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Alive Backup · Productivity

Backup Factory

Back up, verify, restore and export Thunderbird email without entrusting your data to a remote service.

Surface

Thunderbird · Desktop extension

Status

Alive

Release

Version 0.9.0

Reliable backup for Thunderbird

Backup Factory creates a self-contained EML mirror from a tracked message, a folder and its descendants, or an entire account. Every raw MIME file is verified with SHA-256. Before any additive restore, the extension prepares a complete plan, then imports to Local Folders or, when explicitly selected, to a local, POP3 or IMAP account.

Availability

Direct download — XPI 0.9.0

Backup Factory uses Thunderbird Experiment APIs. Thunderbird developers have decided to stop accepting new extensions that rely on these APIs while an official API, currently planned for 2027, is being developed. Until then, the extension remains available exclusively as an XPI from the ECLS Studio website; its source code remains public on GitHub. Thunderbird’s full-access warning during installation is expected for this type of extension.

Download XPI 0.9.0 → Source code → Report an issue → MPL-2.0 license →

At a glance

Version

0.9.0

Thunderbird

140 to 153

Platforms

Windows · macOS · Linux

Integrity

SHA-256

Formats

EML · PDF · Attach.

License

MPL-2.0

What's in it

F—01 Granular sources: tracked message, folder and descendants, or entire account
F—02 Self-contained EML mirror with read-back and SHA-256 verification
F—03 Complete restore plan, additive import, cancellation and interruption recovery
F—04 Exact MIME duplicates skipped and variants isolated without rewriting messages
F—05 EML, individual or conversation PDF, and attachment exports
F—06 Reattach an existing mirror after reinstalling the extension

How it works

A backup chain you can verify.

The mirror and its manifest remain authoritative. Exports are for reading and sharing; restore relies on verified EML files, a persistent plan and receipts that allow recovery without importing the same message twice.

S—01

Choose the right granularity

A source can cover one message, a folder and its descendants, or an entire account including future physical folders.

S—02

Verify before committing

Every EML is read back and checked with SHA-256 before the current manifest is atomically promoted.

S—03

Plan before importing

The plan checks files, destination, hierarchy, duplicates, conflicts and repeated occurrences before the first import.

S—04

Restore without overwriting

Restore remains additive; persistent receipts resume an interrupted operation without duplicating completed imports.

Screens

Granular account and folder selection in Backup Factory — UI—01 **Granular backup by message, folder or entire account**

Message selection and search before a Backup Factory restore — UI—02 **Paginated catalogue and search before restore**

Restore destination selection in Backup Factory — UI—03 **Recommended Local Folders or an explicitly selected account**

Backup Factory restore plan preview and conflict counts — UI—04 **Preflight review of duplicates, conflicts and occurrences**

Final Backup Factory restore report — UI—05 **Detailed report of imports, isolated items and errors**

Privacy

Messages stay on the machine.

Backup Factory makes no network connection of its own and contains no telemetry, advertising or tracking. Restoring to IMAP can only cause Thunderbird to synchronize messages with the already configured mail server.

P—01 Backups and exports are written only to folders selected by the user
P—02 Never downloads remote images while producing PDF files
P—03 Never permanently deletes or modifies an existing message during restore

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