- if IMAP, select account settings>synchronization&storage, click advanced button to verify that all desired folders can be used offline - if IMAP, then select file>offline>download Now, whether IMAP or POP, do the following: - install the importexporttools addon - highlight one of the account folders - rightclick and select importexport menu item to export mbox - repeat for all folders. - then, create new folders for each of the account folders in the local folders section - highlight one of the new folders, - rightclick and select importexport menu to import mbox and select the desired folder you previously exported - repeat for each folder. - afterverifying all is okay, you can delete messages in the account folder, if desired.

Thanks very much for the reply David, nice dog by the way.

There are loads of folders and sub-folders under the main Inbox folder will it not work to just export the Inbox folder? Can I keep the existing Folder Tree when I export?

one of the importexport menu options is to export as a structured folder. That may do what you want. Yes, we loved that dog - she was with us for 12 years. :)