Create the IMAP account
- Open the File > New > Existing account menu.
- Set up your account with the help of the assistant.
- Incoming/Outgoing server is mail.hvi.net
- Username is your full @hvi.net email address
- You will also need your @hvi.net email password
- When it asks if you want to use POP or IMAP, select IMAP (remote folders).
- Your new IMAP account will be created and appear at the bottom of your existing mail accounts.
This should show you your folders and emails on the server.
Next you have to permanently save these messages to your computer so you can still access them after the server is taken offline.
How to do it:
- Access Account Settings: Open Thunderbird, navigate to “Edit” > “Account Settings”.
- Create Local Folders:
- Click the “New” button to create a new folder.
- Select “Local Folder” as the folder type.
- Give your local folder a meaningful name (e.g., “Saved Emails”).
- Move Emails to Local Folder:
- Open your IMAP inbox or any other folder containing emails you want to save.
- Select the desired emails.
- Drag and drop the selected emails into your newly created “Local Folder”.
Important Points:
Consider Backup: While moving emails to local folders provides permanent storage on your computer, it’s still a good practice to periodically back up your local Thunderbird data to an external drive for added security.
No Automatic Sync: By default, IMAP keeps your folders synchronized across devices, so if you delete an email from the server, it will also be deleted from your local copy unless you move it to a local folder.