run'
	from /var/lib/gems/3.0.0/gems/thor-1.5.0/lib/thor/invocation.rb:127:in `invoke_command'
	from /var/lib/gems/3.0.0/gems/thor-1.5.0/lib/thor.rb:538:in `dispatch'
	from /var/lib/gems/3.0.0/gems/thor-1.5.0/lib/thor/invocation.rb:116:in `invoke'
	from /var/lib/gems/3.0.0/gems/thor-1.5.0/lib/thor.rb:338:in `block in subcommand'
	from /var/lib/gems/3.0.0/gems/thor-1.5.0/lib/thor/command.rb:28:in `run'
	from /var/lib/gems/3.0.0/gems/thor-1.5.0/lib/thor/invocation.rb:127:in `invoke_command'
	from /var/lib/gems/3.0.0/gems/thor-1.5.0/lib/thor.rb:538:in `dispatch'
	from /var/lib/gems/3.0.0/gems/thor-1.5.0/lib/thor/base.rb:585:in `start'
	from /var/lib/gems/3.0.0/gems/imap-backup-16.3.0/lib/imap/backup/cli.rb:49:in `start'
	from /var/lib/gems/3.0.0/gems/imap-backup-16.3.0/bin/imap-backup:16:in `block in <top (required)>'
	from /var/lib/gems/3.0.0/gems/imap-backup-16.3.0/lib/imap/backup/logger.rb:58:in `sanitize_stderr'
	from /var/lib/gems/3.0.0/gems/imap-backup-16.3.0/bin/imap-backup:15:in `<top (required)>'
	from /usr/local/bin/imap-backup:25:in `load'
	from /usr/local/bin/imap-backup:25:in `<main>'
maint@dockge:~$

FWIW, I didn't realise TB 0.3.0 was installed by default so I did get some way to downloading a new copy of TB for linux before I saw one was bundled, hence the path name.

Regardless, I repeated the process on another server with another email account, with the standard generic installation and get the same errors. Am I doing something wrong?

Thanks

[joeyates]

Hi @Plxprs, thanks for transferring the issue over from discussions.

It looks like something is not quite right with your Thunderbird installation.

You mention Linux. That means Thunderbird's data (emails and configuration) should be located in a .thunderbird subdirectory of your home directory.

The error you are seeing is because the file ~/.thunderbird/profiles.ini does not exist.

A few points:

• Have you correctly installed the Thunderbird application and does it run without problems?
• You mention TB 0.3.0 - that is not the Thunderbird app, it is a Ruby library used by the project.
• It looks like you are running imap-backup inside dockge. Does the container have access to your home directory (to find ~/.thunderbird)?

[Plxprs]

Hi there. I mistakenly thought TB was installed but that was the Ruby Lib you pointed out. Some of the Linux distro's use Snap/Flatpack for TB so the profiles are not in a .thunderbird in home, but buried in .var etc. Ubuntu is like this. :-/
The server is just called 'dockge'. + It's a challenge to install TB on server which is where I'd expect a command line program like imap-backup to be deployed.

So, I set up Linux Mint Debian Edition (LMDE) desktop system, installed TB via apt so the profile is in Home, created an account so the .thunderbird folder has something in it, installed imap-backup, backed up a email account & ran:

imap-backup utils export-to-thunderbird user@example.com

I get:

E, [2026-02-18T10:19:42.049889 #3641] ERROR -- : [Thunderbird::MailboxExporter] The Thunderbird profile 'Profile1' has not been set up. Please set it up before trying to export
...

So, from below I'm logged in as the only user 'maint', in the .thunderbird directory, listed the profiles, tried restoring to the default & user account profile, both fail.

total 120
drwx------ 17 maint maint  4096 Feb 18 10:12 .
drwxr-xr-x  3 root  root   4096 Feb 15 17:01 ..
-rw-r--r--  1 maint maint   220 Feb 15 17:01 .bash_logout
-rw-r--r--  1 maint maint  3526 Feb 15 17:01 .bashrc
drwx------ 13 maint maint  4096 Feb 16 18:53 .cache
drwxr-xr-x 14 maint maint  4096 Feb 18 08:42 .config
drwxr-xr-x  2 maint maint  4096 Feb 16 18:37 Desktop
-rw-r--r--  1 maint maint    27 Feb 15 17:05 .dmrc
drwxr-xr-x  2 maint maint  4096 Feb 15 17:05 Documents
drwxr-xr-x  2 maint maint  4096 Feb 15 17:05 Downloads
-rw-r--r--  1 maint maint    22 Feb 15 17:01 .gtkrc-2.0
-rw-r--r--  1 maint maint   516 Feb 15 17:01 .gtkrc-xfce
drwx------  3 maint maint  4096 Feb 18 10:18 .imap-backup
drwxrwxrwx  3 maint maint  4096 Feb 15 17:19 .linuxmint
drwxr-xr-x  4 maint maint  4096 Feb 15 17:05 .local
drwx------  4 maint maint  4096 Feb 15 17:06 .mozilla
drwxr-xr-x  2 maint maint  4096 Feb 15 17:05 Music
drwxr-xr-x  2 maint maint  4096 Feb 15 17:05 Pictures
-rw-r--r--  1 maint maint   807 Feb 15 17:01 .profile
drwxr-xr-x  2 maint maint  4096 Feb 15 17:05 Public
-rw-r--r--  1 maint maint     0 Feb 16 18:43 .sudo_as_admin_successful
drwxr-xr-x  2 maint maint  4096 Feb 15 17:05 Templates
drwx------  6 maint maint  4096 Feb 15 17:06 .thunderbird
drwxr-xr-x  2 maint maint  4096 Feb 15 17:05 Videos
-rw-------  1 maint maint    55 Feb 18 08:42 .Xauthority
-rw-------  1 maint maint 11886 Feb 18 10:53 .xsession-errors
-rw-------  1 maint maint 11693 Feb 16 19:07 .xsession-errors.old
maint@imapbumint:~$ cd .thunderbird/
maint@imapbumint:~/.thunderbird$ ls
 4yf1miir.default  'Crash Reports'   installs.ini   j9m7fblz.default-default  'Pending Pings'   profiles.ini
maint@imapbumint:~/.thunderbird$ ls -la
total 32
drwx------  6 maint maint 4096 Feb 15 17:06  .
drwx------ 17 maint maint 4096 Feb 18 10:12  ..
drwx------  2 maint maint 4096 Feb 15 17:06  4yf1miir.default
drwx------  3 maint maint 4096 Feb 16 18:53 'Crash Reports'
-rw-rw-r--  1 maint maint   62 Feb 15 17:06  installs.ini
drwx------ 13 maint maint 4096 Feb 16 19:07  j9m7fblz.default-default
drwx------  2 maint maint 4096 Feb 15 17:06 'Pending Pings'
-rw-rw-r--  1 maint maint  259 Feb 15 17:06  profiles.ini
maint@imapbumint:~/.thunderbird$ cd 4yf1miir.default/
maint@imapbumint:~/.thunderbird/4yf1miir.default$ ls
times.json
maint@imapbumint:~/.thunderbird/4yf1miir.default$ cd ..
maint@imapbumint:~/.thunderbird$ cd j9m7fblz.default-default/
maint@imapbumint:~/.thunderbird/j9m7fblz.default-default$ ls
abook.sqlite                       compatibility.ini                 favicons.sqlite-wal        logins-backup.json  places.sqlite-wal             storage
abook.sqlite-wal                   cookies.sqlite                    folderCache.json           logins.json         prefs.js                      storage.sqlite
addons.json                        cookies.sqlite-wal                folderTree.json            Mail                saved-telemetry-pings         times.json
addonStartup.json.lz4              crashes                           formhistory.sqlite         mailViews.dat       scheduled-notifications       virtualFolders.dat
AlternateServices.bin              datareporting                     global-messages-db.sqlite  minidumps           search.json.mozlz4            webappsstore.sqlite
blist.sqlite                       encrypted-openpgp-passphrase.txt  history.sqlite             openpgp.sqlite      security_state                webappsstore.sqlite-wal
bounce-tracking-protection.sqlite  extension-preferences.json        history.sqlite-wal         permissions.sqlite  sessionCheckpoints.json       xulstore.json
calendar-data                      extensions.json                   ImapMail                   pkcs11.txt          session.json
cert9.db                           favicons.sqlite                   key4.db                    places.sqlite       settings
cert_override.txt                  favicons.sqlite-shm               lock                       places.sqlite-shm   SiteSecurityServiceState.bin
maint@imapbumint:~/.thunderbird/j9m7fblz.default-default$ cd ..
maint@imapbumint:~/.thunderbird$ imap-backup utils export-to-thunderbird -v -p 4yf1miir.default user@example.com
I, [2026-02-18T11:20:09.204299 #3959]  INFO -- : [CLI::Utils] Fetching Thunderbird profile
D, [2026-02-18T11:20:09.204438 #3959] DEBUG -- : [CLI::Utils] Found 1 Thunderbird install(s)
D, [2026-02-18T11:20:09.204461 #3959] DEBUG -- : [CLI::Utils] Using profile name '4yf1miir.default'
/var/lib/gems/3.3.0/gems/imap-backup-16.6.0/lib/imap/backup/cli/utils.rb:80:in `export_to_thunderbird': Thunderbird profile '4yf1miir.default' not found (RuntimeError)
	from /var/lib/gems/3.3.0/gems/thor-1.5.0/lib/thor/command.rb:28:in `run'
	from /var/lib/gems/3.3.0/gems/thor-1.5.0/lib/thor/invocation.rb:127:in `invoke_command'
	from /var/lib/gems/3.3.0/gems/thor-1.5.0/lib/thor.rb:538:in `dispatch'
	from /var/lib/gems/3.3.0/gems/thor-1.5.0/lib/thor/invocation.rb:116:in `invoke'
	from /var/lib/gems/3.3.0/gems/thor-1.5.0/lib/thor.rb:338:in `block in subcommand'
	from /var/lib/gems/3.3.0/gems/thor-1.5.0/lib/thor/command.rb:28:in `run'
	from /var/lib/gems/3.3.0/gems/thor-1.5.0/lib/thor/invocation.rb:127:in `invoke_command'
	from /var/lib/gems/3.3.0/gems/thor-1.5.0/lib/thor.rb:538:in `dispatch'
	from /var/lib/gems/3.3.0/gems/thor-1.5.0/lib/thor/base.rb:585:in `start'
	from /var/lib/gems/3.3.0/gems/imap-backup-16.6.0/lib/imap/backup/cli.rb:49:in `start'
	from /var/lib/gems/3.3.0/gems/imap-backup-16.6.0/bin/imap-backup:19:in `block in <top (required)>'
	from /var/lib/gems/3.3.0/gems/imap-backup-16.6.0/lib/imap/backup/logger.rb:58:in `sanitize_stderr'
	from /var/lib/gems/3.3.0/gems/imap-backup-16.6.0/bin/imap-backup:18:in `<top (required)>'
	from /usr/local/bin/imap-backup:25:in `load'
	from /usr/local/bin/imap-backup:25:in `<main>'
maint@imapbumint:~/.thunderbird$ ls -la
total 32
drwx------  6 maint maint 4096 Feb 15 17:06  .
drwx------ 17 maint maint 4096 Feb 18 10:12  ..
drwx------  2 maint maint 4096 Feb 15 17:06  4yf1miir.default
drwx------  3 maint maint 4096 Feb 16 18:53 'Crash Reports'
-rw-rw-r--  1 maint maint   62 Feb 15 17:06  installs.ini
drwx------ 13 maint maint 4096 Feb 16 19:07  j9m7fblz.default-default
drwx------  2 maint maint 4096 Feb 15 17:06 'Pending Pings'
-rw-rw-r--  1 maint maint  259 Feb 15 17:06  profiles.ini
maint@imapbumint:~/.thunderbird$ cat profiles.ini 
[Profile1]
Name=default
IsRelative=1
Path=4yf1miir.default
Default=1

[InstallFDC34C9F024745EB]
Default=j9m7fblz.default-default
Locked=1

[Profile0]
Name=default-default
IsRelative=1
Path=j9m7fblz.default-default

[General]
StartWithLastProfile=1
Version=2

maint@imapbumint:~/.thunderbird$ imap-backup utils export-to-thunderbird -v -p j9m7fblz.default-default bob@spearmint.me
I, [2026-02-18T11:23:33.008530 #3974]  INFO -- : [CLI::Utils] Fetching Thunderbird profile
D, [2026-02-18T11:23:33.008693 #3974] DEBUG -- : [CLI::Utils] Found 1 Thunderbird install(s)
D, [2026-02-18T11:23:33.008728 #3974] DEBUG -- : [CLI::Utils] Using profile name 'j9m7fblz.default-default'
/var/lib/gems/3.3.0/gems/imap-backup-16.6.0/lib/imap/backup/cli/utils.rb:80:in `export_to_thunderbird': Thunderbird profile 'j9m7fblz.default-default' not found (RuntimeError)
	from /var/lib/gems/3.3.0/gems/thor-1.5.0/lib/thor/command.rb:28:in `run'
	from /var/lib/gems/3.3.0/gems/thor-1.5.0/lib/thor/invocation.rb:127:in `invoke_command'
	from /var/lib/gems/3.3.0/gems/thor-1.5.0/lib/thor.rb:538:in `dispatch'
	from /var/lib/gems/3.3.0/gems/thor-1.5.0/lib/thor/invocation.rb:116:in `invoke'
	from /var/lib/gems/3.3.0/gems/thor-1.5.0/lib/thor.rb:338:in `block in subcommand'
	from /var/lib/gems/3.3.0/gems/thor-1.5.0/lib/thor/command.rb:28:in `run'
	from /var/lib/gems/3.3.0/gems/thor-1.5.0/lib/thor/invocation.rb:127:in `invoke_command'
	from /var/lib/gems/3.3.0/gems/thor-1.5.0/lib/thor.rb:538:in `dispatch'
	from /var/lib/gems/3.3.0/gems/thor-1.5.0/lib/thor/base.rb:585:in `start'
	from /var/lib/gems/3.3.0/gems/imap-backup-16.6.0/lib/imap/backup/cli.rb:49:in `start'
	from /var/lib/gems/3.3.0/gems/imap-backup-16.6.0/bin/imap-backup:19:in `block in <top (required)>'
	from /var/lib/gems/3.3.0/gems/imap-backup-16.6.0/lib/imap/backup/logger.rb:58:in `sanitize_stderr'
	from /var/lib/gems/3.3.0/gems/imap-backup-16.6.0/bin/imap-backup:18:in `<top (required)>'
	from /usr/local/bin/imap-backup:25:in `load'
	from /usr/local/bin/imap-backup:25:in `<main>'

I know that's a lot of text but I've tried the two profile directories & no joy. Do I need to to specify somewhere (in a json file) what 'Profile1' is?

From TB Trouble shooting page I have trhe paths of where the Local folders folder is located:

/home/maint/.cache/thunderbird/j9m7fblz.default-default

Root
/home/maint/.thunderbird/j9m7fblz.default-default```


I'm not sure if I need to put some email in the 'Local' directory first.

Thanks

[joeyates]

Hi @Plxprs and thanks for the detailed info. It should be sufficient to reproduce locally.

[Plxprs]

Hi there. Thank you, I look forward to seeing how you get on. To fully replicate, I did miss one step which is to un-install the bundled TB Flatpack from the ‘Software’ app before dl TB with apt, and I only used a single user, ‘maint’. Good luck!