Changing web-hosts, do I need to save email files on computer, before the MX records get switched?

Question

Hi,
Recently I changed web-hosts and still have my email accounts set up with my old web-host, with the MX records pointing to the old servers.
I set up Thunderbird accounts and opened my existing email accounts through IMAP, it shows all current email and files, that I want to keep.
My questions are-
Do I need to save my email files on my computer first or on Local Folders on TB?
Once the MX records are pointing to new web-host, then add back the files?
Thank you for help!

Answer 1

Providing you can still access the old server and emails are still there.
Synchronise your mail folders to get a copy of the server folders onto your computer.
Then stop synchronising.
go into Offline mode.
Move emails into Local Folders.
emails in Local Folders will be stored on your computer.
When all emails are safely in Local folders, then you can delete the mail account.
Be aware that if the emails have been removed from the server and you synchronise with the 'empty' server, then your Thunderbird folders will get updated to match the server and you will lose those emails.
Also in Offline mode you could create a backup of those emails.
Use this addon:
* https://freeshell.de//~kaosmos/mboximport-en.html
How to install addon:
* https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/add-ons-and-extensions-faq#w_how-do-i-install-an-add-on
To use, right click on folder to see ImportExporttool options
See image below.
Note: you can also use this tool to import backedup emails into Local folders as another method of getting them into Local Fodlers.